Six Nations: Vital that Scots put England on back foot from the off

The rarity of a Calcutta Cup match to kick-off Scotland’s RBS Six Nations campaign – it is only the third time in 20 years and second at Murrayfield – and just four months after the ‘Auld Enemies’ last met has brought a new promise and anticipation to Murrayfield’s door. And that is where the challenge that Andy Robinson’s team faces begins: from the moment they enter the stadium.

A 67,000-capacity, eager Murrayfield crowd with more pulsing Scots blood than has been the case for some recent contests, and the forecast biting cold and sleety rain do not fill the tactics boards but they will play as definitive a role in this Calcutta Cup match as anything on the field.

The Scotland coach dismissed a wry query from an English journalist yesterday as to whether there would be any pre-match trickery of the sort that so infuriated Clive Woodward, with a simple “I don’t think so”, but there will be pipers, of the Red Hot Chilli variety, fireworks and the dark brooding intensity of the famous stadium at a night game.

None of that will hand Scotland victory, however. This England team may be inexperienced at Test level but they are coursing with enthusiasm, fresh excitement, proven finishers and the belief, most notably in the white-booted young Saracens centre Owen Farrell, that they could provide new hope and success for English rugby.

For Scotland to bring the vibrant Murrayfield support act into the game they have to start well and play smart rugby, and keep England’s leading lights dimmed. And, as clichéd as it may be to state, for that reason the first 30 minutes of this match could determine the outcome; a good start forming a rock-like foundation from which Scotland find the confidence and daring to impose a fast tempo on the match, and sowing the seeds of doubt from which a new England formation struggle to recover.

But much has to occur for Scotland to reach that scenario, blending physicality, work-rate, pinpoint skills and right decisions under pressure, while Robinson’s “chaos” is all around them. To do that, and impregnate this new-look England side with doubt, will require the Scottish pack to not only compete in the opening scrums and lineouts but secure their own ball with a brazen aggression, and push England back and cause mayhem on English ball.

The forecast of rain will not faze Dan Parks, the Scotland stand-off, and could even play into his hands and render the selection perfect, as few in world rugby are as accurate in playing for territory as the 33-year-old. That is his game and while he has to vary attack, using Sean Lamont, the odd miss pass to Nick De Luca and bringing the skilful and pacy back three into the game, his ability to force England to play from their own 22 is a sizeable asset to Scotland.

Parks faces a similar veteran in Charlie Hodgson, who emerged as a talent alongside Wilkinson over a decade ago but now, at 31, is reclaiming respect as the Saracens controller. He starts for the first time since the 2007-8 season, when, incidentally, he pulled the strings in England’s last Calcutta Cup defeat.

Hodgson has a skilful and bold fly-half in Farrell outside him – he is potentially just keeping the seat warm for the youngster – so one expects both to deliver kicks deep into Scotland’s half, while the quick Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs will look to pepper the Scottish wingers with box-kicks from inside his own half, when not testing Scotland’s fringe defence.

If the rain comes down we can expect both sides to tighten up and the kicking game to become an engrossing arm-wrestle, and in that again Scotland’s pack has to be at the forefront of the battle to give Scotland a chance. Allan Jacobsen, Ross Ford and Euan Murray have beaten this England front row into submission in the past, but also come off second best on occasions, while Richie Gray and Jim Hamilton pose potentially the most potent blend of power, pace and off-loading ability witnessed in a Scottish second row for some time, if ever.

Scotland have an advantage in that front five battle, in terms of weight, height and experience, and for Robinson’s side to sniff victory that must be visible to all around Murrayfield, not least the men in white jerseys. Whether they move the ball frequently or not, if the Scottish pack start well and build up a head of steam England will

If the Scottish defence is as hard and impregnable as it was in the Calcutta Cup wins, and draw, and when many of these Scotland players defeated Australia and South Africa, then again England’s failure to make ground with their new attacking moves will sow seeds of doubt.

And then we may see the difference in experience raise its head. For too long Scotland have appeared incapable of switching their game-plan, of showing composure when opportunities arise and keeping the head when it is not quite going their way. Experienced sides have faced Scotland at Murrayfield and elsewhere and been outplayed, but they have held on in the knowledge that they have won many times when it seemed unlikely and that Scotland rarely do in the big games.

There is a different dynamic at play tonight, however. In the home dressing room is a Scotland side full of experienced performers, sick of going close and not quite cutting it, and knowing their careers are nearing the exit than the entry door. In the away, looking for inspiration from Lancaster as he tries to dodge the great pillar in the middle of the room, is an England team which cannot know what it might be capable of.

If England start well and get on the front foot, and the likes of Youngs, Hodgson, Brad Barritt and Farrell make ground going forward, and the back three of Ben Foden, David Strettle and Chris Ashton get their hands on the ball at pace, they will believe themselves capable of great things. Their Saracens midfield have enjoyed the challenge of knocking over teams on the road, ending Gloucester’s run of wins at Kingsholm, and Ospreys in Swansea, and Farrell’s nerveless kicking display in last year’s Premiership final success pointed to a lad with balls.

If Scotland, on the other hand, start well, make life painful up front, play the game in England’s half and, crucially reward territory with points, the Murrayfield crowd will rejoice and thrust its unique, vociferous backing into the action; something very few of these English players have experienced on a dark Scottish night and which is certain to increase doubt.

They have proven themselves to be quality players in the Premiership and Heineken Cup, and they possess a strong, experienced core with players such as Foden, Hodgson, Dylan Hartley, Tom Palmer and Tom Croft never easily put down. As for Mouritz Botha, he is a 6ft 5in, 18-stone lump of South African meat with a shock of blond hair and sharp desire to prove the Republic should have paid more attention when he was pushing, in vain, for a pro contract in his home country.

But they are fallible. Just ask Hartley, Phil Dowson and Ashton how the 50-point humiliation at home to Munster felt, or skipper Chris Robshaw how much he enjoyed suffering in darkest Connacht a few weeks ago, and watching his side’s European hopes slide away. Botha is a big unit, as is the English back row, but Scotland have big men and in Ross Rennie the quickest forward on the field, which should be an advantage in striving to keep Scotland’s momentum flowing and slowing England’s.

Inexperience counts in the discipline stakes and when a game is as neatly balanced as this is expected to be the influence of Irish referee George Clancy will inevitably be a factor, while Scotland’s bench options provide other routes to victory in the last quarter.

In short, no-one knows what this English team is capable of, and if Scotland build on their World Cup performances and go a stage further, and score tries, we may all leave Murrayfield tonight still to find out.

Until then, prepare yourself for an explosive Test match featuring two teams determined to unleash fast and physical rugby.