EVENING TIMES REPORTS

Max power is key to victory over England


Max singled out for praise
Bert Mitchell

Published on 12 Mar 2010
Max Evans knows only a win against England at Murrayfield can save the Scotland RBS Six Nations campaign from ending with the dreaded wooden spoon.

While the Scots fought to the end in defeat to a formidable France, and during an injury-ravaged late loss in Wales, in which Evans scored a superb try, the promise of the early days of Andy Robinson’s regime are stuck in the distant past.

Much of that disappointment is down to a pedestrian, error-strewn defeat at the hands of Italy in Rome, which has left the Scots in their current predicament.

Now, with Martin Johnson’s laborious England rolling up at the National Rugby stadium for tomorrow’s season-defining encounter, Evans has vowed the Scots will give their all.

He said: “There is so much frustration in the camp after the opening three games and we have talked a lot about that during the week and made sure that we use that as a positive.

“In the first game, we have to hold our hands up and say we played a very good France side, and although they deserved the win, we stayed in touch to the end.

“But it is the games with Wales and then Italy that really hurt. The injuries we suffered against the Welsh were catastrophic and they undid us in the end. In Italy, we just couldn’t convert our chances.

“This time we know we owe Andy Robinson and the Scotland support the performance and the result to go with it,

“That means we make sure the Calcutta Cup comes back into Scottish hands tomorrow night.”

Evans added: “What really hurts is that we have shown how much we have progressed as a side since last season yet we have nothing to show for it.

“We know if we lose to England then the wooden spoon will probably be all we get from this Six Nations and that would be an injustice that can’t be allowed to happen.”

The frustration at the Scottish backs’ inability to cut loose in Rome in the devastating loss to the Azzurri a fortnight back was palpable.

But it is the Scots’ tight-five who have to hold their own in the set- piece, and the back-row forwards who must claim control at the breakdown if Evans and Co. are to get the opportunity to perform.

Evans explained: “The scrum was really solid against the Italians and big Al Kellock ran our line-out superbly, but we lost it at the breakdown and as a result the backs got no quick ball.

“We want to run the ball and have a go but, if we can’t get the quick ball, then the English defence will be organised and waiting for us every time and it will be like hitting a white wall.”

He added: “All of that has been worked on relentlessly this week in training and we have a couple of tricks up our sleeves.”

The Glasgow centre has been switched to the left wing by Scotland coach Robinson with Edinburgh’s Nick de Luca replacing Max on the right, with Warriors’ Graeme Morrison and Simon Danielli dropped to the bench.

The move has been designed by Robinson to get the most out of Evans, who he rates as the Scots’ most dangerous player one on one.

And Max admitted: “To have the national coach say that is a real compliment, but one I have to live up to. I have played on the wing with Glasgow before so I know what it is all about.”

Meanwhile, Glasgow Warriors’ new signing from Glasgow Hawks Duncan Weir is set to get an early chance to play at Firhill after being selected for the Scotland side to play England in tonight’s Under-20 Six Nations clash.

Kick-off is at 7pm with admission free.

This article was originally posted on 12-Mar-2010, 14:23 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 12-Mar-2010, 14:24.