Six Nations/England v Scotland: It may have been the welcome sunshine around Twickenham or perhaps it was just relief that a trying first season has only another 80 minutes to run but there was a spring in the step of Andy Robinson yesterday.
England's head coach is relishing this evening's Calcutta Cup match despite the fact that Wales could be celebrating a Grand Slam by the time rugby's oldest international fixture kicks off.
Robinson refused to dwell on the past and even suggested his side was buoyant enough to want to tour this summer rather than wait until November for their next fixture when Australia travel to Twickenham.
"I think Phil Larder (England's defence coach) summed things up this morning when he said: 'Wouldn't it be great if we could go on tour together?' The weather should be good tomorrow and favour a running game. I've only played in one England-Scotland game when we drew here in 1989 and I know that the Scots have a passion and hatred of England. They have nothing to lose, they're a quality team and they'll be motivated by the second-half performance against Wales. It could be an outstanding game."
Twickenham may be the graveyard of Scottish hopes - apart from that rather fortuitous draw in 1989, they have lost every game there for 22 years - but the changes made by Robinson's counterpart Matt Williams this week should strengthen the visitors. Gordon Ross's recall at outhalf for the hapless Dan Parks is long overdue and only stubbornness has prevented the Australian Williams from dropping his compatriot long ago.
Jason White is the one Scot who looks worthy of a place in the Lions Test team and the flanker is back after missing the win over Italy and the defeat by Wales. "Their pack worries me and could be the strongest we've faced all tournament," Larder said.
Fourth place in the Six Nations and four wins in eight games will still be a poor return for Robinson only partly excused by the doleful list of injuries that have bedevilled England in the past 18 months.
England's supporters know that if this evening's game is close and Scotland's capable kicker Chris Paterson repeats his feat of last month when six kicks out of six gave the Scots their only win of the Six Nations against Italy, the focus will once more be on Jonny Wilkinson's stand-in Charlie Hodgson. More missed kicks by Hodgson would cast a shadow over Twickenham and give the Lions selectors an extra burden as they search for an outhalf to outsmart the All Blacks this summer.
Guardian Service
