Six Nations
England's build-up to Scotland at boiling point
Tom Hamilton
March 12, 2015
England worked on their discipline in a 15 v 15 match © Getty Images
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England's efforts to fine tune their ruck discipline led to a feisty training session on Wednesday as they prepared for Saturday's Six Nations clash against Scotland at Twickenham.

Stuart Lancaster's side head into Saturday's match with an emphasis on improving their work around the breakdown as they look to get back to winning ways following their loss in Dublin. They conceded 13 penalties against Ireland and the starting XV for the Calcutta Cup clash were put through their paces in training by those who are either on the bench for Saturday's match or who missed out on selection.

The 15 v 15 match was refereed by J.P. Doyle and it was feisty enough for England coach Lancaster to halt to ensure they "didn't play the game too early". He added: "Both sides had an edge about them. You can describe it as a backlash or whatever you want but we had 15 v 15 training today and I had to calm it down."

The starting XV for the Calcutta Cup match faced a pack of Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, Kieran Brookes, Geoff Parling, George Kruis, Nick Easter, Tom Wood and Matt Kvesic. The backline featured Danny Cipriani at fly-half, Henry Slade at 12 and Sam Burgess at outside centre.

"The non-15, if you like, had a point to prove but also wanted to create some intensity in the session, particularly at the breakdown, to make sure we were accurate as a team," Lancaster said. "They did that and were a huge challenge for us defensively. Equally the team that was selected, we had talked in the review of the Ireland game about being accurate at the breakdown and sharp.

"All of those components came to play and it was the type of session you need sometimes in the lead up to a big game."

The exercise also allowed Lancaster to run the rule over those who are currently not involved in the matchday squad. England have just five Test matches until the start of the World Cup and such is the competitiveness of the inter-group matches, Lancaster will not contemplate bringing in outside opposition to keep his team match-fit. It was a training session that was made possible by the absence of a Test last weekend.

"We were always going to have it," Lancaster said. "You wanted to put the starting team under pressure so that they get used to making decisions under pressure and the more you can replicate that in training, hopefully when the game comes around it comes easy.

"You can't do it very often because there is always usually a game you have just played. But because we didn't have the game and we had given the boys who had played a bit of time to recover, then it enabled us to. I am confident we'll be in the right place for Saturday."

Lancaster has changed two for the Scotland match with Courtney Lawes and Mike Brown starting. Lawes will call the lineout against Scotland and Lancaster is looking forward to having Brown's "winner's mentality" back in the squad.

"When it comes down to the fine margins on selection, technically, tactically, physically, you can look at the numbers, the intangible is that and he has it," Lancaster said. "Lots of players do. He is one that definitely does. Even though he is not that vocal off the field, just his sheer competitiveness is what you want in your team."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
Tom Hamilton is the Associate Editor of ESPNscrum.

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