ENGLAND COACH EDDIE Jones looked forward to settling a score against Scotland after his side maintained their Six Nations title hopes with a 57-14 thrashing of Italy at Twickenham on Saturday.
Wales will be crowned champions if they end the tournament by completing a Grand Slam against Ireland in Cardiff before England kick-off against Scotland at Twickenham on March 16.
But if the Welsh stumble then England, who ran in eight tries against Italy, could yet take the title by regaining the Calcutta Cup.
Scotland, who lost 18-11 at home to Wales earlier on Saturday, beat England 25-13 at Murrayfield last season.
The next day Jones was abused and attacked by Scotland fans at a train station in Manchester.
Jones made clear at the time how he felt pre-match comments from Gavin Hastings — the former Scotland captain said the Scots would love nothing more than “to rub Eddie Jones’ face in the dirt” — had contributed to the incident.
“We’ll rip into training and be at our absolute best next week, because we’re going to have to be to beat Scotland,” Jones said.
We know that’s their game of the year. We saw how they carried on last year after they beat us. So, we might have short memories sometimes, but sometimes you have longer memories.”
“I just remember everything that was being said. That’s all I have to say. I don’t have to recite what’s been said.”
For all Scotland lifted the Calcutta Cup last season, the fact remains they’ve enjoyed just four triumphs Twickenham triumphs over England — and the last of those was in 1983.
On Saturday, Manu Tuilagi and Brad Shields scored two tries apiece as England ran riot against an Italy side who’ve now lost a record 21 successive Six Nations games.
Jamie George, Jonny May, George Kruis and Dan Robson also crossed Italy’s line as England returned to winning ways following their 21-13 defeat by Wales in Cardiff two weeks ago.
That loss led to suggestions Jones had been ‘out-coached’ by Wales boss Warren Gatland, particularly in his use of replacement players.
Jones agreed, saying after the Italy rout: “I don’t think I coached the side very well against Wales and I take responsibility for that.
“Did I doubt myself? Probably not. I was filthy about the way I coached. I didn’t coach well,” he added. “I let the players down.”
Italy coach Conor O’Shea insisted the Azzurri could yet beat France in Rome next week despite this heavy loss.
“Sometimes you can over analyse things. We were overpowered. And they (England) are an unbelievably powerful side,” he said.
“They were a hurting side. But they’re the best side in the Six Nations, in my opinion,” the former Ireland full-back added.
As for Italy’s prospects against France, who face Ireland in Dublin on Sunday, O’Shea said: “Rugby can change very quickly. We’ll be in the game next week.”
Italy captain Sergio Parisse added he was “pretty confident” of being fit for what could be his last appearance in the Six Nations after the veteran No 8 suffered a hamstring injury on Saturday.
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Id love to know what she and others want. They rant about not getting coverage etc yet when something is done about it tgry’re still not happy
@Stíofán Mac Piarais: the women need to grow their own game
You can bet if men and women come under the one umbrella there will be cries of discrimination even though the womens boards have managed to mess some things up big time in recent years
@gjpb:
agree, and to be fair to Aoife, she has made that point numerous times. There are 60 plus camogie clubs in Cork , where is the support from them? I’m not a member of any of those clubs and it’s been some time since I picked up a hurley, but I’ll go to watch them as often as I can. Not because I’m a woman on some feminist mission, it’s because I really enjoy watching them play, sure there are bad games but that happens in every sport.
@Lynda O Sullivan:
agree, have been to many camogie matches over the years and have enjoyed some great matches.
however, they need to stand on their on 2 feet and grow the game. there are barely no adds for camogie on tv and what I have seen are amateur. then compare it to ladies football.
one thing I hear everyone saying is how great ladies football has grown with the 46k attendance last year. not to put a dampener on things, but weren’t the majority of those who attended school children who paid a tenor or something equivalent in?
The blame for lack of support for women’s sport lies firstly and mostly with women. You make up just over half of the population and yet choose major men’s sporting events over your own. Get your own house in order first.
@Etherman: Thats true. The interest isnt there and i hate saying that. My 9 yr old daughter and 50+ girls from the local camogie club went by coach to the Ladies Senior Hurling Final 2017. It was all free. They cant give away tickets for these finals.
@Etherman: the reason the can’t go to the games is cause they are getting their house in order first! :D
Nothing to do with the GAA. Camogie is run by it’s own governing body. I agree though that the skirts or skorts they wear now should be gone. My daughters play both camogie and football and hate having to wear the skorts.
@Pat Coady: All it would take is one or more of the players to take a stand and line out for a high profile game wearing shorts instead of skirts. The best thing then that could happen is the referee would refuse to let them play as per the rules. There would be a big hold up, confusion all round and it would gain massive national coverage. Debate and outrage would follow and by the time the following congress comes around a motion would be ready to be tabled to change the rule. And ultimately it is the women who would decide what sports gear they wear for matches.
There are established male music artists curtain raising for younger, but much more popular, female artists. That’s life. The reality is male sports events for the most part draw bigger crowds.
The gap is narrowing though and it was fantastic to see a crowd of over 40,000 at the ladies AI football final last year. Hopefully the camoige and ladies football will continue to grow their support in the years to come.
apples and oranges
Here’s the thing Aoife, if you played against the U21′s those “kids” would bate your team off the pitch
As would the minors.
Bit of perspective required
I think it’s fair to say that these curtain raisers won’t appeal to most of the supporters either.
@Cathal Stack:
well if there are the same county playing different codes it would, the double header of the league finals have been, in my opinion, a good idea, because there usually is at least one camogie/hurling team from the same county.
If she feels she is not being treated equally, why does she not join the men’s team. In this day and age there should only be one team. Dividing teams by gender is just plain sexist.
@Padraic Reid: Because most people want equality on their terms. Not true equality.
How come none of these great female athletes ever lay the blame at their fellow females for not bothering their backsides to support them???. Im sure the irish mens badminton team arent pulling the sexist card cos the women of ireland arent turning up in their thousands to support them. Lead by example, get out and support your fellow female athletes… that would be a great start
I don’t see what’s so crontroversial tbh? She says that she doesn’t like the idea of a senior team opening up for the U21′s but says that’d be good for the game overall. Pretty reasonable I’d have thought.
When will the GAA get rid (or at least put to a vote for players)of the skirt nonsense?
@Ar Mhuin Na Muice: never as it has nothing to do with them
Who was it said if women wore shorter shorts they would get better attendance at their games? Have they tried that.
You know what the most laughable thing about this is. Men are getting the blame for this. Now men have little or no interest in female sports in general and even that puts a target on our backs. The sheer lack of interest and support from females should be the issuse hete and not whinging about the mens game every time they are on an undercard.
It has tge same level of support or maybe less than the mens minor but you don’t here the minor guys moaning. Promote the sport to your target audience and stop blaming men for the lack of interest in a side of the sport with a lesser draw
What more does she want? Camogie is just not that popular
Camogie is a good game- some very good players- but, I don’t think it bears up well in comparison to hurling. Rules are a big part of the problem. The full size pitch is too big- takes forever to get the ball down the pitch- leading to defensive formations and low scoring affairs. Playing on a smaller field would help hugely.
And the skorts are rediculous.
She has a point (put extremely disparagingly “I’ve played senior camogie and we’ve opened up U21 hurling matches and you’re going, ‘Fvck, these are kids. I’m a grown woman and I have to open up. They’re the main stage’.)
Perhaps her bluff should be called. Camogie matches should be played as the main attraction, it would be interesting to see how many turn up to watch
@Martin: no one is doubting the effort put in by those who play but nowhere have i seen a female state the obvious, you just won’t draw the crowd if you are the main event. Its nit sexist or agest as you make it out to be ir at least draw attention to. Sometimes you just gotta face facts, its not that popular to the mainstream sports fan who wants their team given primetime slots
Has her head screwed on anyway. That Camogie league cup looks remarkably like the FA Cup
Legend
Why doesn’t she play hockey and get herself on the olympic team? that game is not worth the energy.
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