On the face of it, there is not much in Saturday’s match between Scotland and England for the neutral. Two teams devoid of confidence, bereft of ideas regarding how to turn their loudly trumpeted attacking ambition into something, anything constructive or substantial. Hell there have even being England supporters on the message boards saying they are sorely tempted to give it a miss themselves. But there is far more to this game than that.
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Last week, I announced the launch of a raffle that I’m organising this year to raise money for a charity called the Tag Rugby Trust.
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Trust the French to blow everyone’s predictions out of the water. This was expected to be the most unpredictable of Six Nations where the only likelihood was that there would be no Grand Slam. But trying to predict the France rugby team is rather akin to trying to predict where Tiger Woods will be spending his Saturday night. It has become a cliché to say that it is a cliché to say that you never know which French team will turn up.
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Even the most casual observer can testify to the amount rugby has changed in recent years. The arrival of lifting in the lineout, handling in rucks, blitz defences, 90% goal kickers and substitutes, the disappearance of boots on bodies, moustaches, beer guts, not to mention the advent of tight shirts and bodybuilder-style physiques have made the game almost unrecognisable from even 15 years ago. Nowadays it would be 5’9” Tony Underwood who was considered the freak rather than Jonah Lomu.

Bastereaud – Size: Massive; Style: Bludgeon
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A plea for support from your Editor of The Rugby Blog: I am organising a big online rugby raffle to raise money for charity, and I’d be really grateful for the support of our readers.

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As the 2010 RBS Six Nations unfolds, everyone is talking about Grand Slams for France, Triple Crowns for Ireland and just how poor England have been recently. What’s not being so openly talked about is Italy’s victory over Scotland and how they almost claimed their first ever win over England in 16 attempts.

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Andy Powell has been banned from driving today for 15 months, following his hilarious golf buggy episode at the M4 service station after the Wales victory over Scotland.
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When a coach reflects so longingly on the loss of one player, it not only reminds us of what could have been but also highlights a team’s current shortcomings. Warren Gatland has always held Gavin Henson in high regard and in his latest appraisal of the 28-year-old Ospreys star, the mastermind behind the 2008 Grand Slam admitted he was desperate for the centre to return.

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