Scotland don't need England incentive
Thu, 11 Mar 2010 09:52
Fighting talk: Scotland No.9 Chris Cusiter
Scotland captain Chris Cusiter insists the fact his side are searching for their first Six Nations win this season rather than playing old rivals England that will be their key motivation this weekend.
Regardless of form in other matches, Scotland have often been able to rouse themselves for a clash at home to the 'auld enemy' in what is rugby union's oldest international fixture, dating back to 1871.
England, who themselves come into Saturday's fixture on the back of a 20-16 loss to Ireland, head to Murrayfield knowing they've lost their last two encounters at the home of Scottish rugby union.
In previous Calcutta Cup clashes, all sorts of slights, both real and imagined that England is said to have visited upon Scotland down the centuries have been used to inspire the men in blue shirts.
But scrumhalf Cusiter was adamant that jingoistic rabble-rousing would form no part of his pre-match team talk.
"I don't think anything I can say I will get someone up for a game if they're not up for it," said the Glasgow back, who will win his 51st cap this weekend and fifth against England.
"But I can guarantee that the boys are excited about this, we're desperate to go out there and make amends for losing the first three games."
Scotland were minutes away from beating Wales before a failure to see out the Millennium Stadium match saw them beaten 31-24 in morale-sapping fashion.
And they had their chances last time out against perennial fellow strugglers Italy only to lose 16-12 in Rome.
The dreaded wooden spoon is now a very real prospect for skipper Cusiter as it is for Scotland's former England coach Andy Robinson in what is the pair's first Six Nations in their current roles.
"We're under pressure, we've lost three games - two of which we feel we could've won.
"We know where we are in the championship, we know how much work we have to do and playing against England at home is as big as it gets."
Being able to finish off moves, and by extension matches, has been a thorny issue for Scotland for several years now and Cusiter knows that improvements in approach play will matter little unless the team can somehow find a way to win.
"We've been creating a lot of things, we've put ourselves in the right positions, and we just haven't quite been clinical enough," Cusiter said.
"We have to get ourselves in the position to win the game, first and foremost - as we have been in this championship - and then go on and do it.
"That takes an extra bit of concentration, just a bit more focus on finishing off our good work."
AFP
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