Easter eggs England on to cut gap on Wales

Mar 4 2008

NICK EASTER insists England cannot afford to think about piling on the points in Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland until the game is safely in the bag.

After the first three rounds of the RBS Six Nations, England’s points difference of plus eight is 53 down on the unbeaten tournament pacesetters Wales.

If Brian Ashton’s men are to mount a real challenge for the title they must beat both Scotland and Ireland comprehensively over the next two weekends.

But Easter has warned England cannot afford to get ahead of themselves as they head to Murrayfield because a bunch of fired-up Scots will be desperate to pounce.

“The points difference will be at the back of our minds but the first thing is to get the game won up in Scotland and hopefully Ireland will do a job on Wales,” said Easter, the Harlequins captain.

“We are pretty down on points difference – but you have got to win the game first.

“If you start thinking about the points first then 90 per cent of sides will lose the game and Scotland will have their own ways of targeting us.

“This is a massive game and it will be a cauldron up there. The Calcutta Cup is the oldest trophy in international rugby and the Celts always turn it on against us at home.

“The Scots are very pleasant people – but when we get on the pitch they just want to kill us!

“We have got to be intense and focused for those 80 minutes.”

Easter missed England’s defeat to Wales with a knee injury but returned against Italy and was named man of the match in the victory over France in Paris.

“There are still things to be worked on but I am sure they will be ironed out this week and come the Scotland game everyone will be fired up,” said Easter.

It seems remarkable, but Easter is only a year into his international career and despite playing in a World Cup final he has never locked horns with Scotland.

“I know the history of this fixture and I can’t wait,” said Easter.