Rugby Union: G WORD ISN'T TABOO NOW

AFTER four hard victories in this year's Six Nations, we can finally mention the 'G' word.

With Ireland winning in Cardiff, next Sunday's Grand Slam decider at Lansdowne Road promises to be the mother of all matches.

After so many disappointments in terms of completing the clean sweep, the hype will be almost unbearable.

But we've just got to shut ourselves away, prepare as we would for any other game and treat it as simply a normal match.

Although we have misfired in patches this season, there are certain aspects of our game that we managed to get right yesterday and hopefully we will take plenty of good things from the victory over Scotland with us to Dublin.

Clive Woodward has created a no-excuses environment. Our preparation is always spot-on and we literally have no hiding place if we make any mistakes on the field.

Yesterday we improved one area of our game - which was the offloading of ball in contact.

When players are linking well and hitting the tackler properly to present the ball to a supporting runner, it gives the team momentum and, for large periods of yesterday's game, the Scots were on the back foot because we got that part right.

It creates an offside line and is incredibly difficult to defend against and, when you've got runners like Jason Robinson and Josh Lewsey in your side, they can take the momentum forward and punch holes in the opposition defence.

Josh was brilliant yesterday. He is massively talented and any player who has forced Jason to switch positions to the wing deserves the utmost respect.

For his part, Jason showed what a deadly finisher he is.

After his early yellow card, he ran rings round the Scots for his two tries and proved that he is the best broken play runner in the world.

I'm not sure who the bookies will make favourites for next week's game in Ireland, but it will definitely be one hell of a clash. I really can't wait.

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