Vickery ponders 'unacceptable' display
England captain Phil Vickery delivered a damning verdict after his side's latest Calcutta Cup calamity ended their Six Nations title hopes and guaranteed another campaign of crushing under-achievement.
England captain Phil Vickery delivered a damning verdict after his side's latest Calcutta Cup calamity ended their Six Nations title hopes and guaranteed another campaign of crushing under-achievement.
Vickery and company left Edinburgh after making a huge contribution to arguably England's worst ever performance.
Scotland richly deserved the 15-9 win yesterday, purely through a greater grasp of rugby's basic rudiments in filthy conditions – and Chris Paterson's dead-eye goal-kicking.
England were a shambles, failing to create one worthwhile attacking opportunity. As performances go, it was of the pitiful apology variety.
The confidence, composure and clear tactical direction so evident during their impressive victory over France in Paris two weeks earlier disappeared – blown away on a cold blast of mediocrity.
It was so demoralisingly poor that England head coach Brian Ashton must make several changes before next Saturday's Twickenham finale against Ireland – when both countries will be playing for nothing more than pride, while Wales and France contest Six Nations title business.
Fly-half Jonny Wilkinson – he broke Neil Jenkins's world Test points record of 1090, but did precious little else – wing Lesley Vainikolo and centre Jamie Noon must be among those whose places are under threat.
Even Ashton cannot feel too comfortable about long-term job security after such a miserable effort.
He has been in charge for 21 Tests and already suffered 10 defeats. Far more importantly, though, England did not seem to know what they were doing for large parts of a dire Murrayfield mud-fest.
Their tactical kicking never progressed beyond novice level; they lost the key collisions, were guilty of dreadful indiscipline and struggled chronically to string together threatening phases.
It all meant that for a fifth successive Six Nations season since the heady heights of a memorable Grand Slam triumph in 2003, England were reduced to tournament also-rans.
There could be no hiding place after such a dreadful display – and straight-talking Vickery didn't seek one.
He said: “It is very disappointing, especially after France.
“We talked all week about performing at a higher level all the time. But we didn't perform at a high level – and we got our just deserts.
“We went out and did everything we said we wouldn't do in the first 30 minutes. We were on the back foot.
“We had talked about discipline all week, before kick-off and at half-time. In a hostile environment away from home, we knew we had to be squeaky clean and couldn't afford to give Scotland anything.
“It is very difficult to put into words my feelings and those of the guys. We will have to regroup.
“There has been a bit of old-fashioned talk.
“You can be as technical as you want and talk about coaches, but at the end of the day you have got to go out and perform,
“You have to grind it out – and if you have to hit 50 rucks and make 20 tackles, that's what you've got to do. That is your job.
“It is not good enough. It is unacceptable we are facing next weekend an Ireland team and possibly losing three games in the Six Nations.”
Whether England can regroup in time must be debatable.
They have not beaten Ireland at Twickenham since 2002, while it is now three defeats from the last five Calcutta Cup Tests in Edinburgh.
It would easier to see through England's self-induced fog if there was light and clarity beyond the clouds.
There is currently no consistency in performance, either collective or individual, and Ashton has to make some tough decisions.
He should start by welcoming back Danny Cipriani after ditching him for Scotland.
Cipriani paid a hefty price when he was pictured leaving a London night-spot after midnight last Thursday, even though he had not consumed alcohol.
But England need the 20-year-old Wasps star against Ireland, either at full-back or perhaps instead of an ailing Wilkinson in the number ten shirt.
In the meantime, it will be down to experienced figures like Vickery to pick up the pieces.
He added: “It shakes my confidence, because I am captain of a side that has lost another game.
“I have got to 'front up' and take it on the chin. I've got nowhere to hide – and I don't want to hide.
“We always knew it was going to be tough. But we were found wanting, and that is unacceptable.
“We've got to get a win [next Saturday], which would be nice. We've got to have some pretty open and honest conversations among ourselves – and we've got to prepare.
“I hope I will get a chance to play because I am sure Brian will be making some changes.
“I think we are good enough, but we have got to play consistently at the level we produced at times in Paris.
“It is about performing, and not enough of us performed to a high enough standard.”
Notable moments at Murrayfield could be written on the back of a postage stamp – four Paterson penalties, one long-range effort from Dan Parks, three Wilkinson strikes and a horrible collision between Rory Lamont and England full-back Iain Balshaw that saw the Scotland wing carried off and taken to hospital.
The game was second-class and second-rate, although maybe even those descriptions are too kind to England.
By Andrew Baldock