The penultimate weekend of the RBS 6 Nations had to do battle with the country's premier canine show in the public's sporting affections.
Crufts has had its problems in recent years and as a result finds itself cast out from the bosom of the BBC's schedules into the broadcasting ether.
Much of the focus this year was on the Basset hound category. Apparently, the droopier the eyelids on the poor buggers, the better they'll do in front of the judges. It can take years of breeding to produce the optimum look.
On Saturday, 80 minutes watching the action at Murrayfield would have had the prized pooches reaching for the matchsticks. This Calcutta Cup contest was a mongrel of a match. As one wag commented: "William Webb Ellis must look down on England and think: 'what a waste of a handball'."
However light hearted the sentiment, you have to wonder how much more of this the Beeb will want to serve up before England games find themselves vying with Man's best friend for air time in the digital wastelands.
In essence, on show in Edinburgh were two teams that deserved each other. England's backs are beginning to wonder what the far side of the try line looks like and Scotland proved equally as blunt in attack, failing miserably to recognise opportunities that presented themselves to score a five-pointer.
Martin Johnson again stressed that there was evidence of progress in as much as he is starting to see the core of the team come together. In terms of stating the bleeding obvious he is right, because he has stuck with the same players, thus creating a core. The problem is that it is a core that has not improved in the two years he has been in charge.
Contrast this with Ireland, who employ a consistency in selection more out of necessity than choice, given their smaller pool of players. Yet they seem to learn and improve and around that core the likes of Keith Earls and Tomas O'Leary are blossoming into fine players who could yet carry Ireland to another best in show trophy as Johnson's bulldogs head for the kennels.
Even Ireland were outclassed at the Stade de France, so England will need to emerge with a snarl about them in Paris next weekend or they'll be sent home with their tails between their legs by the Grand Slam champions elect.
Marc Lievremont's side ripped Italy apart like a Rottweiler going at a badly stitched soft toy on Sunday, which speaks volumes for Scotland and England's struggles with the Azzurri.
On this evidence, the red rose could be in tatters on Saturday night, shredded by a team that has emerged from Lievremont's early experimentation.
The Frenchman's incessant tinkering in his early months was criticised heavily. Now it is viewed as mastery, because it allowed him to road test umpteen combinations before melding together the best of the materials he had at his disposal.
In contrast, Johnson has given only a couple of his promising youngsters no more than a slither of an opportunity on the big stage with pointless cameos from the bench, rather than giving himself an idea of whether they are good enough by pitching them in from the start.
Others haven't even got that far. Chris Ashton has scored 19 tries this season. The three wings who have played for England ahead of him have amassed less than that between them.
The end result of all this is already patently obvious, but will be painfully emphasised once again in the final round of games. France and Ireland are moving forward nicely, while Johnson's England are still in their dog days.
READ DANNY COYLE EVERY TUESDAY AT RUGBY.CO.UK
Date published :
16 Mar 201009:15:35
