Bloody hell, what is going on, some folk on the radio claiming we are favourites for tomorrow and ones to look out for in the Championship as a whole :o
So 4 defeats and sneaky win against Ireland or Italy it is then.
Anyway to whet the appetite the bbc's selection of the six best Calcutta Cup matches:
1980 - Scotland 18-30 England - This was a victory for England's formidable pack, led by captain Billy Beaumont, but also their three-quarters, with future knight of the realm Clive Woodward enjoying one of his finest hours as a player. He created the first two tries for John Carleton and Mike Slemen with his elusive running before Carleton crossed for his second after a powerful England scrum.
Scotland, down 23-6 early in the second half after Steve Smith scored England's fourth try, made a good fist of a comeback, running the ball from everywhere and scoring tries via lock Alan Tomes and an individual gem from fly-half John Rutherford.
But Carleton completed his hat-trick as England secured their first outright championship since 1963 and a first Grand Slam since 1957 in a match one report suggested was "played in a spirit almost of chivalry". Beaumont was carried off shoulder high at the end.
1983 - England 12-22 Scotland - This remains Scotland's last win at Twickenham, a barren run that will stretch to 30 years by the time they venture to south-west London next year. Both countries went into the game without a win but it was Scotland who got the upper hand on this occasion. England went on to lose their final game in Ireland to finish with the Wooden Spoon.
The Scots were aggrieved when New Zealand referee Tom Doocey failed to award them a penalty try after centre Keith Robertson broke through and England scrum-half Steve Smith tackled Jim Renwick without the ball. Doocey awarded a penalty, which Peter Dods kicked, but Scotland did score "one of the great Calcutta Cup tries", according to the late, great Bill McLaren's commentary, through scrum-half Roy Laidlaw.
England dominated the tight exchanges but Scotland were sharper in attack, with Robertson, who landed a drop-goal near the end, particularly prominent alongside the recalled Rutherford. The final blow was delivered by lock Tom Smith, who out-jumped England's Steve Bainbridge at a line-out to dot down for a debut try, sparking wild celebrations among the Scottish players and supporters.
1990 - Scotland 13-7 England - One of the great moments in the Championship's history. Both countries going for the Grand Slam, the political backdrop of the hated Poll Tax being tried out on Scotland, the perceived hatred towards emblematic England captain Will Carling, who had his head transposed onto the body of King Edward II, in the Scottish tabloid press in the build-up.
Scotland adopted "Flower of Scotland" as their pre-match anthem that year and this was only the second time if had been officially used. McLaren said he had "never heard such an emotional rendering", moments after Scotland captain David Sole had led his team onto the pitch with a long, slow walk, stirring Murrayfield into a patriotic frenzy.
Two years ago, on the 20th anniversary, Sole denied the political backdrop had anything to do with the match itself. "It was simply a game of rugby - the only difference was that there was a Grand Slam at stake," he said. Jeremy Guscott scored a cracking try for England after Carling's break, but the only one people remember is Tony Stanger's. As McLaren described it: "Pick up by Jeffrey...Jeffrey to Armstrong...Armstrong nicely out to Gavin Hastings...Gavin Hastings goes for the kick through...on goes Stanger...Stanger could be there first...it's a try!...a magnificent try for the 21-year-old!"
1999 - England 24-21 Scotland. Until last year, when Scotland made life seriously tough for England but still came off second best, this was the closest the visitors had come to ending their miserable run at Twickenham since a 12-12 draw in 1989.
Initially, it appeared the pattern of the preceding years would continue when England went 14 points up inside the first 10 minutes thanks to tries from Nick Beal and Dan Luger. But the Scots, who had beaten Wales at home in their opening game, hit back to play some sublime rugby, with Alan Tait scoring two tries and Gregor Townsend one. Kenny Logan converted all three but ultimately his three missed penalties proved the difference, with England hanging on grimly at the death.
Last year, Logan admitted he is still haunted by the memory of costing Scotland a Grand Slam, even though he did not know it at the time. But at least Scotland had the consolation of going on to win the last ever Five Nations title in dramatic style, a stunning 36-22 victory in Paris on the final weekend, tasting all the sweeter after England lost their Grand Slam decider with Wales at Wembley.
2000 - Scotland 19-13 England - England going for the Grand Slam, Scotland seeking to avoid a whitewash after losing their first four games in the first year of the Six Nations. It was set up for a mugging - and so it proved as England inadvisedly tried to play rugby in the wet conditions, while Scotland summoned reserves of strength and defensive resolve to repel the favourites.
A ferocious opening quarter saw scuffles breaking out at every turn as the fired-up Scottish forwards - with 7ft giant Richard Metcalfe and flanker Jason White making their debuts - waded into their opposite numbers. A Duncan Hodge penalty opened the scoring, only for England to take a 10-3 lead courtesy of Lawrence Dallaglio's converted try and a Jonny Wilkinson penalty.
But Hodge's kicking first kept the Scots in touch and then put them into the lead, before the fly-half delivered the decisive blow, diving over the puddles from close range for the game-clinching try. Scotland captain Andy Nicol, now part of the BBC's match-day team, enjoyed his finest hour. "People were incredulous," he recalled. "The euphoria and sense of satisfaction at the end was incredible."
2007 - England 42-20 Scotland - What a comeback. After a catalogue of injuries had kept him out of the Test scene for three years following his World Cup-winning drop-goal in 2003, Jonny Wilkinson's return to England duty was remarkable.
The celebrated fly-half was back in the old routine with three first-half penalties and a drop-goal, capping his comeback with a dramatic try on the hour. He appeared to have a foot in touch as he touched down one-handed in the right corner after a searing break from scrum-half Harry Ellis, but the television match official was in benevolent mood. Wilkinson then stroked over the conversion from the touchline and finished with a record 27 points for a Calcutta Cup match.
Jason Robinson also marked his comeback from premature retirement with two tries, but the standing ovation when Wilkinson was replaced seven minutes from time showed Twickenham still in thrall to their legendary number 10.
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manc_don 19 posts
maverick sheep 13 posts
CtS 10 posts
glasgow sheep 9 posts
Bloody hell, what is going on, some folk on the radio claiming we are favourites for tomorrow and ones to look out for in the Championship as a whole
:o
So 4 defeats and sneaky win against Ireland or Italy it is then.
Anyway to whet the appetite the bbc's selection of the six best Calcutta Cup matches: