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Expected physical battle sees Wilkinson go deep
Jonny Wilkinson admits England's defeat by Scotland at Murrayfield two years ago was one of the most painful experiences of his rugby career.
The England fly-half broke the world record for international points on that filthy afternoon in Edinburgh but there was nothing else for him to smile about.
England, World Cup finalists only five months previously, were desperate. They were beaten 15-9 and Wilkinson was hauled off with 11 minutes remaining.
To compound his misery, Wilkinson was then dropped for only the second time in a 12-year international career as then England coach Brian Ashton turned to Danny Cipriani.
But, two years on, Cipriani is now persona non grata and bound for Melbourne while Wilkinson is heading back to Murrayfield, convinced he is a stronger player for the setback.
"The most painful lessons are often the most powerful and for me that is definitely the case," said Wilkinson.
"That was a big experience and it has done the world of good for me.
"I have spent much of the time since then injured on the sidelines but that doesn't change the fact that you have to take heed of those lessons.
"The game a couple of years ago was a massive learning curve and it taught us that you need to go out there to play.
"You can't expect to just build a game solely from what you have planned on paper.
"We tried that against Scotland with the conditions and the weather and they did a great job of smothering us.
"We didn't push the situation hard enough to earn the right to win that game. We played a game that was stifled and we ended up losing the game and quite rightly so."
Wilkinson knows just what to expect from a Scotland side coached by former England chief Andy Robinson, and it is not all fire and brimstone.
"He played the way he coaches. There is no facade," said Wilkinson. "He was physical, he was intense, he was skilful and he mixed it every time he went out there. As a coach he does exactly the same thing but this time he is able to really impart a huge amount of that rugby brain and experience over many years.
"We need to go in with a level of inner strength that is capable of dealing with everything on the field and off the field."
Huddersfield-born Leicester Tigers centre Andrew Forsyth wins his first England Under-20s cap against Scotland in Glasgow on tomorrow night.
Forsyth, 19, who has represented England at Under-16 and Under-18 level, made his debut for the Tigers against Northampton Saints earlier this season and started the club's famous 22-17 victory over South Africa at Welford Road last November.
The England Under-20s will be captained again by Leeds Carnegie's Keighley-born flanker Jacob Rowan.
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 8 C to 21 C
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