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ENGLAND WIN IN SCOTLAND

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Stuart Lancaster’s new-look England team emerged from a brutal baptism of fire at Murrayfield in the RBS Six Nations with a battling 13-6 victory over Scotland.

Fly-half Charlie Hodgson, at 31 years old the elder statesman of the England squad, charged down his opposite number Dan Parks early on in the second half to score the ultimately decisive try.

Saracens team-mate Owen Farrell kicked the rest of England’s points on a nerveless debut, while his partner and fellow debutant in the centre Brad Barritt caught the eye with a formidable defensive display.

Scotland controlled territory and possession but were typically profligate in the opposition 22, though little should detract from a stoic and spirited England performance, which earned them their first win north of the border since 2004.

Interim coach Lancaster has just five games to stake his claim for a permanent post, and following the besmirching of English rugby’s reputation after the World Cup he has sought to inculcate a new atmosphere within the whole elite set-up.

Any dramatic sea-change would only truly be successful if supported by results, however, and a gritty win at Murrayfield with such a vastly inexperienced side is a huge step in the right direction for both Lancaster and English rugby as a whole.

The ultimate destination may well be the 2015 World Cup, but focus within the refreshingly dignified England camp will not stray from next week’s trip to Rome to face Italy.

The Azzurri are notoriously difficult to beat at home – indeed they vanquished France at the Stadio Olimpico last year – and a defeat for England would be a devastatingly crushing blow.

Surviving the stern examination of Murrayfield, however, will fill Lancaster’s raw recruits with genuine belief that a bright new era may just have dawned.

CARE BANNED FROM DRIVING

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Harlequins and England scrum half Danny Care has been banned from driving for 16 months and fined £3,000 following his conviction for drink-driving. He was stopped by police on New Year’s Day and tested over the legal limit and went on to plead guilty to drink driving.

Care has already been dropped from England for the Six Nations campaign and has now also faced the legal ramifications for his actions. Care now has the chance to focus on rebuilding his reputation and regaining his place in the England squad.

Care has said he “accepts that I made a very bad decision on the evening in question” but does emphasise “that at no time did I think I had drunk enough to be over the legal limit.” Care’s decision to not contest the charge shows his acceptance that he was in the wrong and he is eager to move on with the situation.

His dropping from the England squad comes as a result not only of this charge but also of the charge of drunk and disorderly that Care received last autumn. He has a past with Stuart Lancaster, and would have been in with a good chance of starting for England in the Six Nations had it not been for these charges. If as is believed to be a possibility, Lancaster is given the job on a full time basis, Care will be in with a chance of playing a major role in English Rugby’s future.

For now though his aims must be to continue to impress with Quins and force his way back into England consideration. This is the case whether Lancaster remains or if someone such as Mallett takes the role. He clearly has the ability to be England’s 9, but must prove he has the correct attitude. In the light of England’s problems at the World Cup alcohol related issues look to be being taken very seriously and Care must now put the focus back on his on-field ability.

TUILAGI MISSES OPENER

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Stuart Lancaster’s difficult job to construct an England team for the Six Nations opener against Scotland has been made a far more difficult task with the news that Manu Tuilagi will not be available for the game having been ruled out of the opener, and possibly the second game against Italy with a hamstring injury.

Tuilagi was injured in Leicester’s win over Worcester in the Premiership tie on December 27th and director of rugby, Richard Cockerill has announced he expects Tuilagi to be out for around a month. The Scotland game appears a definite “no” for Tuilagi and it will be touch and go as to whether he is fit for the Italy clash on February 11th.

Continue reading “TUILAGI MISSES OPENER”

TINDALL REMOVED FROM ENGLAND ELITE

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Mike Tindall’s international rugby career took a major blow as he was fined £25,000 and removed from England’s Elite Player Squad. England’s scandal hit World Cup tour has seen a number of players hit with fines and other penalties but it is vice captain Tindall who has been hit the hardest. Losing half of his World Cup payment is punishment enough but his International Career could well be over with his removal from the Elite Squad.

His alleged offence was apparent flirtatious behaviour in a New Zealand bar, with a woman he claimed was simply an old friend. Tindall though appears to have misled the RFU in their investigation into the night’s events and the Union have taken a hard line approach to dealing with the misconduct.

Tindall’s controversial incident was the first of a number to dog England’s campaign and could perhaps be seen as setting the tone for a catastrophic campaign on and off the field. Rob Andrew, head of English Rugby, described Tindall’s actions as reaching “a level of misconduct that was unacceptable in a senior England player”. Andrew went on to explain that the harsh penalty was in keeping with the seriousness of the offence and the scale of the public reaction. However, England Team mate Mark Cueto along with England legends Will Carling and Austin Healey have both come out to defend Tindall, claiming the punishment is “wrong” “a shambles” and “v confusing”.

Whilst this may well be the case Tindall, as a senior member of the touring party should have known better. He has experience of 3 World Cups and having married the Queen’s granddaughter, Zara Phillips, over the summer should have known he was a particular target for the press. Whilst the punishment is harsh it is understandable. It is not only as a punishment for his actions but also for his reaction, he set a poor example for the younger players and has been punished accordingly. He has paid the price for neglecting his responsibilities and may now never pull on the white shirt of England again.