I’m struggling to believe that the RBS 6 Nations Championship is about to start this weekend.

The months have flown by since the Rugby World Cup after we all dispersed back to our clubs, and it’s great to see everyone again and get back into camp.

There are a couple of notable absentees, which has changed the balance of the group somewhat. Nathan Hines and Chris Paterson were, of course, two of the stalwarts of the Scotland squad over the past few years and it feels a bit strange with them not being around.

There are a few new faces who are bringing youthfulness and enthusiasm to the fore and keeping us all on our toes. Lee Jones has had a very impressive start to his professional career and gains his first cap on Saturday. What a wonderful day it will be for him and his family.

Dave Denton, my fellow HeraldScotland blogger, picked up his first cap in the pre-World Cup internationals but gets his first start and I'm excited about seeing him play. He's a huge physical specimen who possesses possibly the biggest calves I've ever seen!

It's good to have him on my team, rather than playing against him as I had to in the 1872 inter-city derby matches between Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Training has been as intense as I have experienced. Everything has been done at real pace and with purpose, alongside all the organisational work we have been doing. It's not easy, in the time frame we have had, to just put a team together. A lot of us are familiar with each other, but there are new combinations throughout the team.

I have played at half-back alongside Dan Parks numerous times, not only with Scotland but also at Glasgow Warriors. He has one of the best kicking games around and he's a great organiser.

I'm really pleased to be getting the first opportunity in the number 9 shirt for this tournament. It has been nearly two years since I started a game for Scotland after being out injured for nearly 11 months with my knee and I am going to enjoy the experience, no matter what.

Being injured makes you realise what you are missing and how much it means to you. I have missed this environment and it's great to be back.

The England team will be a bit more unfamiliar than usual but we are expecting a strong Saracens presence and I'm sure Kelly Brown can give us some background on those players.

There is so much talk that surrounds these games - I think all the players are just pleased when the first whistle goes and we can get into it.

I love Scotland v England matches - the atmosphere, the intensity and the passion. Saturday looks set to be another cracker.