A LOT has been made of the continuity in the Scotland camp following the World Cup, but according to Mat Taylor, the defence coach and one of the many elements in common from the autumn, there are enough new people and new ideas to spring a few surprises on England at the weekend.
"What we've got to do is build on what we did in the World Cup and get better and back into the system of how Scotland play. Jason [O'Halloran, the new backs coach] has been involved and brought fresh ideas, which has been great. There have been some new guys coming into the playing group, as well.
"Richie [Gray, hired as a breakdown consultant] has also been good. He's come in and given his perspective on certain things. He has prepared for some of these teams with South Africa. We usually just have discussions around certain drills and activities and bounce ideas off each other. I'm lucky that I know Richie from my time at the Borders where I knew him well – we've kept in contact over the years."
Not, he admits, that the surprises are going to be one way. He and his fellow Scotland coaches have had to go hunting looking for information on how England are going to play. Tapping the inside knowledge from players based in England, in particular Duncan Taylor, who is teammate's with a third of the England squad at Saracens and knows Paul Gustard, the England defence coach, has been one line.
"You have conversations," Taylor said. "There’s a few more Saracens guys than Bath guys but there will be a few Bath guys in the backline. George Ford, we believe, will start 10, we’ve had a chat [with David Denton] about things he likes and doesn’t like. You learn a lot more about players when you work with them day in and day out rather than just turning up and playing against them.
"There’s a large group of Saracens people in that team, I think a third of that group are under that system. That’s an advantage in one way, but they’ll be adapting. The disadvantage for us is that we can’t see the patterns yet, the advantage for us is they haven’t had as much training time together."
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