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England in Six Nations grand slam decider against Ireland
London, Mar 23: England played their part in setting up a Six Nations grand slam decider against Ireland with a 40-9 victory over Scotland on Saturday but they needed a strong second-half display to subdue their visitors.
London, Mar 23: England played their part in setting up a Six Nations grand slam decider against Ireland with a 40-9 victory over Scotland on Saturday but they needed a strong second-half display to subdue their visitors.
England were made to work all the way by an enthused and obdurate Scotland side on Saturday (March 22), particularly in a tight first half. Two tries for Jason Robinson, one each for Josh Lewsey and Ben Cohen, together with 18 points from the faultless boot of Jonny Wilkinson, eventually took England's run of Twickenham victories to 21 and left the Scots without a win at the ground for 20 years. The England victory, and Ireland's against Wales, sets up the grand slam decider in Dublin in eight days, where England will have to start playing much earlier than on Saturday if they are to claim their first slam since 1995. As in all their previous games in this year's championship, England struggled for cohesion for long periods, looking a long way short of the team that took the three southern hemisphere scalps so impressively last November.
On a perfect Spring afternoon Wilkinson set England on their way in his usual fashion with a second-minute penalty and added a second nine minutes later.
Scotland then lost back row forwards Andrew Mower and Simon Taylor within a minute, both sinbinned for wild hits on Will Greenwood and Lewsey respectively as the England backs waited under high balls.
The Twickenham crowd sat back in the sun to await the onslaught but instead were treated to a spirited reaction from a Scotland team given no chance coming into the game.
Two men down, they drove forward and showed plenty of invention in the backs, leading to two penalties which Chris Paterson duly slotted to make it 6-6 after 20 minutes.
It was then time for England to see yellow, as Robinson took a rest after a late block.
England finally got some quick ball in the 22nd minute and, after some sharp handling, fullback Lewsey crossed in the left corner for his third try in two games.
Lewsey was close to a second eight minutes later, denied by a last-ditch tackle by opposite number Glen Metcalfe, and England had only another Wilkinson penalty to give them a 16-9 halftime lead.
England struggled to get moving in the second half and were frustrated when a Cohen try from a high Wilkinson kick was ruled out for a knock-on.
But soon after, in the 50th minute, Cohen duly got on the scoreboard after Matt Dawson robbed Bryan Redpath as the scrumhalf attempted to kick from behind a scrum and the winger had the simplest of tries -- his 20th in his 24th international.
Wilkinson converted and added a 54th minute penalty to give England breathing space with a 26-9 lead and they finally began to take charge as the Scots tired.
Robinson, switched to centre in a second-half reshuffle, burst through with his trademark acceleration to score in the 63rd and then added his second after a break by the increasingly impressive Dawson.
The Calcutta Cup was never in danger of heading north and England's defence remained outstanding.
But Ireland, fresh from their own scare in Cardiff, will go into the game with real belief that Clive Woodward's team are beatable.
Bureau Report
England were made to work all the way by an enthused and obdurate Scotland side on Saturday (March 22), particularly in a tight first half. Two tries for Jason Robinson, one each for Josh Lewsey and Ben Cohen, together with 18 points from the faultless boot of Jonny Wilkinson, eventually took England's run of Twickenham victories to 21 and left the Scots without a win at the ground for 20 years. The England victory, and Ireland's against Wales, sets up the grand slam decider in Dublin in eight days, where England will have to start playing much earlier than on Saturday if they are to claim their first slam since 1995. As in all their previous games in this year's championship, England struggled for cohesion for long periods, looking a long way short of the team that took the three southern hemisphere scalps so impressively last November.
On a perfect Spring afternoon Wilkinson set England on their way in his usual fashion with a second-minute penalty and added a second nine minutes later.
Scotland then lost back row forwards Andrew Mower and Simon Taylor within a minute, both sinbinned for wild hits on Will Greenwood and Lewsey respectively as the England backs waited under high balls.
The Twickenham crowd sat back in the sun to await the onslaught but instead were treated to a spirited reaction from a Scotland team given no chance coming into the game.
Two men down, they drove forward and showed plenty of invention in the backs, leading to two penalties which Chris Paterson duly slotted to make it 6-6 after 20 minutes.
It was then time for England to see yellow, as Robinson took a rest after a late block.
England finally got some quick ball in the 22nd minute and, after some sharp handling, fullback Lewsey crossed in the left corner for his third try in two games.
Lewsey was close to a second eight minutes later, denied by a last-ditch tackle by opposite number Glen Metcalfe, and England had only another Wilkinson penalty to give them a 16-9 halftime lead.
England struggled to get moving in the second half and were frustrated when a Cohen try from a high Wilkinson kick was ruled out for a knock-on.
But soon after, in the 50th minute, Cohen duly got on the scoreboard after Matt Dawson robbed Bryan Redpath as the scrumhalf attempted to kick from behind a scrum and the winger had the simplest of tries -- his 20th in his 24th international.
Wilkinson converted and added a 54th minute penalty to give England breathing space with a 26-9 lead and they finally began to take charge as the Scots tired.
Robinson, switched to centre in a second-half reshuffle, burst through with his trademark acceleration to score in the 63rd and then added his second after a break by the increasingly impressive Dawson.
The Calcutta Cup was never in danger of heading north and England's defence remained outstanding.
But Ireland, fresh from their own scare in Cardiff, will go into the game with real belief that Clive Woodward's team are beatable.
Bureau Report