Owen Farrell and his England rugby team mates flew into a storm insisting they are ready for anything Scotland or the elements throw at them on Saturday.
Twenty years after England’s Calcutta Cup hopes perished in a Murrayfield squall, shocking weather is forecast for Saturday evening’s Six Nations showdown.
But Red Rose coach John Mitchell says it holds no fear for a team bent on bouncing back from defeat in France six days ago.
“We’re ready for anything,” claimed Mitchell as the Met Office warned that Storm Ciara could be the worst to hit the UK for seven years.
“We’ve looked at all situations that could occur and weather is certainly one of those. It’s important for us to be adaptable in that chaos.”
In 2000 England were ambushed by the weather and had Grand Slam hopes washed away by a flash storm they failed to spot on the forecast.
Last year they were embarrassed again, this time at Twickenham, by Scotland coming back from 31-0 down to retain the Calcutta Cup they had won on home turf the year before.
Tartan legend Scott Hastings believes that his fly-half nephew Adam can steer the Scots to another famous result against the auld enemy.
“There’s going to be an electric atmosphere at Murrayfield,” he warned. “A pal of mine once said the great thing about the Scots is when they lose it’s like attending a wake but when they win it’s like having a second New Year.
“We of course hope it’s the latter but everyone knows England were World Cup finalists so are more than capable of bouncing back from last week’s loss.
“But add in that rivalry, tinged with a little bit of hatred and a little bit of jealousy - the edge the Calcutta Cup brings - and you’ve got a melting pot of pressure rugby.”
