Rugby World Cup: Thistle do... for England

Manu Tuilagi on the burst for England. Photo / Doug Sherring

England 16

Scotland 12

It was no Bannockburn for Scotland but they went mighty close to giving England a shock exit from the World Cup with a brave-hearted performance at Eden Park last night, and for the most part in the wet. Chris Ashton's try - the only one of the match - sealed a victory two minutes from time as favourites England finally decided to give their backs a run. It ends a tradition for Scotland set in 1987 of making every World Cup quarter-finals, provided Argentina beat Georgia today.

Many would have considered it a dull affair and in many respects it was, but in other ways it was knockout rugby where defence and composure become critical.

Scotland needed to beat England by at least eight points to guarantee progression to the last eight, a winning margin they hadn't managed since 1986. They chipped away at their objective and came agonisingly close before capitulating in the final moments.

In 140 years of rugby history England and Scotland had never met on a neutral ground for a test match and, judging by the crowd reaction the Scots could safely consider themselves at home, right down to the walking, talking Scottish flag in blue swandri and diagonal white reflector tape. Perhaps it is the fact England's governing body is known as The RFU, maybe it was the ball swap incident against Romania or Prince Mike getting busted. Whatever, Scotland seized the vibe.

Attrition played its part - an abacus was required to count the knock-ons. Yet the Scottish forward pack had obviously learnt from an ordinary opening display against Romania. There were Warrior-like efforts particularly from returning skipper Alastair Kellock and No8 Richie Vernon who steeled the back-row for an evening of toil in the absence of workhorse Kelly Brown.

In the first quarter Scotland played with the type of fury and intensity that the match demanded. This team was some distance from that which had been threatened by Romania and Georgia. Scotland must have had the most evenly fought games across the tournament. They went out to a 6-0 lead via 9th and 17th minute penalties, the second coming courtesy of the television match official's help ... no repeats of a Welsh robbery here. Dan Parks completed the honours with the second after coming on in the fifth minute for starting first-five Ruaridh Jackson who hobbled off with what looked like a knee injury.

The wet weather gave England's supposed strike force out wide limited opportunities. Delon Armitage on the left wing and Manu Tuilagi at centre looked one-dimensional compared to dashing Scots three-quarters opposites like Max Evans who has had a strong all-round tournament and Simon Danielli who saved his side with a late brace against Romania. The pair were helped by a kicking game which played the percentages; it was either wipers, bombs or grubbers to keep the English defensive line longing for a dry Twickenham. Both sides tried to keep the ball in hand for most of the second half when Jonny Wilkinson wasn't attempting drop goals.

The luck is against Wilkinson at present. He missed his first three penalty goals but on a wet night in Auckland having to shoot the first from 50m in front, the second angled for about 55m from the left hand touch and the third from 40m just to the left of the posts, it was a tough ask. He couldn't even slot drop off his favoured left boot as the second half ticked ominously on. However, for a player of his calibre it was unacceptable.

England 16 (C. Ashton try; J. Wilkinson 2 pens, drop goal, T. Flood con) Scotland 12 (D. Parks, C.Paterson 2 pens, Parks drop goal). Halftime: Scotland 9-3.