France set for immense challenge against England after Covid crisis greekherald.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from greekherald.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Ireland presented with opportunity to take the lead over Scotland for first time in history
Ireland have a unique opportunity in Sunday s Six Nations clash in Murrayfield
Brian O Driscoll celebrates victory over Scotland in 2000. Picture: INPHO/Patrick Bolger
Wed, 10 Mar, 2021 - 19:15
RichardB
It may come as a surprise to learn that next Sunday in Murrayfield Ireland will play arguably one of their most important matches in almost 150 years of Test rugby.
Yes, 138 matches after playing Scotland for the first time, Ireland finally have the opportunity to lead in the head-to-head series, with both teams now on 66 victories each (plus five draws and one abandoned).
It was Robert Horry, the NBA basketball legend, who once said that âpressure can burst a pipe or pressure can make a diamond.â
It is a quote that sprung to mind on Thursday as England head coach Eddie Jones named his starting XV to face France at Twickenham on Saturday.
The pressure has been building on England after two defeats in the opening three rounds of the Guinness Six Nations Championship.
And with Grand Slam-chasing France arriving into London with the kind of swagger we have not seen from Les Bleus for over a decade, it feels like England have reached the point where this year will be defined by how they react to that pressure on Saturday.