England to discard 'unspeakable past'

Graham Rowntree has urged what is set to be a raw England side to start putting the "unspeakable past" of the team's World Cup flop behind them when they face Scotland in Saturday's Six Nations opener.

Forwards coach Rowntree is the lone survivor from an England backroom staff otherwise dismantled after last year's World Cup in New Zealand, where the drunken antics of several players were as depressing for many Red Rose fans as an uninspiring on-field effort that ended in a quarter-final loss to France.

Rowntree, however, was one of the few figures within the England camp to emerge with some credit after the debacle and was retained by acting head coach Stuart Lancaster, appointed on a caretaker basis for the Six Nations following former manager Martin Johnson's resignation.

England head to Murrayfield looking for a first win in four attempts at Scotland's headquarters and with the Scots bent on revenge after a 16-12 loss to their oldest rivals in Auckland in October saw them fail to qualify for the knockout stages of the World Cup for the first time.

The visitors will have a new captain in flanker Chris Robshaw, whose lone previous Test came more than two years ago and who has never played at Murrayfield, let alone in the fiery atmosphere of a Calcutta Cup clash.

And the team due to be unveiled by Lancaster on Thursday could have at least three debutants in the starting line-up, including 20-year-old Saracens playmaker Owen Farrell.

By contrast the side announced by Scotland coach Andy Robinson on Tuesday was full of experienced internationals and just one debutant in wing Lee Jones.

"Scotland always save a passion up for us," Rowntree said at England's training base.

"Going up there, especially at this point in time, given where we have been, the unspeakable past, they will be licking their lips.

"It is a fact we are underdogs in terms of experience. No-one expects us to do well. We will have something to say about that."

England, the defending Six Nations champions, last tasted victory at Murrayfield in 2004, shortly after they won the World Cup.

But the stars of the side that lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy - Mike Tindall, Jonny Wilkinson and Steve Thompson among them - are no longer in the squad and England hooker Dylan Hartley said: "It's a new challenge.

"No one in here can say they have won the World Cup, no one in here can say they have won a Grand Slam. Only a few have won the Six Nations.

"It is difficult to win at Murrayfield. We haven't won there in eight years.

"I don't get intimidated. I enjoy it. The atmosphere is always good - the bagpipes, smoke, all the singing. It is the things you enjoy as a player.

"I am excited for it."

Meanwhile Rowntree said his players should not feel burdened by a fear of failure, a criticism of many recent England sides.

"We put our trust in these guys. We don't want these guys to be harnessed by the fear of losing.

"Go out and play. Play like you do for your clubs. Don't be worrying about making a mistake."

AFP