Coach Andy Robinson knows Scotland will need a lot more than just his inside knowledge to beat England in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup match at Murrayfield.
Robinson is a fomer England manager and will pit his wits against the country of his birth.
The 45-year-old, who quit as England manager in 2006 after winning just nine of his 22 games in charge, will be reunited with several of his former charges on Saturday.
Robinson has no qualms about imparting his know-ledge of their strengths and weaknesses to his adopted nation, but warned that it is up to his own players to exploit any advantage.
He said: “I can communicate about the England players, but it’s still about going out there and delivering.
“England have a very good forward pack and are very good at attacking through Danny Care.
“They have pace, so they are a dangerous team. But if you get in their faces and you stop them from playing, you ask real questions of them.”
Robinson, who helped coach England to World Cup success in 2003, has been asked countless questions about where his loyalties lie since his appointment as Scotland coach last summer.
He has also been quizzed a number of times about whether beating England would mean more to him, for good or for ill.
Asked yet again about the significance of this weekend’s match, the first Englishman to coach Scotland said: “It’s just another game.
“There is a buzz in the air, but I’ve felt that for every game.”
Robinson has made just one personnel change from the side beaten in Italy, a loss which left Scotland favourites for the wooden spoon.
Edinburgh’s Nick De Luca will be handed his first start since November 2008, with the 26-year-old recalled at outside centre.
Max Evans is moved to wing, with Simon Danielli dropping to the bench.
Although Evans is technically playing out of position, both his Test tries have come when he has been fielded at wing. Robinson added: “We need to free Max up a bit for him to be able to attack their weak and poorer defenders.”
Robinson acknowledges that De Luca’s selection is as much about stopping England playing as about providing a different attacking option.
“Nick is probably one of our best defenders and will get stuck into England and put them under some pressure,” said the Scots coach.
“Also, he’s a very good ball-carrier.”
Robinson refused to be drawn on whether there would have been more changes but for injury, with Mike Blair, Alasdair Strokosch and Alasdair Dickinson added to the list.
England and Scotland have both failed to set the tournament alight in their three matches so far, but England have two wins and Scotland none.
Robinson reckons the only difference between the sides so far has been ruthlessness.
He said: “You don’t get points for how you play, you get points for winning games.”
Not for the first time in six nations history, Scotland are looking for a victory against England to maintain realistic hope of avoiding the wooden spoon. However, they have won the last two Murrayfield meetings with the Auld Enemy and Robinson believes the key to completing a hat-trick is simple.
“It’s taking the opportunities we create and stopping England scoring,” he said.
“The last two games won here at Murrayfield, England haven’t scored a try.
“It’s going to be vital we stop England getting any sort of momentum.”