The bi-annual trip to Edinburgh hasn’t been a happy one for England in recent years with two losses in their last two visits, but with Scotland now 8/13 favourites (
Totesport) for the wooden spoon following their loss to Italy Martin Johnson’s side will be looking to make it third time lucky and back up their favourites tag (8/15
BetFred) to overcome what will surely be a pumped up Scots team.
Performances so far in the tournament suggest there is little between the two sides. Both sides racked up points against Wales while they both then went on to struggle in Rome against Italy. The big difference however, being that Scotland came away from both those games empty handed while England gained two victories to leave them in with a shout of winning the 6 Nations title at odds of 25/1 (
Paddy Power).
Scotland are 2/1with
Sporting Bet to give coach Andy Robinson a victory against his former charges. Their hopes will rest largely on the boot of Dan Parks to continue his recent kicking form which has seen miss only once in the last two games. This is the kind of return we have come to expect from Jonny Wilkinson over the years, although his last two games have seen only a 50% success rate.
Totesport make Parks 6/5 to triumph in this head to head with Wilkinson 5/6. The tie is 8/1. Another off day with the boot for WIlko could see Johnson getting a boot of his own.
Considering that the three quarter line for both teams have managed just one try apiece so far and England, having dropped Lewis Moody are without a genuine openside flanker, looking to the packs for the first try may prove profitable. Scotland will be keen to start with a bang against their old enemy and back rowers John Barclay and Johnnie Beattie (both 40/1 with
Sportingbet) are excellent support runners who may fancy their chances in what could be a forward dominated game.
England dominated possession against Ireland but ultimately lost as the Irish were more clinical with their possession. A fired up Scottish pack might not let England enjoy as much ball as Ireland did but it is hard to see a Scottish backline shorn of the likes of Chris Patterson, Rory Lamont and Thom Evans being clinical to bag a win.
After being unable to win recent close games against Italy. Wales and, in the autumn, Argentina, form would suggest that Scotland are likely to narrowly fail again as England take a narrow victory by 1-5 points (9/2
Boylesports). However, if it comes down a shoot out between the kickers, Parks’ form (or Wilkinson’s lack of it) could turn the tide Scotland’s way. The home win by 1-5 points is11/2 with
BlueSquare which would see Johnson being sent homeward tae think again about his tactics, and possibly even his career.