Scotland hope to bog down England on Murrayfield mush
After defeats in their openers, both teams already up against it
Bad weather would be good news for Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The Scots need all the help they can get when they kick off against England in an already desperate Six Nations second round for both teams.
And the forecast might deliver. Rain is expected in the hours beforehand. Add that to the parasites which have already turned Murrayfield into mush (forcing the union to choose hybrid grass similar to Twickenham’s in time for next season), and Scotland could have a boggy setting to lay another ambush.
Scotland were the only team not to score a try last weekend, when everyone else bagged at least two.
“We were awful,” forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys said of the 28-6 loss to Ireland in Dublin. The lack of cutting edge cost captain Kelly Brown and British Lions lock Richie Gray places in the matchday 23, and inside centre Duncan Taylor was benched.
Making his test debut will be flanker Chris Fusaro, whom coach Scott Johnson said at the start of the season lacked the heft to be an international openside. But after losing the breakdown battle against Ireland, Johnson says Fusaro is the “ground feeder” they need.
Spared were Ross Ford, who lost five throw-ins and hooked a wobbly front-row between Ryan Grant and Moray Low.