Six Nations: George Ford and England ready for Scotland’s ‘dirty tricks’

England vs. Scotland

• What: Six Nations round five
• When: Saturday 16 March
• Where: Twickenham, London
• Start time: 5pm GMT
• Team announcements: England 10.30am on Thursday; Scotland 1.45pm on Thursday

Fly-half George Ford says that England are prepared for any of Scotland’s “dirty tricks” during Saturday’s final Six Nations match at Twickenham.

England go into the Calcutta Cup clash against the Scots still in with a chance of winning the Six Nations championship. They are one point behind leaders Wales who face Ireland on “Super Saturday”.

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No.10 Ford was involved in a tunnel altercation during the defeat at Murrayfield last year and he told The Daily Telegraph: “The one time you don’t prepare for it mentally, that’s the one time it could get you. The opposition will do everything they can to try and put you off your game. The No.10 plays such a pivotal role in terms of running the team, so you are going to be a target.

“There is more that goes on than you think. The amount of times I’ve been at the bottom of a ruck and the opposition have put a hand or an elbow in my face, things like that to try and rough you up a bit.

“It just so happened [at Murrayfield], as I was walking down the tunnel, there was an incident. Any team would try to get an upper hand.

“You have to be on top of it mentally, come back to being in control, come back to imposing your game plan on the opposition.”

Scots not getting involved with Jones talk

Earlier this week England head coach Eddie Jones stoked the fires by saying he remembered “everything” about how Scotland “carried on” after their win at Murrayfield last season.

However, Scotland second row Grant Gilchrist is not concerned by the comments from the England boss.

Gilchrist told the Telegraph: “We don’t get involved in anything like that, we’ve enough to be worried about with our own game and going down there getting prepared to play a game of rugby.

“If you’re not motivated to play for Scotland, regardless of where you’re playing, there’s something seriously wrong. I don’t think what Eddie Jones says makes any difference.”

Jones selects squad

England coach Jones has named a 26-man squad to prepare for Saturday’s clash against Scotland at Twickenham.

Dan Robson has been ruled out because of illness and he is replaced by Ben Spencer. Uncapped forward Elliott Stooke is also retained but lock Maro Itoje won’t feature in the Six Nations finale at Twickenham.

Jones will confirm his starting XV and bench on Thursday at 10.30am.

England squad

• Forwards: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
• Backs: Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens, captain), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Spencer (Saracens), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)