SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE MIND GAMES REACH CALCUTTA CUP

The press conference for the Scotland  England game a week on Saturday saw an Australian sparring against a Kiwi, like days of old. Eddie "Miracle Worker" Jones claimed that Scotland were clear favourites to win the game, and must cope with that "unusual" pressure. Vern "Grumpy" Cotter let the bullet bounce off his forehead and then responded by saying that Eddie must be feeling more pressure than anticipated, if he is trying to deflect it onto Scotland. He also said that Scotland will strive to make England feel as uncomfortable as possible in Edinburgh. The hospitality can't get much worse than Lawrence Dallaglio shoulder barging one of the pipers a few years back. The long range forecast for Scotland in 10 days time is wet and windy, which it was the last time Scotland won the match in 2008!

Son, what exactly do you mean by pressure?

Scotland has injury concerns over Alex Dunbar and Peter Horne in the centres, with Mark Bennett also a doubt. Options include Matt Scott, Duncan Taylor, the Saracens centre, and Sean Lamont, the latter two both physical specimens, but neither has great distribution, so Scott should get the nod, although Finn Russell could also move to 12, with Duncan Weir coming in at 10. The back three will probably be Hogg, Seymour and Visser or Maitland. Ironically, England look more settled, with Ford at 10, Farrell at 12, Joseph at 13 and Nowell/Watson on wings with Brown at 15. The challenge for Eddie is to get those England stars shining again, as Jospeh and Watson have not been in great form for their club.