Size matters as Hadden puts faith in Hamilton

The betting man might have guessed that Frank Hadden, the Scotland coach, would return to the Alastair Kellock-Scott Murray partnership which worked well when Kellock was the bright young hope learning from the experienced master at Edinburgh for Saturday's RBS Six Nations Championship opener against England.

Or he might have gone for Kellock and Scott McLeod, the in-form locks of the moment and the pair who started last year's Calcutta Cup victory at Murrayfield. But, though Kellock is hardly a stripling at 18 stone, Hadden yesterday said he prefers a blend of athleticism and power in the second row, and so views the battle for the front-jumping lock as being between the 20-stone Hamilton and Nathan Hines, 18st 4lbs, and the middle jumper role as a fight between Kellock, Murray and McLeod.

So, with Hines injured, the 6ft 8in Hamilton has been thrust into the limelight after appearances off the bench against Romania - where he became Scotland's 1,000th international - and Australia in November.

"I can't even say in words how this will feel," he said, towering over the assembled media yesterday. "Obviously, there will be a lot of emotion going on from start to finish. It's a bit surreal at the minute. I only started playing rugby when I was 15 and never thought in a million years I'd be playing at Twickenham for Scotland, feeling so proud."

Hamilton wore the England jersey alongside opposing scrum-half Harry Ellis at under-19 level, his Glaswegian father having settled south of the border with the Queen's Own Highlanders, but six years on that has become a distant memory and the forward licked his lips at the prospect of taking on an English pack.

He insisted Ashton had gone for the biggest pack he could, which supports the England coach's stated intention of playing "no-nonsense rugby" in an effort to give his new team a solid foundation from which to build through the championship. The Scots believe they could begin to show a new attacking threat if the set-piece shows its expected new reliability at Twickenham.

The England pack will weigh in at just over 137 stone, two stones lighter than the visiting forwards on Saturday. That is explained by two men - Hamilton and Euan Murray.

At 18st 12lbs, the Glasgow tighthead prop, is heavier than any of the English players - Danny Grewcock their weightiest man at 18st 6lbs - but with Hamilton packing down his 20 stones behind him, there is hope among the Scotland squad that, for the first time, the visiting side in this Calcutta Cup match can hold their own, if not dominate the set-piece at key times.

Hamilton and Kellock also both stand 6ft 8in, Hamilton a fraction taller than his second row colleague, while the English locks - Grewcock and Louis Deacon - are a mere 6ft 6in and the back row jumpers 6ft 5in, which could provide Scotland with an advantage in the lineout. With Ashton having selected Leicester's George Chuter and Deacon, the hooker and front-jumping lock, the Scots are also hopeful Hamilton can upset their lineout rhythm. He said: "I think they'll have to change their lineout a bit with me playing because they have been using a lot of Leicester calls, but it's not that simple - there are lots of moves and calls. I'll tell you on Sunday if I managed to suss them."

The shortest man in the team, Chris Cusiter, is as surprised to be named to start this weekend, but just as keen to leave his mark on the England side. The Borders scrum-half suffered knee and shoulder injuries in 2005 and in last year's Six Nations, and then sustained a new shoulder injury from a late tackle in his comeback match against the Pacific Islanders in November. He initially expected to return to full training next week with an eye on the last three championship games, but the management insist his rehab has made him fit three weeks early; quite fortuitous, after Mike Blair's injury.

Cusiter admitted: "After I got injured I thought the Six Nations was out of sight and I wouldn't play in any of it. I was recovering well, though, and it became a target a few weeks ago, but I didn't envisage getting a start yet.

"But it's great that Frank has the faith in me to put me in after one game. I know Rory [Lawson] is playing well, but I have a wee bit more experience and that's maybe what has counted in my favour. In an ideal world I'd have had three or four games in the run-up, but that's not the hand I've been dealt and to play at any time is absolutely fantastic.

"But I pride myself on my fitness and have worked very hard, and I'm in great condition. I'm 100 per cent confident now, having come through Friday's game, that the shoulder is as good as it was, if not stronger, because it's been built up. It feels great and though I possibly lack a bit of match practice, I've been there before, done it and know what it's like, so hopefully I can perform on Saturday.

"I honestly don't believe it can happen again. It's just bad luck and I'd like a run now free from injuries - I think I'm due one."