RIVALRY? IT’S BEEN A TOTAL MISMATCH
And England should stroll it AGAIN
DYLAN HARTLEY was just out of school and yet to embark on his professional rugby career when Scotland last scored a try against England at Murrayfield.
Since that day in 2004, the 31year-old hooker has gone on to win 91 caps and become a highly successful Test captain for England.
Sam Underhill, at 21 the youngest player in Eddie Jones’s squad, was 11 when in 2008 Scotland last beat England to win the Calcutta Cup. A decade on, Steve Borthwick has gone from being national captain to forwards coach.
In the professional era, this has been a mismatch. It has been an era of English dominance. There have been 23 instalments of this cross-border conflict in that time and there have been 19 England wins, one draw and just three Scottish triumphs. Richard Wigglesworth is the sole member of England’s match- day 23 who has experienced defeat here.
Four years ago, the hosts were unable to register a point at Murrayfield while last year they went to Twickenham fired by the belief that they could end generations of failure, only to be thrashed 61-21.
These are not the hallmarks of a meaningful rivalry. For all the talk of Scotland’s growing potency in their own stadium, a victory for Gregor Townsend’s men would be a monumental upset.
This is not just a big neighboursmall neighbour dynamic. The England v Wales rivalry is very much alive and well and the same goes for England v Ireland. But the only tension in this case is founded on age- old animosity, rather than on a competitive sporting tussle.
The build-up to today’s game has been cagey and low-key. There has been an outbreak of mutual diplomacy as Townsend acclaimed England and his ‘brilliant’ counterpart, before Jones voiced his respect for the host nation.
A fortnight ago, the Australian publicly called out Rhys Patchell in an attempt to undermine the self-belief of the Wales playmaker, a ploy that paid off handsomely. This time, he chose not to target Finn Russell, but there can be no doubt that England will set out to ‘hunt’ the Scottish fly-half in the knowledge that his decision- making can unravel under pressure.
There have been some cracks in the facade of diplomacy. Townsend was due to meet referee Nigel Owens yesterday, armed with a message about England’s defence — which he suggested operates offside. In return, England may be tempted to draw attention to the fact that Scotland tighthead Simon Berghan spends a lot of scrum time on his knees.
It was Berghan who spoke with searing honesty about hating the English during his upbringing in New Zealand, before being ordered to return with a more sanitised public message about the ‘auld enemy’. Such soundbites are no longer the party line, but there can be no doubt that the Scottish challenge will be fuelled by a sense that this is the fixture which matters above all others.
There was a more pointed assessment of the Scots from Jones during the launch event for this year’s NatWest 6 Nations. Referring to them as the new ‘darlings’ of the European Test scene, England’s head coach claimed they are a ‘side to side’ team.
Townsend insisted that the main focus for his men would be to move forwards, but that ambition will be met by significant English clout — enhanced by the return of giant No 8 Nathan Hughes.
Scotland’s tendency to suffer from travel sickness was brutally exposed by Wales in Cardiff on the championship’s opening weekend, but there is also a more profound doubt about their ability to function on the back foot.
They faced such a scenario 12 months ago and the outcome was a shattering ordeal, as their defence fell apart and England plundered seven tries.
Murrayfield should serve as a leveller, of sorts, but this is not a place where Jones’s men fear to tread. This is where it all began for this successful regime two years ago and the side have developed since then.
With a cold, clear evening forecast, Townsend’s men have a prime opportunity to end that 14-year wait for a try against these opponents at this venue. Scotland have far greater cut and thrust out wide
these days, with Stuart Hogg and Huw Jones more than capable of troubling the visitors’ formidable defence. Jonathan Joseph is preferred at outside centre on the basis of his knack for sensing and containing such threats.
Scotland will seek to add substance to the hype generated by their autumn feats, when they came close to ambushing the mighty All Blacks, before trouncing Australia. In contrast, England have all the substance of a winning habit under Jones, but they will want greater conviction, consistency and fluency in their performance.
This is not quite an utter formality. There are threats in blue, up front as well as out wide, a back row with pace and breakdown pedigree, and locks who can make a ball-carrying impact. The Scots also have a fine goal-kicker in Greig Laidlaw.
But in most areas there are English trump cards, in terms of power and creativity, resilience and intensity, belief and momentum. Do not expect the Calcutta Cup ‘rivalry’ to regain much meaning today.