England head coach warns against conceding penalties and intensity drop-offs before Six Nations visit to Murrayfield
England’s players normally look forward to a Calcutta Cup examination at Murrayfield with about as much enthusiasm as a trip to the dentist. At best it tends to be uncomfortable, at worst it’s grip-the-chair-and-pray time. And that’s before they are wheeled out into the freezing rain and the hygienist produces a set of bagpipes to enhance the experience even further.
So it was more than a little unnerving to listen to Steve Borthwick talking about his team’s genuine enthusiasm for what lies in store. Never mind all the recurring pain they have endured in Edinburgh in recent years, with three defeats in their past four visits. This time they are heading north in a strikingly different mood, flashing the kind of confident pearly white smile usually reserved for Love Island contestants.
Having been born in Cumbria, Borthwick knows more than most about the specifics of cross-border rivalry and the serious ambush potential. It remains his firm belief, nevertheless, that his England team are taking the high road to Scotland this time for a number of reasons. Twelve successive wins, including the 48-7 victory against Wales last Saturday, is far from the only one.
