Robert Kitson Andy Robinson did everyone a favour ‘when he became Scotland's head coach. Rares the Calcutta Cup build-up unclut- tered by national stereotypes or fiery shetorie, all based on the assumption litle has changed since Culloden. Robin: sonisasEnglishasthey comeandisnota notedsocialhistorian.Itistheimmediate fture which absorbs both teams before ‘this evening's 127th edition of interna tional spott’s oldest local derby, not the ‘murky past. Robinson's motivation has nothing to do with cross-border antagonism. He ‘would like to settle few scores with his formeremployersandmediaantagonist, particularly as these sides will be inthe same pool in next year’s World Cup. The England team manager, Martin Johnson, scarcely needed reminding by Lawrence Dallaglio yesterday that this is a “must ‘win’ game, “Ifwehadtowing-6we'dtake ity" said Johnson, Hehasyet to lose tothe ‘Scofsin 10 gamesas playerand manager. ‘issignificant that Englandbroke with custom by delaying thei arival north of the border until barely 24 hours before Kick-off. The squad have expressed a preferenceforshort sharpaway trips. The ‘skis that younger players, plunged into ‘cauldron of Caledonian antipathy, will struggle to cope. The Scots may detect a ‘whiff of apprehension “Tike any argument therearetwosid toit,” said Johnson of his travel arange- ‘ments, “We thought we'd give ita try. Whether Scotland is more volatile than. Wales, Ireland or France I don't know. ‘Trying to silence hostile crowdsis what ‘Test rugby away ftom home is about. Pd ‘much rather play in a hostile than a quiet, envionment.” ‘This match will feature two sides sipped by afearoffllure. The outcome ‘will define their seasons. Scotland have ‘yet to win in this season's championship nd know close shaves cannot sustain them. Bnglandareperchedatopaslippery slope. Thegradualimprovementtheytal. fof must betranslated into concretedeeds ‘against a Scottish team which, forallits back-rowgustoandfiont-fivesolidity, has become adept at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. ForEngland,atestofcharacterbeckons. -Pechapsmost crucially ofall, tnemanage ‘ment are seeking an instant response to ‘thedefeat hy Ielandat Twickenham. “The ‘guys’ mindsethasgottobe right," said Johnson. “You ‘vant them tothink: Right, sittingin losing dressing roomafteraTestmatchis. not what wedothisfor! ‘tillbea tough Saturday leveningifwelose.” Tewill helpif certain players validate the management's faith Jand hoist the team out lf its rut. “The easy ithing is to chop and change," said Johnson, dis- missing accusations ofconserv Grudge match is one Johnson dare not lose ative election and calling for England to ‘uncorktheirfestering disappointment.” lotofmugoy sabout energy, urgency, pas sionand emotion. Wecan’t comesecond inthat ares.” ‘Johnson really wantsto crank things uup,heneed onlyreadaloudafewextracts fromTheGrudge, aquiteoutstandingnew bookby Tom English about the epic 1950, grandslamshowdown. Therewasnothing remotely phoney about the antagonism. between Scotland and England then - in Will Carling, Brian Moore and Marga- rot Thatcher the Scots had some choice pantomime villains. When a Scot, Tom. ‘McNab, becameEnglane’sfitnessadvisor, hhecould hardly believe Moore wasforrel ‘He was the only man Td ever met who had clenched hai.” Itisa priceless read. ‘On thelr past two visits to Murrayfield ‘England have failed to scorea ty, never ‘mind win, Seotland are better than they appeared in Italy and Robinson will be ikeen to be seen to autsmart his opposite ‘number. While Johnsonishavingnone of it-"Wsnotaboutmeand AndyRobinson, itsEngland versusScotland”-"Robbothe Bruce” headlines willbe irresistible ifthe visitors lose. England to win, but only by whisker. Robinson: the verdict How Murrayfield favourites rate ‘thelr English coach, Andy Robinson John Jeffrey Paneer, 40 aps {SeHe's done a tremenciousjob for Scottish rugby. Itwasa big hurdleto ‘ross initially, for an Englishman to ‘come up to Scotland when he took ‘the Edinburgh job. Hehadall the players on his side, and he's done the ‘same with Scotland. They're trying ‘toplay wider game of rugby and. hiisattention to detallisimmense. ‘Hie'san absolute workaholic, andthe pplayers.all love working with him Dodie Weir Lock, i caps (Ser think he's the best man forthe jobandheisgetingalotoutotthe phiyersbecause i'salwayslimited esourees involved in Seotish ‘ugby. think everyone's behind Dim, beeause he brought some ‘g00d esultsin the autuma Test. Insomeways, we should have won against Wales: the players have got to ‘shoulder quite alot ofzesponsibiity forthates Kenny Logaa ing, 76 caps ‘S6TheTtaly loss wasabig blow, ‘but England struggled to beat [Mtaly]in Rome. Ido believe ‘Andy Robinson (left)isthe ‘ight man, weare better ‘team thisyyear than last year. ‘Weare right in games now ‘until the inal minutesand We've closed the gap. What ‘wenced to donow istobe ‘winning those gameses Compiled by WillFinch