The Independent's Chris Hewett assess England's chances of dispatching Scotland come Saturday.
"England's ambitious new group of Six Nations contenders were subjected to what the coaching fraternity call a "spike" in training yesterday: in other words, they set about each other with meaning as a way of cranking up the emotional heat ahead of the perilous meeting with Scotland at Murrayfield this weekend. Afterwards, Graham Rowntree had what must have appeared to some as a "spike" in honesty, even though the one-time international prop has a well-earned reputation for telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Asked how he thought the Scots might react to being Calcutta Cup favourites for the first time in many moons, the forwards coach replied: "When you look at where we've been – the unspeakable past – they'll be licking their lips. Scotland always save some of their passion for us, don't they? But those are the emotions that drive you. Playing a big match like this, away from home, against opponents who are expected to beat you? I envy the players."
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