Six Nations: Jacobsen looking for positive start to campaign against England

SCOTLAND PROP Allan Jacobsen is determined to make amends for the frustrations and hurt of the Rugby World Cup campaign when the RBS 6 Nations open against England at Murrayfield on Saturday.

England claimed a late 16-12 win in Auckland as Scotland were eliminated from the World Cup at the group stage for the first time.

Now Scotland have the opportunity for swift revenge in the Calcutta Cup clash and to extend England’s three-match winless record in Edinburgh.

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Scotland, though, are chasing just a second opening game victory in 13 attempts in the tournament.

Loosehead prop Jacobsen told Press Association Sport: “There’s still frustration and regrets about the way the World Cup went for us. I don’t think that will ever change.

“But we’re playing them again and I guess I just want us to play as well as we can and win.

“The World Cup’s gone, but it will always be there in the back of the mind that I was part of the first team that didn’t qualify - and we could have, just by playing better.”

Scotland have long been talking about coming out of close encounters with victories, with defeat happening all too often - including against Argentina and England in New Zealand.

Jacobsen believes the difference is about handling the circumstances at the time.

The 33-year-old, who has 60 caps, said: “It’s a composure thing and all of us being on the same wavelength when the pressure’s on. Everyone’s got to be thinking the same thing.

“I think that’s where we’ve come unstuck in the past. When the pressure’s really on we’ve not all done our jobs right.”

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But he is confident the current Scotland squad have the ability to grind out narrow wins.

He added: “The guys are all looking good in training, guys have been playing well back at their club.

“We’ve got to play to our potential and that’s where we’ve struggled.