OJO'S INSIDE LINE: Offering hope of success (From Wiltshire Times)

OJO'S INSIDE LINE: Offering hope of success

6:00pm Friday 3rd February 2012 in Sport

THERE are going to be people saying that Bath’s LV= Cup win over Northampton came about because the Saints were putting out a second or third string team.

To which I say, I couldn’t care about that because, ultimately, they had to get a win and this competition matters.

You won’t hear supporters of teams in football’s League Cup final saying that a competition doesn’t mean anything.

In the end, you want to get something tangible from your season and this competition offers Bath that chance.

It could be their salvation. Things were looking very tough a few weeks back, but there is also a route back into Europe for the winners.

This weekend it’s a welcome return to the Six Nations Championship and what a baptism of fire it will be for new England coach Stuart Lancaster.

Past England sides might have gone to face Scotland at Murrayfield a bit sure of themselves and expecting to win, but I can’t see that being the case this time.

Personally, I believe what has happened with England in the last few months will be to their benefit in the end.

They are having to go back to basics and that is not a bad thing. They are working from base level and there just isn’t the expectation on them.

I fully expect Scotland to prevail because they will go out to cause chaos, but if England did win, it would be a massive result.

Three wins from this campaign would be a good return.

France remain my overall favourites, although I don’t really see a Grand Slam being won this year.

The World Cup opened people’s eyes that there is one collective way of playing the game now, rather than a North Hemisphere way and a Southern Hemisphere way.

What will be interesting is to see what sides are doing with their approach.

Email Steve with your thoughts to ohoulihan@newswilts.co.uk