Vern Cotter denies Scotland are favourites to beat England
Thursday 28 January 2016 11:47, UK
Scotland coach Vern Cotter has refuted claims his team are favourites to beat England in their Six Nations opener at Murrayfield.
Cotter believes England's new coach Eddie Jones made the statement in an attempt to relieve the pressure on his shoulders in his first game in charge.
England, outright favourites to win the tournament, go into the match on February 6 seeking an eighth consecutive Calcutta Cup victory over Scotland, and are still ranked higher than their hosts.
But Jones compares his side's dismal showing at last year's Rugby World Cup, in which they failed to qualify for the knockout phase to Scotland being denied a place in the semi-finals by an erroneous penalty decision.
"I don't know how Eddie works that out. It's just a psychological lever that he's trying to use, to take the pressure off himself," Cotter said.
"I gather that England are still ranked ahead of us by World Rugby. I didn't think England would need that, I thought they would be comfortable with the favourites' tag."
Jones has a reputation for engaging in mind games and he was happy to begin the verbal sparring at the launch of this year's tournament.
"Remember that photo that was sent around during the World Cup? It was of an English gentleman trying to get out of the pool and he couldn't do it," Jones said.
"Well Scotland made it out of the pool and nearly got to the semi-final. The difference in performance at the World Cup was enormous.
"Both teams will have had two weeks to prepare so the advantage that Scotland has is massive, but they have to carry that pressure of favouritism which is something they probably aren't used to."
