A quick trip down memory lane first, as I was challenged by some Scottish mates to remember our 1986 drubbing by 33-6 in sub zero temperatures at a joyous Murrayfield, not that there were many similarities with the clash of 2026. In 1986 we beat Wales with a last minute drop goal from Rob Andrew, facing an opposition with multiple British & Irish Lions and household names, rather different to the training run England enjoyed recently. We proceeded to the frozen North to face Scotland, apparently favourites but up against a side with a host more household names, Jeffrey, Hastings(x2), Calder, Rutherford, Laidlaw etc. Our hooker barely knew our second row let alone practiced with him, the formidable Jon Hall broke his hand in a fracas and was replaced by a lock forward Nigel Redman who was promptly embarrassed by Jon Rutherford and Rob Laidlaw, and Maurice Colclough threw two Hail Mary passes resulting in tries for the rampant Scots. The backs hardly saw the ball yet 4 of us were dropped, it was a zero degrees shambles and many more paid the ultimate price as a shocked England regrouped and the selectors rolled a few more dice. It happened like that in those days.

We learnt the hard way and even though the Grand Slam 1990 defeat reinforced the hurt, I eventually found a way to be on the winning side three times up there. It is a formidable mental and physical challenge and you need a bloody-minded attitude. Does this England squad have that? Surely Russell, in variable form this season, needed targetting and their poor start in Rome could then be repeated. The reverse happened, and he enjoyed an armchair ride with Glasgow’s recent top form suddenly on show. A titanic effort up front was needed by England and never happened after some early scrum dominance. Our tactical challenge was meek, and Scotland has now worked out how to counter the high ball tactics a little like France who dismantled Wales with ease. When it was so difficult to win the ball why did the men in Red kick it away? Clueless approach and no excuse frankly.

I said last week that a loss to Scotland, same old same old, need not be a disaster if we are showing constant improvement. Now I hear of significant changes to the line up- hope I am wrong- and while that may work fine against an ailing Ireland, who were distinctly lucky to beat the Azzurri, it will ask questions of the Borthwick selection process. I also wonder what Lee Blackett thinks about the obsessive kicking of the England halfbacks when we really need to explore our midfield creativity. He needs to be given a licence to drive a different approach- are they not supposed to be playing ‘brave’ as challenged by Borthwick. Ultimately, it was Scotland the Brave who we rightly saluted post match.There is no point starving our centres of ball (Ford is as guilty as anyone) and then pushing for change. It really is déja vu and would recall the worst days of Lancaster and Jones.

Meantime, Italy is already the surprise package of the tournament and I really like the way they are playing. England beware in the Eternal City.Their backs in particular, together with Scotland and France, are catching the eye. Anyone who takes them lightly will pay the consequences and Ireland almost did.

Finally, it may be that poor old Wales invited France to show off their consummate skills through aimless kicking, but we nonetheless witnessed the emergence of two reserve yet prominent centres we have never heard of, Brau Boirie at 20 years old a classic example of the successful French pathway. Together with Bielle Biarrey this could become a commentators nightmare! They are playing a style of rugby which will definitely threaten the hegemony of the Springboks. They have a score to settle after Paris 2023, and with Dupont ever the creator of chances, stunningly so, I sense a purpose in this young French side which finally could challenge and overcome the World’s best.

As ever the Six Nations throws up surprise after surprise which we all love. I predict that Scotland will now push on, while at Twickenham if England do not get a fast start then the problems will mount. I say, give Blackett the licence to thrill, take the ball in hand and run the Irish off their feet rather than give the crowd neckache watching the ball go skywards.

Hallers