Former Scotland captain Rory Lawson insists it is England who are under the spotlight in this weekend’s Calcutta Cup clash after suffering disappointing defeats in their two latest games.
Gregor Townend’s men will set out to retain the Calcutta Cup on Saturday with their 25-13 victory over the Auld Enemy two years ago at Murrayfield sure to inspire the side, not to mention last year’s stunning 38-38 draw.
And Lawson believes that, in the wake of England’s defeats to South Africa, in the World Cup final, and France this weekend, it is they who will be under the spotlight at BT Murrayfield.
“The pressure is there. Pressure’s a privilege. England have more pressure than Scotland,” the former scrum-half told BBC Sport’s Andy Burke.
“They’ve come off the back of two of their worst performances in recent times – the World Cup final, absolutely destroyed by South Africa; and they go away to Paris, 20 points down, a good comeback but a million miles from a side of that quality and the performance you’d expect.”
Lawson, capped 31 times by Scotland, was part of the side that beat England 15-9 at Murrayfield in 2008, while his father, Alan, won three Calcutta Cup clashes in the 1970s.
Both sides fell to defeats in the opening round of fixtures, but Lawson believes his country’s performance against Ireland in Round 1 warranted more than a losing bonus point.
“The team put out a good performance that should’ve won them the game. It didn’t but that’s going to be the minimum standard,” added Lawson.
“It’s a huge, huge game – everything from now has to be getting better and better.
“Scotland have to win the next game and look at the bonus point on Saturday as a positive when competing at the top end of this championship, not avoiding finishing bottom.”
