Larder wary of Scotland's flying Lamont brothers

There has been little for England and their supporters to celebrate this season but one man in the world champions' camp does have something to smile about. That man is Phil Larder, England's defence coach, a man possessed of a brilliant, cunning rugby brain.

There has been little for England and their supporters to celebrate this season but one man in the world champions' camp does have something to smile about. That man is Phil Larder, England's defence coach, a man possessed of a brilliant, cunning rugby brain.

Larder is widely regarded as one of the best in the world at his job, and this season has shown he has not lost his touch. England might have suffered the ignominy of three successive defeats and have only a victory over Italy to show for their four Six Nations matches so far, but in one department at least, they are still out in front.

"I am tremendously happy with the defence considering where we were at the end of the summer," said Larder. "Against New Zealand and Australia [last autumn] we conceded 13 tries in three matches. In the Six Nations we have conceded just three tries in four matches, fewer than any other nation. There is still improvement in us but we are well on the way to where I want to be."

Since defence has been emerging as the best form of attack in international rugby it is fortunate for England that Larder is there, masterminding operations.

Defence is certainly something that is key to England's approach against the "auld enemy" in the Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham today.

Scotland have the second worst defence in this season's Six Nations Championship having conceded 13 tries in their first five matches.

If the defence takes care if itself then England's attack can get to work. They are just beginning to smoulder in that department. An unchanged back three of Iain Balshaw, Josh Lewsey and the potent Mark Cueto, a hat-trick hero last week, pose a very real threat to the Scots.

But Matt Williams' rapidly improving team are not to be underestimated. They might have had a poor first half against Wales, but after the interval they went after Wales and came a very good second to their Celtic rivals.

The powerful wings, the brothers Sean and Rory Lamont, look quite capable of ruffling England feathers.

Larder, the former Great Britain rugby league coach who also helps out at Leicester, is aware of the potential for disaster. "Everybody is talking in a negative way about Scotland. But if you analyse them they have scored some great tries.

"The three they scored in the second half against Wales were outstanding. The first try they scored against Ireland from their own 22 was outstanding so we are going to be tested."

The Scots have sadly lost the services of their superb scrum-half Chris Cusiter. He picked up an Achilles injury against Wales, but Mike Blair is no slouch and he can expect a plentiful supply of ball from a rugged and powerful pack, which is not going to allow itself to be pushed all over the park.

In fact, their derring-do in Paris at the start of the Championship last month is something on which Williams is drawing to remind his team that they have run one of the best sides, France, close.

"It is very difficult to win at Twickenham. Teams don't win there very often, but this Scotland side responded in Paris and we have seen the players respond in Australia, although we have not yet won in those circumstances."

Williams will also be aware that this fixture carries an intense rivalry between the countries, a rivalry that transcends form and expectation.

Williams says: "Playing England in England at that venue is something that every international player should be looking forward to because it is a very inspiring place."

That inspiration is possibly not due to the setting, but, rather, because of the history of the two countries outside of the game of rugby union.

There is every chance that Williams' words will still have stirred his men. But England are also stirred by the history. It could be by the end that their strike runners will not just be smouldering, they could well be smoking.