Originally written on Friday, 23. February 2007.

Would you believe it, England and France at the top of the Six Nations, Wales and Italy at the bottom vying for the Spoon and Ireland and Scotland nicely in the middle, each with one win and one defeat.

Scotland came into this in good cheers, predicting, on the eve of the England match, they could win the Triple Crown. To do that of course they gad to do something they had not done for twenty plus years, which was win at Twickenham. There was much talk of how Wilkinson would be taken quietly out of the game by the passion and drive of the Scots forwards, and how the Backs in Blue would run riot through the English defense, driven in part by the Scots passion and in part by the lack of confidence and disarray that England have shown over the last six to 12 months. The Scots had some good reason to be optimistic, it must be said.

The Autumn internationals had been a reasonable time for Scotland and one, frankly, which many English fans will simply want to forget. Andy Robinson, the man who was brought in to fill the shoes of Sir Clive ‘World Cup Winning’ Woodward, was always going to have a tough time with England. Most of England’s World Cup wining squad had retired or dropped back to Club rugby only.

Martin Johnson had quit altogether, Wilkinson had spent the last three years hobbling from one injury to another, and the crop of new players coming thru the ranks simply did not have experience to stand up to the anti English zeal of the welsh, the speed and drive of the French, the brute of the Italians and the sheer style and panache of the Puma’s. Robinson was unfortunate in the condition of his squad, but, also made some interesting team choices as well as very interesting tactical changes during matches.

Now, I am not expert, which is why I am not managing a team and only whinge about from the side lines, but almost every respected commentator in English rugby, including the afore mentioned man mountain Johnson, a man who, frankly can do no wrong and very wisely declined the offer to be England coach, questioned most of the Robinson tactical decisions thru matches.

But it was not just his tactics, there were other failings too. Morale went through the floor, for which you have to questions anyone ability to make 30 pro rugby players work as one unit. But this may have been answered, at least in part, by Robinsons admiration of all things Rugby League, and thereby taking the squad out of its comfort zone and embracing far too much the 13 man code. Just what were the other two men on the field supposed to do ? As a result of all this jiggerypokery, Robinson’s career as coach was not far off 50 / 50 for wins, and was one match away from England’s worst ever running of defeats, narrowly avoiding eight defeats on the trot.

But England appear to be a different team at the moment. There is a new man at the helm who has had the good fortune to have Wilkinson come back and hit form with England almost immediately. Ashton persuaded Robinson out of retirement and show him that he could be the tournaments leading try scorer after only two games; but importantly, he seems to have put a spring back in the step of England.

They are looking confident once more. They are playing fairly simple rugby, making simple passes, but making them. Farrell has not looked quite the fish out of water that some thought he may be, Eliis is playing the best rugby of his England career, the forwards look strong, the backs look quick and England, frankly pushed the Scots aside for 70 of the 80 minutes at Twickenham.

Scotland did re group though and bounced back in pretty good style, it must be said, to beat the welsh into two defeats in two games. The Triple Crown was gone for Scotland [only England and Ireland could win it after week one, only England after week two] but they were not going to loose two on the trot. That would be the role of the welsh, having lost by ten point to Ireland they then lost by 12 points at Murray field. The Scots were not rampant, but, they have at least set themselves up to be a solid third, behind England and France, in the table, by the end of week five.

The crunch for Scotland will be their clash on 10 March against Ireland, who, will have played England at Croke Park, will be drained and, the Scots, fresh from their home tie against Italy, will be fresh for their third home game of the campaign. The Irish will be the test for Scotland, and will be the make or break game for them. In all honesty, they will probably loose to France, for the last game of the season, but victory for in Paris for the dark blue could help England win the title as they play Wales, who, will probably be only just ahead of the Wooden Spooners of Italy, who the welsh will have a touch time beating in the warm weather climes of northern Italy.

So how will the table look at close of play on 17 March ?

England or France one and two. England host France for the penultimate game and that, probably will be the decider. Wales and Italy will be bottom. Italy, could gain their third ever win in this tournament, with a victory of wales. They were very unlucky last season to be held 18 – 18 in Cardiff, and would love to be another team that was not Scotland. My feeling is though, that the welsh will rally for this and will prevail against the Azzuri. And that leave the middle ground of Scotland and Ireland.

18 March will be an interesting day.