England 63 (29)

• Tries: McGilchrist, Reed, Thompson, Purdy, Hunter, McLean, Scaratt, Alphonsi, Allan, Hemming, Gallagher
• Cons: McLean 4

Captain Katy McLean led a approach with 13 points as England women got their Six Nations pretension bid behind on lane with a abrasive 63-0 feat over Scotland.

The visitors recovered from their

18-6 better by France in their opening match

in style, scoring 11 tries in Aberdeen.

England’s remaining fixtures

22 Feb:

H v Ireland

7 March:

H v Wales

16 March:

A v Italy

Joanne McGilchrist, Amber Reed, Lydia Thompson and Claire Purdy scored first-half tries, before McLean went over.

Sarah Hunter, Emily Scarratt, Maggie Alphonsi, Claire Allan, Sophie Hemming and Hannah Gallagher also crossed.

England face reigning Grand Slam champions Ireland during Twickenham in their subsequent match, on 22 February.

McGilchrist capped her lapse from damage to measure after only 6 mins as England eased into a 29-0 lead during a break.

Skipper McLean led by instance after a restart with a 49th-minute try as Scotland, who were

thrashed 59-0 by Ireland in their opening game,

struggled to hoop England’s gait and power.

The Scots were tested still serve as England’s replacements contributed to some absolute scrums and drives, that a hosts could not handle.

Indeed Scarratt and Alphonsi both scored after good work by a forwards before Allan, Hemming and Gallagher dull off proceedings.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26111600

France run in 3 second half tries as they say their winning start to a Six Nations in an explosive

30-10 win over Italy during a Stade de France.

With a measure during 9-3 during half time, Louis Picamoles, Wesley Fofana and Hugo Bonneval all went over a line in a second half to blow a Italians away.

Both sides had group sent off after Italian column Michele Rizzo head-butted his French reflection Rabah Slimani who retaliated in kind and followed adult with a array of top cuts. France finished a compare with 13 men, after deputy close Sebastien Vahaamahina was sin-binned moments progressing for kicking a round away.

BBC Sport will move we extensive coverage

of this year’s contest in Feb and Mar on TV, Red Button, radio and online.

Available to UK users only.

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26112430

Wales attempted to compare their opponents’ physicality. First an unfortunate
cameraman was flattened by Toby Falatau as a Wales No  8 looked to
break transparent down a left, afterwards O’Driscoll was positively steamrollered by
Scott Williams in a centres.

As play continued around him, Ireland’s good No 13 – one top bashful of George
Gregan’s universe record of 139 – lay prostrate, winded. The throng hold its
breath. Eventually O’Driscoll rose to his feet, signalled his goal to
continue and a outrageous hearten erupted, that usually increasing when Ireland got a
driving beat going, their container display good in each department.

Blindside flanker Peter O’Mahony was quite impressive, winning Ireland
a integrate of penalties during a relapse and entirely honourable his male of
the compare award. A second Sexton chastisement followed before Scott Williams,
having harmed his shoulder in a tackle on O’Driscoll, went off injured.
It was that arrange of afternoon for Wales. George North changed to 13 and Liam
Williams arrived on a left wing.

It did zero to retreat a Irish tide. Wales usually could not get a platform,
their line-out faltering, a chastisement count alarming. “We have a aim of
10 or reduction so to give adult 15 is not acceptable,” Gatland said.

Ireland got their breakthrough after 32 mins and it came from a driving
line-out nearby a Welsh line, Chris Henry bagging his initial international
try. Sexton converted from approach out on a right touchline. It was most the
same after a break, Sexton alighting an early chastisement to widen a lead to
16-0, O’Connell clattering into Welsh bodies and withdrawal to a standing
ovation after 54 minutes.

Halfpenny eventually got Wales on a scoreboard with a chastisement after 55
minutes, usually for Sexton to revive a 16-point advantage with a chastisement of
his possess before hobbling off with a shin injury.

No matter. Paddy Jackson, his replacement, scored his initial general try
after 78 mins from tighten operation after Ireland had pulled Wales’ defence
completely out of shape. Liam Williams seemed to locate a immature Ulster
fly-half in a face after he had overwhelmed down, heading to an indecorous melee
under a posts, with Phillips, in particular, losing his rag. He will be
lucky to keep his place for a revisit of France in a fortnight.

“No excuses,” Gatland said. “It is substantially one of a misfortune performances
since I’ve been Wales coach. There was a lot during interest emotionally for the
Irish today. That plays a large part.”

Even afterwards there was still time for a length of a representation conflict from a Irish
but this time Wales snuffed out a danger. It frequency mattered. The Dublin
crowd were already in dreamland, picturing a Triple Crown or even a Grand
Slam. Ireland’s compare during Twickenham in dual weeks could be a classic. For
Wales, hopes of a ancestral third undisguised championship are unresolved by a
thread.

Article source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/sixnations/10626172/Ireland-26-Wales-3-Six-Nations-match-report.html

Warren Gatland says Wales’ arrangement in their

26-3 Six Nations better by Ireland

was one of a misfortune of his six-tournament reign.

The manager pronounced there were no excuses for his side’s arrangement opposite hosts who “thoroughly out-played” his side.

“It’s substantially one of a misfortune performances that we’ve had given I’ve been involved,” pronounced Gatland.

He might make changes to face France on Friday 21 Feb in Cardiff after Wales’ container were “well beaten”.

Gatland pronounced that he and his associate coaches also need to take shortcoming for a demeanour of a detriment during Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.

Please spin on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play.

Six Nations 2014: Ireland 26-3 Wales – highlights

He criticised a bad fortify and maul-defence of a 2012 and 2013 championship winners.

“We were good beaten adult front, weren’t we?” pronounced Gatland.

“We’d oral all week about fortify and we gave divided 17 penalties.

“We worked tough all week on maul-defence and we consider they scored 20 points from mauling us.

“So from me, from a coaches, we need to take – not only a players – we need to take shortcoming as good in terms of, did we manager effectively and good adequate during a week?

“Ireland played an effective game. They didn’t pierce a round – we consider a kicking stats were something like 37 to 21 – though they kicked a round and played a elementary game, and competed unequivocally tough during a relapse and put us underneath some pressure.

“So they entirely deserved a victory. we suspicion they played unequivocally well.

“We spoke about fortify all week and 10 is a sorcery series for us, perplexing to give divided 10 or reduction penalties.

“So when we give 17 away, that’s unsatisfactory since it had been a concentration for us.

“We substantially need to demeanour during some people and give it a shake up.

“And we’ll demeanour to see if we need to do that or give those players we comparison currently an event to redeem themselves.”

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26102635

Sean Lamont: Did brilliantly to clout down Luther Burrell nearby a posts
just before half-time, though sincerely unknown otherwise. 4/10

Duncan Weir: Attacking kicks were bad and unsuccessful to settle Scotland
into a game. Lack of dais cover has to be questioned. 4/10

Greig Laidlaw: Struggled to get a round divided from a breakdowns, and
missed dual kicks during goal. Needs some-more gait in his service. 4/10

Ryan Grant: Seems to have mislaid his mojo given final year’s Six Nations.
Taken off early and can have no complaints about his removal. 4/10

Ross Ford: Has to lift a can for many of a Scottish lineout woes
and done small impact elsewhere. Ignominiously and deservedly private after
42 minutes. 2/10

Moray Low: A decent adequate change by a parsimonious head. Gave divided some
silly penalties, though attempted had in ungainly circumstances. 5/10

Tim Swinson: A typically industrious grant by a Glasgow lock,
but unsuccessful to clap England in any way. 5/10

Jim Hamilton: Was job a lineouts, that were a disaster area for
the Scots. Added flesh though Scotland indispensable a lot some-more in a pack. 4/10

Ryan Wilson: Stroppy as ever and tackled tirelessly throughout. Never
had a possibility to uncover a some-more artistic side of his game. 5/10

Chris Fusaro: Clearly romantic during a start of his entrance and looked
heavy-legged after on as he struggled to keep gait with a game. 4/10

Dave Denton: Made some tough yards as Scotland’s battering impel of
choice. Scotland’s best forward, so obscure that he should have been
taken off when he was. 7/10

Replacements: Scott Lawson looked pointy and fervent when he took over
from Ford though many of a others could not make a disproportion t a general
pattern. Timing of some of a replacements was questionable, as was the
overall combination of a bench, with no cover in vicious areas.

England

Mike Brown: Grew into a diversion and his harmful counter-attacking
one of a pivotal facilities of England’s widespread second half. Finished his try
superbly. 9/10

Jack Nowell: Much some-more stoical after an shaken debut. Solid underneath the
high ball, relentless work off it while his discerning feet and apt hands
created a good try for Brown. 7/10

Luther Burrell: Two caps, dual tries. Took a good line to measure from a
flat pass by Care, roughly scored a second only before half-time and moved
ball well. 8/10

Billy Twelvetrees: It was not a day for artistic aptitude and Twelvetrees
showed he was happy to hurl adult his sleeves, creation good yard with his direct
running. 7/10

Jonny May: Burst into a diversion after a mostly still initial half, with
his gait and footwork bringing a new corner to a England conflict during the
second half. 8/10

Owen Farrell: Struggled with a bad aspect by blank 3 penalty
attempts and errors crept into his diversion though done mangle that roughly led to
second try for Burrell. 6/10

Danny Care: Another autocratic display. Over-cooked some box kicks but
landed a second drop-goal in as many games and his gait and prophesy created
try for Burrell. 8/10

Joe Marler: Made some large hits in a tighten exchanges to set the
tone and done a series of gainline-breaking carries. 8/10

Dylan Hartley: Despite a conditions delivered a ideal line-out
throwing arrangement and carried well around a fringes and in midfield. 9/10

Dan Cole: Eradicated a scrummaging problems from Paris with a
powerful arrangement both in a set square and during a breakdown. 8/10

Joe Launchbury: A self-less arrangement from a Wasps brazen whose work
rate and joining were pivotal into giving England a suffocating hold up
front. 7/10

Courtney Lawes: Was one of England’s heading carriers and his
aggressive rebellious was pivotal to denying Scotland movement adult front. 8/10

Tom Wood: Another untiring display. A consistent source of quality
line-out and his physicality and corner were pivotal in taming a Scottish pack. 7/10

Chris Robshaw: The captain set a tinge for England’s forwards in
difficult conditions with his joining and dominated a breakdown. 7/10

Billy Vunipola: A stone during a restarts and invariably got over the
gain line when in possession. Scotland simply could not enclose him. 9/10

Replacements: Dave Attwood and Mako Vunipola capacitate England to maintain
their relentless earthy pulsation of a Scottish pack.

Article source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/sixnations/10626488/Scotland-v-England-Six-Nations-Player-ratings.html

15 Mike Brown 7/10 Happy to be during full-back after stuffing in for many of a French diversion on a left wing. Was a hazard in conflict and scored a glorious opportunist try.

14 Jack Nowell 6/10 This has not been an easy benediction for a immature wing who, after his formidable entrance in Paris, versed himself well, a crafty pass creation Brown’s try.

13 Luther Burrell 7/10 Timed his run ideally to follow adult his try in Paris by crashing over for another and has practiced good to a pierce to outside-centre. A absolute presence.

12 Billy Twelvetrees 7/10 No repeat of his close-range try in this tie final year though a convincing arrangement in conflict and counterclaim and has cemented his place in a No12 position.

11 Jonny May 6/10 A damaged nose in Paris might have spoilt his looks though this was a large adequate performance. Came tighten to scoring after a mazy run.

10 Owen Farrell 7/10 Shrugged off a blank of dual early penalties to run a uncover again with a intelligent arrangement of sundry tactical kicking.

9 Danny Care 7/10 Picked to supplement dash to England’s game, a scrum-half followed his glorious arrangement in Paris with another considerable opening and drop-goal.

1 Joe Marler 7/10 The column is improving with each Test he plays and is dynamic to uncover he is not usually gripping Alex Corbisiero’s chair warm. Good scrummaging display.

2 Dylan Hartley 7/10 One of usually 4 players in a starting lineup to have played an general during Murrayfield, a harlot was during his durable best in a formidable conditions.

3 Dan Cole 7/10 England will wish to hang a tight-head in string nap before his push with Cian Healy. Was clever for 75 mins after personification for 80 in Paris.

4 Joe Launchbury 6/10 At a heart of some absolute pushing mauls though a conditions substantially did not fit his game. The Wasps close done some essential tackles.

5 Courtney Lawes 8/10 The close was superb final week and was autocratic again, quite in a lineout. The Northampton close outplayed a disintegrating Jim Hamilton.

6 Tom Wood 6/10 The Northampton close did zero adorned though got by copiousness of work in a dirty opening and was an effective aim in a lineout.

7 Chris Robshaw 7/10 The England captain worked tirelessly and had a improved of a relapse conflict with a Scottish behind row. Effective in widespread lineout.

8 Billy Vunipola 7/10 He is holding to a Six Nations like a steep to water. His robust early charges had a Scots on a behind feet and he was England’s best ball-carrier.

REPLACEMENTS

Tom Youngs (for Hartley, 69min) Lineout throwing badly in formidable conditions 5; Mako Vunipola (for Marler, 64) Made some dents in a overpowering counterclaim 6; Henry Thomas (for Cole, 75) Only 5 mins though one for a destiny 5; Dave Attwood (for Launchbury, 62) Looked clever and carried good 6; Ben Morgan (for Billy Vunipola, 69) As in Paris, England’s many effective deputy 6; Lee Dickson (for Care, 73) Had small time to make sense 5; Brad Barritt (for Burrell, 75) Shored adult a England counterclaim 5; Alex Goode (for May, 67) Looked pointy in conflict 5.

Article source: http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2014/feb/08/england-player-ratings-six-nations

At no theatre did Scotland demeanour like melancholy England, and a visitors
really should have taken a lead after usually 3 mins yet Owen Farrell
missed a sitter in front of a posts. Usually that would be unforgivable
but on this ludicrously gummy pitch, it was no such thing. The non-kicking
foot could frequency be stable.

No matter, England did take a lead 3 mins later. A absolute driving
maul had begun rumbling down a left when arbitrate Jerome Garces indicated
that a chastisement had been conceded by Scotland.

When a beat was halted, scrum half Care speckled an opportunity. Ripping the
ball from a behind of a maul, he took a shot to zero from a dump goal,
just as he had in Paris final weekend. And, nonetheless this was from further
out, again a outcome was a same – 3-0 to England.

That was shortly extended with a good taken try. Again a pushing maul
proved a matter for points, this time down a right. Care took a ball
and scampered opposite field, and screaming on a late, deliciously pointed run
he found centre Burrell.

A pessimistic cover tackle from Greig Laidlaw was not enough. Yes, a Scottish
defence was doglegged, yet it was a high score, all about energy and
timing. Farrell converted, and it was 10-0.

Joe Launchbury thereafter knocked on during a restart for Courtney Lawes to concur a
silly chastisement for offside, But Laidlaw missed his second flog of a game,
the round attack a outward of a distant post.

Wing Tommy Seymour done a singular earnest mangle for Scotland and No 8 David
Denton was always peaceful to trot behind with round that was kicked a little
too far, yet thereafter Sean Lamont foolishly conceded a penalty. Again Farrell
missed, however.

Not all was going right for a England fly-half during this stage. He had
dropped a elementary pass behind him in his possess 22, putting Billy Twelvetrees
under pressure, and he had thrown an progressing attempted pass into touch.

Joe Marler done a large tackle on Ryan Wilson to spin a round over and then
when Ross Ford overthrew a line-out in his possess 22 England went far-reaching and
Scotland had to do something bootleg to forestall another try. Lock Jim
Hamilton never minds doing that, and that is what he did here. Farrell
kicked a penalty, and England led 13-0.

That was how it stayed until half-time, nonetheless England competence have scored
again when Burrell went tighten after a glorious Farrell break, stepping off his
left feet and by a gap. The tackles on Burrell had been done by
Lamont and Matt Scott, yet usually a interlude alarm unequivocally saved Scotland
from England scoring again.

Another measure thereafter and it unequivocally could have been disorderly for Scotland.

By approach of commencement again, all of a England team, detached from winger May,
changed their shirts during half-time, yet it did not change their superiority.

Scotland immediately mislaid nonetheless another line out and Hartley sped divided for
Burrell to make another mangle in a outward channel. But Farrell’s cross
kick was usually a tiny too clever for Nowell on a right.

Fro once Scotland indeed strung a integrate of decent phases together, yet in
keeping with their profligacy, deputy column Alasdair Dickinson duly
spilled a elementary pass. It was that arrange of dusk for Scotland.

And a home side’s changes during a scrummage did not overly impact that facet
of a game. England were still carrying a good time of it there, and when one
scrum pennyless adult shortly thereafter there was a tiny feud between the
sides, for that Lawes and Wilson were cautioned. But it was nothing.

Immediately a mangle from May was utterly something, though. He has discerning feet
and peppery acceleration, and he glided into a Scottish 22. From
another scrummage, England won another penalty.

And Farrell missed another flog from far-reaching out. England unequivocally should have been
kicking for a corners by this stage, given their dominance.

May transient again, this time after a smashing skip pass from Twelvetrees and
a shining offload in hit from Vunipola. Alex Dunbar done a despairing
tackle yet was sin-binned for holding on.

Now England did flog for a corner. Twice. But a try would not come. Not
then anyway.

But it did come after 58 minutes. Nowell did so good in singular space on the
left, going around Scott and feeding Brown on a outside. Farrell converted
and England were 20 points clear.

That was how it remained.

Ireland during Twickenham should now be a cracker. A genuine contest.

Article source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/10626481/Scotland-0-England-20-Six-Nations-match-report.html

 

The Calcutta Cup book frequency alters most and it does not need to; it is a old and manly scenario. England constantly go in as favourites and Scottish fear during being discharged by a ‘auld enemy’ spasmodic sparks a opening to overcome a odds.

There is always a hunt for intensity levellers. Often it is a continue that obliges to tighten a category gap, such as in 2000 when England’s Grand Slam hopes sank in a monsoon in Edinburgh.

On other occasions it competence come down to injuries or a arbitrate or heightened antagonism, as was a box in 1990 when David Sole and Co slow-walked to excellence opposite a backdrop of anti-English view founded on — among other things — a check tax.

Pitching in: The England group sight during Murrayfield brazen of their strife with Scotland on Saturday as partial of a Captain’s Run

Calm before a storm: England captain Chris Robshaw trains during Murrayfield brazen of a Calcutta Cup strife with Scotland

Muddy hell: Scotland comfortable adult on a Murrayfield representation that will horde a compare with England

Man during a top: England manager Stuart Lancaster walks out onto a representation during Murrayfield

This time, there competence be an surprising leveller: worms.

Despite all a warning signs from a story of ambushes north of a border, Stuart Lancaster’s England go into Saturday’s RBS 6 Nations confront in a informed position of being approaching to gain on transparent supremacy.

Yet a representation during Murrayfield — AKA Maggotfield — is one non-static they can’t control. The home of Scottish rugby has been blighted by a ‘parasitic infestation’ that has reduced a personification aspect to an almighty mess.

Making a headlines for a wrong reasons: Sportsmail reported a Murrayfield disaster on Tuesday

Keeping lane of a turf: England manager Lancaster inspects a Murrayfield representation brazen of a compare with Scotland

MURRAYFIELD MATCH GUIDE

46.5%: England’s win commission in 43 matches during Murrayfield

1.3: England’s tries per compare normal during this venue

12 – 16 – 13: Excluding flog returns, England’s behind quarrel were their tip 3 carriers final week: Vunipola (16 carries), Robshaw (13), Wood (12)

0: Scotland have unsuccessful to measure a try in their final 4 home games opposite England, yet have usually mislaid one of those matches

20: Scotland have usually reached a 20-point symbol once on a final 14 occasions they have hosted England

18 – 21 – 4: England’s altogether record during a ground: won 18, mislaid 21 and drawn 4

2008: The year when England final mislaid 3 Test matches in a row

It is a source of annoyance to a SRU, who have announced skeleton for a new, part-artificial, representation to be laid in time for subsequent season.

For now, though, Saturday’s showdown contingency ensue on what competence fast turn a disaster of ripped turf, depending on a elements.

Cue English swindling theories about a whole story being a device to stop Lancaster’s group in their murky tracks. That competence be an  outlandish notion, yet there is no evading a fact that Scotland’s  primary wish — notwithstanding a hazard acted by their fatal Lions full behind Stuart Hogg — is to keep this compare parsimonious and tetchy.

No mill will be left unturned in a query to perplex a visitors in this strife between teams who mislaid their opening championship games and know usually too good that a indicate of no lapse has arrived early in this campaign.

Scotland will try to hit their rivals’ container out of a absolute walk on a filthy field, while off it there competence be other moves to upset England.

The SRU have turn skilful during formulating a quite hostile  ‘welcome’, variously stationing massed ranks of pipers and drummers on a pitch, along with actors in Braveheart-style costumes, or grating track announcements into a visitors’ changing room, with a ungainly executive pillar.

Last time England were in town, dual years ago, their final proceed to Murrayfield was behind by another machiavellian stunt.

Memories: England’s Dylan Hartley, distant right, remembers when a group train was behind nearing to Murrayfield dual years ago

‘We incited adult on a train and all of a remarkable a patrol of bagpipers seemed in front of a train and it took us 10 mins to get from a track opening to a changing room,’ pronounced harlot Dylan Hartley. ‘They marched along solemnly in front of a bus.’

Asked if he objected to such antics, a warlike Northampton captain added: ‘I don’t know . . . it’s only one of those things. It competence be a problem for diseased players, yet we don’t consider we’ve got any of those. It all only adds to a atmosphere, doesn’t it? It’s like when we go to Wales and a choirs are all out on a field.’

Once again, for all their concentration on opening levels and progressing a light lift towards an ‘all-court’ game, England will have to acquire a primal elements of a Calcutta Cup occasion.

Dejection: Hartley, left, and Robshaw face adult to their opening Six Nations improved by France in a Stade de France

They will have to be prepared for a fury that will be destined during them by their opponents and also from a stands. ‘I consider anywhere in a 6 Nations, as an England player, it feels like us opposite a world,’ pronounced Hartley. ‘Murrayfield is only another venue.’

This tie has constructed turgid, moving contests for most of a complicated era, nonetheless England’s sweeping, pretension 38-18 feat during Twickenham a year ago was a  acquire exception.

Hartley used a word ‘attritional’ to report this sold adversary and added: ‘Every diversion I’ve played opposite Scotland has been an arm-wrestle.’

Asked because Saturday’s compare would be different, he added: ‘I can’t guarantee it will be!’

English dominance: Robshaw helped his England side kick Scotland 38-18 during Twickenham in final year’s Six Nations

Silver service: Robshaw binds aloft a Calcutta Cup after England’s win over Scotland final year, left, while Scotland’s Ryan Grant stands morose after a detriment during Twickenham

Yet, if a hosts wish to only indulge in a brazen battle, they will have their work cut out.

For all a disintegrating poke of a likes of close Jim Hamilton and a robbery David Denton in a Scotland pack, they do not possess a common firepower of a Red Rose eight, who will be hell-bent on creation justification for their set-piece deficiencies in Paris.

Behind a scrum, it is a informed story of England carrying some-more trump cards, notwithstanding a tender demeanour of their behind line.

Physical presence: Scotland will be looking for close Jim Hamilton to expostulate a group forward

Greig Laidlaw will captain Scotland from scrum-half following a dropping of Kelly Brown from a patrol and he is a machiavellian matter for Scott Johnson’s side, yet even his intelligent call could not assuage their pang in Dublin final weekend.

Further back, Hogg is a rapacious curtain and crafty footballer, yet he can't idle a white wall but means assistance, that competence be lacking.

England will again wish for constrained justification that their rookie wings, Jack Nowell and Jonny May, can flower during this level, nonetheless Luther Burrell has already offering earnest signs in midfield.

Promising early signs: Luther Burrell has shown glimpses of his intensity in midfield for England

Wing wonders: Jack Nowell, left, and Jonny May will be looking to stir for England

If Owen Farrell can lift a strings in a same constrained conform as he did opposite France, Lancaster will certainly have an beguiling evening.

This week, a conduct manager has had to contend with critique of his substitutes strategy, that will be scrutinised today, fall-out from his team’s event during a first  hurdle, and a sub-plot of Sam Burgess’s cross-code switch.

From 5pm on Saturday, he should be means to put all that aside as England belatedly light their pretension challenge.

Welcome to Scotland: England have let a elements a improved of them before when visiting Edinburgh

 

Article source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-2554187/SIX-NATIONS-2014-Not-worms-turn-Scotland-England-winner-despite-Murrayfield-pitch-farce.html

Having savoured a ambience of Le Crunch in saying off England in Paris, France now find Italy on a menu in a second spin of matches – again on their home patch.

French manager Philippe Saint-Andre served adult a distant some-more savoury initial march to a French open opposite a English than final year’s hard-to-swallow efforts – a bitter-tasting better in Rome opposite a Italians was 2013’s
hors d’oeurves.

As with all successful dishes, credentials was pivotal and for Saint Andre a mixture were perfect; a splash of Jules Plisson during fly-half, a juicy looking three-quarter line of Wesley Fofana, Yoann Huget, Mathieu Bastareaud and Maxime Medard and a punch-packing Louis Picamoles all consistent nicely.

Saint-Andre was also discerning to move a two-week training stay with a players in Perpignan as assisting brine his patrol in a build adult to a game. “Without these dual weeks of preparation, we would never have won this match,” Saint Andre said. “We need a players to have a large earthy credentials in a off-season.”

If France have found their enchanting formula, for Italy’s French manager Jacques Brunel it is a box of “back to a kitchen” after their better by Wales in Cardiff.

That said, they found uninformed flavours in Michele Campagnaro – who scored dual tries – and half-Scottish fly-half Tommy Allan, nonetheless Brunel will no doubt spin to aged favourites such as Sergio Parisse, Martin Castrogiovanni and Mauro Bergamasco to move additional piquancy to a encounter.

Having served his time in a rugby stew of Perpignan, as good as forwards manager for a French team, Brunel is no foreigner to what lies in wait for his squad. Four of his players from a Wales detriment are also formed in France.

Poured into a cauldron prohibited adequate to boil a bouillabaisse, this assembly of a Six Nations’ continental twin should infer a juicy choice to a normal Sunday roast.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• Italy have not won in France given a 40-32 feat during Grenoble in Mar 1997.
• The Azzurri have won a final dual meetings in Rome, including 23-18 final year, though have never won back-to-back matches opposite a French.
• France have won 59 of 64 encounters (L4, D1).

France

• The final time France kick England and Italy in Paris, in 2010, they went on to win a Grand Slam.
• They have won a pretension on a past 4 occasions after a Lions tour: in 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010.
• France scored half as many tries in one diversion opposite England (three) as they managed in a whole of a 2013 Six Nations array (six).
• Only Scotland (177) done some-more tackles than France (151) on a opening weekend of fixtures.
• Toulouse flanker Yannick Nyanga finished a opening weekend with a best record for many defenders beaten (seven)
• Toulouse winger Yoann Huget has now scored 3 tries in his final dual appearances for France.
• France conceded 24 points opposite England, their top 6N total given a 24-22 better to a English in Paris during a 2012 series.

Italy

• Italy unsuccessful to win their opening Six Nations diversion for a 12th time in 15 years.
• They have mislaid 34 of their 36 Six Nations divided fixtures, including a final 16. Their usually win was 37-17 during Murrayfield in 2007.
• Martin Castrogiovanni and Sergio Parisse can turn Italy’s corner most-capped players by featuring opposite France, fasten column Andrea Lo Cicero on 103 caps.
• No.8 Sergio Parisse done 22 carries in a better by Wales, a best record of any actor during a opening weekend of a tournament.

TEAM NEWS LINE-UPS

France have done 3 changes, a many important of that sees Stade Francais winger Hugo Bonneval handed a entrance in place of Maxime Medard.

Dimitri Szarzewski comes in during harlot with Benjamin Kayser on a bench, while Yoann Maestri deputises for Alexandre Flanquart.

Italy duration make 5 changes, particularly replacing a gifted Marco Bortolami with Joshua Furno in a second row. Up front, Alberto Di Marchi switches places with Michele Rizzo, while Francesco Minto takes a blindside flanker mark with Alessandro Zanni forsaken to a bench.

In a backs, a Zebre twin of Tommaso Iannone and Gonzalo Garcia come into a 3 entertain line for Angelo Esposito and Alberto Sgarbi respectively.

France

: 15-Brice Dulin; 14-Yoann Huget, 13-Mathieu Bastareaud, 12-Wesley Fofana, 11-Hugo Bonneval; 10-Jules Plisson, 9-Jean-Marc Doussain; 1-Thomas Domingo, 2-Dimitri Szarzewski, 3-Nicholas Mas, 4-Yoann Maestri, 5-Pascal Pape, 6-Yannick Nyanga, 7-Bernard Le Roux, 8-Louis Picamoles

Replacements:
16-Benjamin Kayser, 17-Yannick Forestier, 18-Rabah Slimani, 19-Sébastien Vahaamahina, 20-Damien Chouly, 21-Maxime Machenaud, 22-Francois Trinh-Duc, 23-Gael Fickou

Italy

: 15-Luke McLean; 14-Tomasso Ianonne, 13-Michele Campagnaro, 12-Gonzalo Garcia, 11-Leonardo Sarto; 10-Tommy Allan, 9-Edoardo Gori; 1-Alberto Di Marchi, 2-Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3-Martin Castrogiovanni, 4-Quintin Geldenhuys, 5-Joshua Furno, 6-Francesco Minto, 7-Mauro Bergamasco, 8-Sergio Parisse

Replacements:
16-Davide Giazzon, 17-Michele Rizzo, 18-Lorenzo Cittadini, 19-Marco Bortolami, 20-Alessandro Zanni, 21-Tobias Botes, 22-Luciano Orquera, 23-Angelo Esposito

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee

: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

Touch judges

: Craig Joubert (South Africa) and Francisco Pastrana (Argentina)

TV

: Gareth Simmonds (Wales)

Article source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/26085145