Phil Dowson, Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell are all part of a fresh-faced England squad
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The Daily Mail's Martin Samuel backs England's new youthful look ahead of their Six Nations opener against Scotland.
"Brad Barritt went round the room shaking hands before he sat down to speak. Phil Dowson used the word ‘sanguine’ to describe the mood of his coaches at Northampton. Owen Farrell insisted he would walk into the maelstrom of Murrayfield with a smile on his face.
And throughout there remained the impression that this reconfigured England side will be lucky to get out of Edinburgh Airport without having their cab money nicked, let alone return from Scotland’s fortress with a first win in eight years.
It was 2004 when England last won at Murrayfield. They haven’t even scored a try since. There is the counter-argument. England have travelled north since that day with teams that have been honoured by the Queen, experienced, storied groups of men peppered with OBEs, CBEs and MBEs, and all they have come back with is ABA. Absolutely bugger all. So why not go with youth?"
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