Scotland look for upset to avoid embarrassment

Facing the embarrassment of finishing last in the Six Nations, Scotland needs no more motivation to turn that around than the game against England on Saturday.

A loss to Italy has left the Scots at the foot of the standings. But the Scots say that the sight of the English arriving at Murrayfield will be enough to motivate the side to produce another inspired underdog performance and a second victory in a row over them at the home of Scottish rugby.

"It's always a very historic game and playing them is obviously a great privilege. The cliches do come out," said Scotland hooker Ross Ford, who played in the 15-9 victory at Murrayfield two years ago. "It's just about getting in the right frame of mind to go out and do a job."

But Ford is focusing on just doing his own job right.

"I'm just looking to go out and be better than my opposite number and do my very best on the pitch," he said. "Focusing on the win all the time, that's ideally what I want every time I run out onto the pitch. That all the motivation I need."

The Scots also have the chance to create more problems for England team manager Martin Johnson, the World Cup winning former captain who has struggled to rebuild the team.

On top of long-term injuries to key players, Johnson has struggled to lead a talented team to the results and performances he has been looking for as he builds for next year's World Cup in New Zealand.

The England pack no longer dominates opponents and the backs too frequently choose the wrong options when they have the ball in their hands.

In Scotland, the English come up against one of their former coaches, Andy Robinson, who has created a stir by suggesting England use illegal off-the-ball blocking tactics.

That was denied by England captain Steve Borthwick.

"No referee has spoken to me about it. We train within the laws of the game and we play within the laws of the game," said Borthwick, who played under Robinson when the coach was in charge of England and also at club level.

"Marius Jonker is the referee this weekend. He did the corresponding fixture at Twickenham last year and the game against Australia in the autumn. What matters is not Andy Robinson's opinion or my opinion but Marius Jonker's opinion."

Johnson has been forced to call up Shane Geraghty, Tom Palmer, Olly Morgan and Mike Tindall as cover for four players who picked up injuries ahead of the game.

Geraghty stands by for Toby Flood after the back took a blow to the head in an English Premiership match at the weekend. Morgan is cover for fullback Delon Armitage, World Cup-winning center Tindall replaces Dan Hipkiss and Palmer replaces injured lock Simon Shaw.

- AP