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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ugo Monye

England must feed off Murrayfield hostility to weather the Scotland storm

England prepare for battle against Scotland for a SixNations opener where their kicking game is likely to be crucial.
England prepare for battle against Scotland for a Six Nations opener where their kicking game and replacements are likely to be crucial. Photograph: James Crombie/INPHO/Shutterstock

There are myths about Murrayfield that we hear about every year. Some I agree with, some I don’t, but I can honestly say it is a stadium where the conditions can be like nowhere else. It is one of the hardest stadiums to play in because the shape of it means that when the wind gets inside the bowl it just doesn’t stop swirling.

The key for England, then, is to get their preparation right. You can try to acclimatise in the warm-up and that does make a difference, but if the players have not got their mental approach right in the buildup it’ll be a long day at the office because the forecast looks dreadful. For me, that would start on a Monday morning. One of the first things I would do is check the weather forecast and from that moment on I was able to start my mental prep.

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