According to halfback Ben Youngs, England prefers to “win ugly” instead of risking a loss to Scotland in their Rugby World Cup 2011 match-up.
The emphasis on defensive tactics and kicking by northern teams is often criticized by southern hemisphere sides who focus on attack, yet the No.9 emphasizes that “it’s all about winning”.
Anticipations for the match include Six Nations-style rain and cold, and with both teams’ World Cup aspirations at stake, Youngs cautions spectators to prepare for a gritty contest at Auckland’s Eden Park.
“While each team will aim to attack and score, in tight matches, things often become quite condensed. So it’ll be interesting,” stated Youngs.
“I’d prefer to win ugly rather than lose with ambition and flair; at the weekend, the focus is solely on winning.”
England displayed dominance in their 67-3 victory over Romania, scoring 10 tries in ideal conditions beneath the Otago Stadium roof, but Youngs acknowledged that Scotland would require a different strategy.
“We operated under the roof where offloading and passing were more feasible,” he explained. “However, with rain expected this weekend, we’re fully conscious of the weather and its impact on gameplay.”
“Players have sufficient experience in Premiership and Heineken Cup matches during wet conditions, so if we remain smart about our approach, I believe we will execute the right game plan and avoid forcing plays.”
Scotland is battling to sustain their World Cup prospects following a narrow 13-12 defeat to Argentina, while England also needs a victory to ensure they top their pool, potentially leading to a quarter-final against France.
“We must exhibit more hunger than they do. Our passion needs to exceed theirs. It’s vital we match their physicality, and if we do so, we should position ourselves well,” Youngs remarked.
“I anticipate an intense physical clash among the forwards, and we will see who emerges victorious. But I would always prefer to align behind our pack.”
Youngs acknowledged that discipline is crucial, with Chris Paterson and Ruaridh Jackson posing risks with their penalties for Scotland.
“We need to maintain impeccable discipline and have confidence in our defense. Having conceded only one try in three matches, there’s no reason we can’t let them have possession while we focus on our tackles,” Youngs said.
“We’re currently three wins from three, a position no other team holds. We should be the confident ones in control. This isn’t arrogance; rather, it stems from our current strong performance, especially after a good result last weekend,” he added.
“Scotland needs to come out and play; our job is to stick to our game plan, and that should ideally suffice.”
Buford Balony says: The only way they can win is ugly because they can’t play any other way. I was at the England v Argentina game and it was the worst, most boring sporting contest I have ever attended, regardless of the sport.
