Try, try again

Well the 6 Nations tournament did not start of in the style I had hoped. A very lack lustre England team were put to the sword by a rejuvinated Scotland side at Twickenham on Saturday. Many of the England side looked ring rusty which was no suprise as a few of them had hardly played a game since November. All credit to the Sweaties though as they capitalised on that fact to give England no chance of a sniff of a win.

I do feel a bit to blame to e honest. The last time Scotland won at Twickenham was in 1983, and  it is one of the few matches I have missed in 50 years. I was at a wedding and did manage to catch a bit of the game in a TV shop window in East Sheen as we walked from the church to the reception venue. Do you remember those Radio Rentals shops where you could rent a TV or radio as well as a wide range of white goods. Those were the days.  I recall Scotland scoring while we were watching. So, my enforced absence on Saturday meant that I have still never seen Scotland win at Twickenham.

The weekend could have been saved had Wales been beaten by a 14 man Ireland outfit, bu that didn't happen either. The valiant Irish we winning at half time, bu to me the turning point of the match was overlooked by the TV pundits. With Ireland still winning, they stole a  Wales line-out on their own 22 metre line, but the referre, Wayne Barnes, shouted, 'taken back' almost as the ball reached the Ireland fly half. That shout meant he could not kick directly to touch, which he did, so giving Wales anothe line-out closer to the Ireland line, from which they subsequently scored.

Although Barnes indicated on mic that he had said if Ireland stole the ball it would be taken back, but I doubt the Ireland half backs heard it. To me it was poor communication and ultimately cost Ireland the game.

The commentary team did, however, mention the death of ex-England captain John Pullen during the week. We all grew up with John Pullen as England hooker, and he is famous for one after dinner speech.  During the Troubles the teams in the 5 Nations were reticent to go to Dublin, but when it came to England,s turn, they duly turned up at Landsdowne Road and got badly beaten up. John Pullen started his post match speech by saying ' We may not be very good, but at least we turn up'. It received a standing ovation and to this day is still the reason that the Irish rugby public have a little bit of their heart reserved for the |English.

Next week England entertain Italy. We have never gone to Twickenham to see this match as it is in the year that England have three home matches. It is the least likely match to be 'a classic' and England remain the only 6 Nations team Italy have not beaten. Now that may change this time if the idiocracies of Covid play a part but lets hope not. We saved £300 this weekend which is about the only plus point, so a good run out against Italy will set us up for Wales, Ireland and France. All is not lost but it will take all Eddie Jones coaching and motivational skills to turn this one round. Allez Le Blanc