Signs not encouraging for Robinson's men

Scotland v England: Today, Murrayfield Kick-off - 5.30pm On TV: RTÉ 2, BBC 1: If England's short drive to pre-Calcutta Cup training yesterday is any guide, their traditional popularity north of the border remains undimmed.

As the squad sat on their team bus, with its tell-tale red rose insignia, even the more experienced players were taken aback by the number of locals keen to welcome them with two-fingered gestures or a defiant saltire. There will be no need for the visiting captain Martin Corry to give a team-talk.

Joe Worsley, tongue firmly in cheek, also revealed he had received plenty of "passport advice" when he popped out of the Balmoral Hotel for a brief visit to a post office. "It's not just the looks on people's faces and the hand gestures, it's more the feeling," said the flanker. "It's not a tangible thing, you sense it in the air."

The hostility still falls a long way short of an Old Firm derby, but the current Six Nations leaders believe only Cardiff comes close to matching the anti-English sentiment which swirls around Edinburgh on big rugby weekends like this. England players still cannot get over the memory of the fervent Welshman who once head-butted their moving bus, but acknowledge the Scots can be equally passionate.

"It's always extremely hard at Murrayfield," said Worsley. "The crowd are more ferocious than anywhere else and the journey to the ground is always an eye-opener in terms of hostility. After the game they're fine, but before it they want their team to win, which is fair enough."

Yesterday's scenes made an equal impression on the head coach Andy Robinson, a confirmed patriot who relishes a little harmless nationalistic rivalry more than most. "People know their history and I have to say I feel exactly the same way. Coming here gets you going, playing Scotland really sharpens you up."

Robinson, equally fired up by the assorted V-signs aimed in his direction, also went on to suggest he and his players were braced for whatever the tartan excesses in the build-up, having not forgotten this fixture two years ago when, at one stage, there seemed to be more bag-pipers in the stadium than paying spectators.

On all fronts the 123rd edition of the world's oldest rugby international is boiling up nicely, conveniently ignoring the statistic that Scotland have beaten their old friends only twice in 20 years.

They would have a better chance of success this time if their lock Scott Murray was not suspended and England had not been forewarned by France's defeat here. But the forecast is for cold, windy conditions and a muddy surface will not assist England's quest for quick ball. "The pitch is surprisingly heavy, though it's not as bad as Chelsea's," muttered Robinson.

Like Barcelona this week, the abused visitors could well enjoy the last laugh.

Guardian Service