Brute force may swing it for England

England v Scotland:  "Here's Johnny" is the seminal line uttered by Jack Nicholson in the 1980 film The Shining but, with a slight change of spelling, it could as easily have slipped from the lips of England's new coach Brian Ashton earlier this week when he confirmed his line-up for this afternoon's Six Nations clash.

England's supporters will hope there are no gruesome surprises at Twickenham to coincide with the return of Jonny Wilkinson to the national side for the first time since November 20th, 2003. That day he secured the William Webb Ellis trophy with a coolly taken drop goal to beat Australia in the World Cup final.

To say he has been unfortunate since would be a gross understatement; injury has been his permanent bedfellow. He has had just 43 minutes of action since his latest stint on the treatment table.

And yet Ashton has elected to restore the 27-year-old to the pivot position. If it represents a gamble for the one-time Ireland coach in his first game in charge of his native country, then it is not a punt on Wilkinson's ability.

He was the best outhalf in Test rugby and there's nothing to suggest he won't again challenge for that mantle, but his return to the international game could have been a tad more measured.

There is a suggestion that had England been playing Ireland or Wales, Ashton would not have opted for Wilkinson at outhalf and the debutant and rugby league convert Andy Farrell at inside centre. The coach will be hoping his pack can dominate and the backs will be able to play off the front foot.

The sounds emanating from the England camp have been unrelentingly positive about Wilkinson and his conditioning, but there isn't anyone trying to take his head off on the practice ground.

The Scots will be less accommodating.

Ashton suffered a late disruption to his patterns with the confirmation that Gloucester's Iain Balshaw had succumbed to a groin injury.

Instead of rejigging his back three and switching either Josh Lewsey or Jason Robinson to the number 15 jersey, the coach elected to promote Balshaw's clubmate, the 21-year-old Olly Morgan, from the England Saxons side.

The injury to the Leicester flanker Lewis Moody that saw him replaced on the bench by Tom Rees (Wasps) will have been less of a concern. Ashton admitted yesterday: "I believe we need to pick the best players in their right positions. Matthew Tait has only played fullback once in his life, and I did not consider moving Lewsey or Robinson because they are best on the wing.

"Olly was very close to playing for England during the autumn before he was injured. He has all the qualities of an old-fashioned fullback, which he will find handy against Scotland. He is good under the high ball, he is strong, and I am sure when the time is right he will come into the attack."

England's new captain, Phil Vickery, has spoken of restoring pride in the jersey and it's a pretty decent starting point for a team that have lost nine of their last 10 Tests, including the corresponding fixture at Murrayfield last season.

Scotland arrive in London with the Calcutta Cup but the suspicion is it won't be accompanying them on their journey home; their last victory here was 24 years ago.

Their front row is going to have to work hard in the scrum, while coach Frank Hadden will be hoping their 6ft 8in Leicester lock, Jamie Hamilton, outshines his opposite number and fellow Tiger, Louis Deacon.

Scotland probably possess the more athletic back row, while at inside centre Andrew Henderson certainly won't find Farrell physically imposing. But the Scots may struggle at halfback, where scrumhalf Chris Cusiter is only just recovering from injury and outhalf Dan Parks can best be described as mercurial.

Unless this pair are first handed a platform and then use it judiciously the visitors could be in trouble.

They possess some decent players in the three-quarter line but as a unit they may lack the guile to break down their hosts.

The Scots are, nevertheless, bullish, genuinely believing they can sway the forward battle and ultimately the contest.

Hooker Dougie Hall pointed out: "Yes, it's a big English pack, but when is it not a big English pack? It is going to be hard work and we are fully aware of the challenge that they pose, but their size might prove to be their undoing.

"They will have expectations of beating us up front, and you can almost counter the pressure that they will inevitably put on us by holding our own.

"All of a sudden they will be asking themselves what they are doing wrong.

"They've had a tough run recently and no matter how much they believe they have turned the corner, that self-belief that you can only get from consistently winning is not there.

"It won't take too much to put a little bit of doubt into their minds."

Whether Hall will be whistling the same tune after the game is questionable.

Ashton's reputation is for encouraging his teams to put a little air on the ball. But he has gone for serious grunt up front, a hard, combative edge. And winning ugly will suffice for now at least.

Verdict: England to win.