A little adds up to a lot for Moriarty
ENGLAND, knocked off course by French ferocity on the pitch in Paris, are more worried about Scotland destabilising them off it when they try to put the chariot back on its wheels at Murrayfield on Saturday. They came unstuck on their last visit there two years ago through a wonder pass from Finn Russell and two tries by Huw Jones, but their troubles began before kick-off when they were roughed up in the tunnel. Eddie Jones acknowledged yesterday they were sidetracked by the flare-up and wants minds on the job if the Scots attempt a repeat on Saturday.
“They’re a niggly side, aren’t they?” said Jones. “There was the dressing room scene two years ago when they tried to goad a couple of players, and they were successful. “Historically they’ve done that through the ages. That’s the way they stay in the game and they’re good at it. “The Murrayfield environment helps them but you’ve got to be good enough to stay focused, be on task, do what you need to do. “Composure always important in rugby but probably it sometimes seems. He uses a communications consultant, David Pembroke, back in Australia, to prepare his messaging strategy ahead of matches.
It is a relationship which goes back 20 years to his time in charge of the Brumbies.
He was certainly more circumspect yesterday but Dell believes his most important words this week will be saved for his is
more so at Murrayfield. I think there is some history to it. It is more than a rugby game for Scotland, maybe, and you can lose your attention in these sorts of games.
“We have to try to cope with any distractions that are thrown at us.” The ‘Tunnelgate’ incident was triggered when Owen Farrell ran to the aid of George Ford, below, and sparked a confrontation after England’s smallest player was confronted by beefy Scotland backrower Ryan Wilson. “I was wishing him well for the game and telling him a few good spots to go out,” said Wilson afterwards.
“I said, ‘You boys won’t be going out after we beat you’ and next thing my old mate Faz comes running down the tunnel and gives me a shove in the back. “That’s about all I remember. I don’t think Princess Anne was too happy.”
There will be
Wilson this year to stir the pot but squad. “They’re a team full of pride with players who have achieved a lot, so they’ll be hurting,” said the London Irish prop.
“They’re coming here to make a statement, having not beaten us for two years.
“Eddie, I know, will be in their ears. He’s a smart man and he will be hyping them up the right way. What does a wounded animal do when no
England are wary of further mischief from Gregor Townsend’s men in Edinburgh.
Clive Woodward used to tear his hair out at the deployment of the massed ranks of pipers who greeted his England side as they ran out, as well as the positioning of a giant square pillar in the away dressing room at Murrayfield which meant he could not address all his players at once.
“I’ve been to Murrayfield and they have closed the field down,” said Jones, referring to his Australian side’s visit in 2004.
“We went there on the captain’s run on Friday and the field was 70 metres wide. Then we go there on Saturday and it is 60 metres wide.
“Gregor probably wants it 80 metres wide. He wants to play from side to side and he wants to play with width. So we’d better check it’s backed up in the corner? It attacks you.
“A few of the boys were saying they hoped England would smash France and come here and underestimate us a bit. They will have a point to prove now.”
The Calcutta Cup is in Scotland’s hands after they came back from 31-0 down at Twickenham last year to draw the game and retain the trophy, but Dell says
BLACK DGDGD BLACK dgdgdgd BLACK condensed they cannot afford to rely on another miracle comeback.
“We’re a nation of fighters. Our history is full of tales of us having our backs against the walls and fighting our way out of it,” he said.
“But this is Test rugby and we can’t afford to give teams a head start. We just need to make sure we stay in the fight the whole time.” the markings on Saturday.” The Murrayfield factor should not be discounted. England’s Calcutta Cup win rate is 48 per cent north of the border compared to 85 per cent at Twickenham.
They travel under some unwelcome pressure with the afterglow of victory over New Zealand having quickly evaporated.
But Jones, under fire for his selection and verbal hand grenades against France, has his fingers firmly in his ears.
“When I first started coaching a very famous coach said to me that if you listen to the fans you end up in the grandstand with them. That’s always been my philosophy,” said Jones.
England will be without the injured Manu Tuilagi too – although his groin issue is reported to be minor and he should be back for round three of the Six Nations against Ireland.
WALES will roll into Dublin this week looking to extend their winning run in the Six Nations to nine – well aware they have not triumphed in the Irish capital since 2012.
Last season’s Grand Slam champions launched their title defence with a 42-0 hammering of Italy last Saturday.
New head coachWayne Pivac has brought in some fresh faces to assist him. But it has been a story of new coaches and same success story. Back-row Ross Moriarty is happy with the transition so far.
“It seems as though there hasn’t been any kind of dramatic change,” said Moriarty.
“That’s the best way. Coaches can come into a club and completely change things, but there is only so much you can do in a short amount of time in international rugby.
“I don’t think they are too concerned about changing everything but they have added a lot.
We are here to win the Grand
Slam and the title again and we know we have to put in a big display against the
Irish.”