FOUR months on from that agonising Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat by Australia, Scotland finally return to action today when they begin their RBS Six Nations Championship campaign with a home game against England. The contest for the Calcutta Cup has at times been the most impassioned and even bitter rivalry in the sport, but the key to winning today, according to both Scotland assistant coach Nathan Hines and hooker Ross Ford, is to keep calm and draw on the experiences of the World Cup.
“When you're walking about and people are talking about the Calcutta Cup and getting stuck into the English, stuff like that, you enjoy being lucky enough to be part of it,” Ford said yesterday. “I think it's great having that buzz with the public.
“It's slightly different for the players. That excitement is still there, but you have to understand that when you're on the pitch you can't go all fire and brimstone. You've got to think about things and make sure that your judgment and skills aren't being clouded by trying to be the big man and all that guff."
Hines, the former Scotland forward who joined Vern Cotter’s coaching team last summer, insisted that the team had to be equally motivated no matter who the opposition. “I don't think it has any more needle because it’s England,” he said.
“The guys are focused on winning. They’re all competitive by nature, and I think that sometimes being too competitive can be your undoing. Focusing on the fact it’s a certain team - I don't think that’s a help.”
Scotland still appear reluctant to accept the tag of favourites which Eddie Jones, England’s new coach, has tried to pin on them for the past fortnight. “England are above us in the rankings,” Hines added. “They didn't miss out by much on getting through to the quarter-finals [of the World Cup]. I don't know why he thinks we’re favourites.”
Duncan Taylor, the Saracens centre, has been passed fit and will take his place on the bench in the No 23 jersey. Sean Lamont, the Glasgow Warriors back, had been on standby to take over from Taylor, who has had a back strain.
One of three backs substitutes along with scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne and stand-off- Duncan Weir, Taylor will cover wing, where he has recently played for his club, as well as centre. Mark Bennett and Matt Scott will start in midfield.
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