Emotion is what drives Scotland when they take on England. Love it or hate it, this is what concentrates the minds of those on the pitch and supporting the team as they bid to beat the old enemy yet again.
Their coach Gregor Townsend talked this week about how much he used it to drive the mindsets of his players to achieve their goals. And why wouldn’t you? For an era of Scottish teams and individuals, the men in white were the superior competitor, often winning season after season against the men from the low and highlands. Until now.
Scotland have won four of the last six fixtures against the English, which also included a draw. Such has been their superiority, on occasion it’s looked effortless. Using the guise and guile of one of the world’s best fly-halves in Finn Russell, England have suffered for what feels like a lifetime.
For many an elder statesman this is new territory. It feels like the old, classic western storyline where the upstart from ‘back in the day’ returns, emerging from the dusty plains to wreak havoc on England.
The problem is this Scotland team is far from being one in transition. It is in full flow. A side full of vibrancy and belief that has grown more in terms of quality and ability in recent years.
Is this the Scottish golden generation, the one that strikes fear into the opposition’s eyes? Maybe, but for England Saturday must be regarded as a one-off test. It is all to easy for players– and columnists – to be sucked into the hyperbole of what is to come and what is at stake. But it is often those who can control their emotions before this game who are victorious.
England must control their minds and bodies before what will be their hardest test of the Six Nations so far. Faced by a Scottish team reeling from the disallowed try against France, will we see a furious response, will Townsend lean on the emotional triggers once more? Probably, but the issue for Scotland is not that they require firing up but rather they need tightening up.
Even though the team are close to being among their best for decades, they are far from unbeatable and despite the odds being stacked against them, England can beat the house.
To leave with their Grand-Slam hopes intact is a tough ask. However, there have been shoots of growth in England’s attacking shape. But while the desire to play has been there, the brawn has not. With Ollie Lawrence back in the mix, they will have the ability to win the gainline again. It’s been lacking of late with a midfield of Henry Slade and Fraser Dingwall.
When someone like Lawrence – or Manu Tuilagi – plays, it brings a new threat to the opposition, and if England can use this to make dents then the likes of Slade and George Ford can open up space for England’s outside dangermen.
Defensively, England are still learning and Murrayfield is a place where you do not want to stoke the fires of the emotion-filled crowd. Give Scotland momentum and a voice in the stands, and this side will keep coming at you. And in Russell, they have a master of his craft who can pull defences apart.
Sione Tuipulotu is his second set of eyes, a powerful but yet highly vocal and organisational 12. He works brilliantly alongside Russell when needed to carry or organise. Outside them Duhan van der Merwe has been exceptional this tournament, recognising when to come in from his wing to exploit space around Russell and Tuipulotu.
England’s rush defence has its biggest challenge yet. A defence built on pressure has to be tight and connected. If it is, the visitors can put Scotland on the back foot and create chances. If it isn’t, though, Scotland have the talent to exploit any openings this creates ruthlessly.
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