Freeley Speaking: Kiwiland in kilts

Opinion

In the build up to England's final group game we had experienced plenty of Scottish people talking up the men from Murrayfield's chances come match day. Both myself and Greg politely agreed to the boisterous Scot's claim of a victory in Eden Park come Saturday, agreeing silently that England would comprehensively beat its little brother. We couldn't have been more wrong.

The match I had been the most excited to see down in Eden Park which is a venue idolised by rugby fans from all over the world. We made our way from my friends flat, down the famous K-road and onto the fan trail, slowly stopping at the bars and being greeted by men in kilts to the questionable inhabitants of the K-road.

We headed to Ponsonby for a few pre match beers in the comforting England surroundings of an English supporting area. Auckland council had clearly read my earlier blog and gave out local areas second teams for follow. Increasingly we were joined by English & plenty of kilt wearing, kiwi sounding Scots. Again as we have experienced time and time again the locals where out in force to follow the underdog.

In the stadium and the atmosphere was building up nicely and I genuinely thought a comfortable win for our boys would be on the cards. However England struggled in wet and wild first half and gave plenty of penalties away, with five conceded in the first 15 minutes. With Dan Pakes and Chris Paterson scoring early penalties, fortunately Scotland where also poor in the breakdown and Johnny Wilkinson had three penalty opportunities which where all spurned.

After thirty three minutes England finally got on the scoreboard, with Wilkinson converting from distance. Scotland were fired up and had the lion share of possession and territory, they capitalised on the stoke of half time as Parkes scored a well worked dropped goal, with the Scots going in at half time 9-3 up.

In the second half England seemed better, after a presumed rollicking from Martin Johnston. Manu Tuilangi certainly stepped up and time and time again broke the Scottish defensive line with his bulldozing runs. Again Wilkinson was poor kicking at goal. Much to the frustration of the England fans in the stands, who were calling for Toby Flood to come on and replace the increasingly jaded Wilkinson.

Scotland were still dangerous on the break and it took a miraculous piece of defending from Northampton Saints Ben Folden to deny the Scots a try. But it wasn't long before Scotland increased their lead with Paterson converting a penalty from a scrum infringement. Leaving Scotland 12-3 up with 20 minutes to go, Wilkinson finally found his scoring boots and slammed home a drop-goal.

Two further missed opportunities and it seemed the World cup veteran was destined to be hauled off. He finally made way for Banahan on the 75th minute for Toby Flood to pop into his first 5 position.

Immediately England where a different animal, no longer at the mercy of Wilkinson who dictated the way England played constantly kicking and missing penalty opportunities. But it was his replacement at fly-half who would have the final say in the match. Flood with a decisive pass to Northampton Saints winger Chris Ashton to crash over from the right wing, Flood converted the try giving England a 16-12 victory. Effectively booting Scotland out of the World Cup, to the despair of many a fan in dressed in tartan in Eden Park.

Again the game was a little too close for comfort of most England fans. But still we managed to scrape the win. From a fans perspective I think after such a poor game with the boot Wilkinson needs to be dropped in favour of Flood who had an immediate impact in the fly-half position for England. A demoralised French side are next for the English who lost to Tonga on the weekend, if the right changes our made to the side England could just be in the semi-finals.