Taunting the French backfired badly..now England flanker Ludlam risks winding up Scots by repeating Jones’s ‘brutal’ jibe
ENGLAND went back on the attack last night, threatening Scotland with a rugby “war” and revealing their intention to suffocate the life out of them.
A team so well beaten in their last two matches might have thought it advisable to put actions before words this weekend, particularly ahead of such a dangerous fixture, one they have failed to win home and away in their last two attempts.
And especially when their confidence is rattled and Manu Tuilagi and Anthony Watson have joined Billy Vunipola on the sidelines.
Instead, flanker Lewis Ludlam made it abundantly clear that
Eddie Jones’s side would not be tiptoeing into Edinburgh for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash.
“We’re going to come out fighting,” said the Northampton star. “We’re revved up. We want to be brutal. We don’t want to give them an inch to breathe.
“In all facets of the game we’re coming for them. The best teams don’t roll over and take a performance like that [in France]. They come back fighting.”
Before England’s last visit to Scotland, Ben Te’o said Calcutta Cup history was “completely irrelevant” and the rich heritage of rugby’s oldest rivalry meant nothing to him.
The Scots taught both him and England a lesson that day which Ludlam says the current squad took on board. “It’s definitely not the view of the team now,
JOE CALZAGHE’S former sparring partner Byron Hayward wants Wales to smash Ireland from the opening bell.
Shaun Edwards’ successor as defence coach masterminded a shut-out against Italy last week. And he is confident Wales’ that this is just another place to go,” said Ludlam, who has never before been to Scotland.
“It’s a battle. It’s going to be a war and it’s something we’re excited about and will be ready for.
“We are determined to right a few wrongs. They hate us and we hate them.
“I don’t think they will be any more revved up than we will be.”
But Matt defence can hold firm again as they seek their first Six Nations win in Dublin since 2012.
Hayward (right) said: “Everything we do is about line speed and trying to regain possession as quick as we can.
“We have to start both halves well to get a result. We will come out of the blocks firing.”
Proudfoot,
Scotland prop turned England forwards coach, urged the players to focus on performance.
“There’s a lot to improve,” he said with reference to a scrum which he awarded only a pass mark. “I’d like them to be more aggressive, more powerful and more confident. I saw intent, I saw what we’d worked on. I saw bits and pieces coming through, but it wasn’t great.”
England have lost five of their last seven away games in the championship and Proudfoot acknowledges the Murrayfield factor is a big part of the challenge they must overcome.
“Scotland are incredibly proud of their home field,” he said. “How they feel about the identity of their nation is symbolised when they go out there.”