SCOTLAND V ENGLAND:BRIAN ASHTON would have much preferred to discuss his side's Six Nations prospects against Scotland yesterday, but the England head coach's efforts to deflect attention away from Danny Cipriani's removal from the Murrayfield team-sheet were always doomed to failure. Drawing a line under the affair will become harder still should England slip to an unforeseen defeat this afternoon.
It would have helped had the England Rugby Football Union been slightly more forthcoming about precisely why Cipriani was abruptly withdrawn following the publication of photos showing the 20-year-old strolling out of a London West End nightclub in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Beyond stressing it was entirely his decision, Ashton was reluctant to divulge any further details other than to confirm the fullback would resume training with England on Monday.
By far the most plausible explanation, denied by Ashton, is that Cipriani's card was already marked and this was not his first offence.
Despite the puzzlement expressed by senior figures at Wasps, Ashton repeated his belief that the player has only himself to blame.
"I thought his behaviour was inappropriate for an international rugby player almost 48 hours before a Test match . . . I don't think I'm a draconian coach, despite what some people have said about me."
His more pressing priority is to ensure the rest of the squad shrug off the furore and concentrate on beating a Scottish side who are not half as bad as recent results might suggest.
At least one man should have no problems in that regard. Cipriani's misfortune, in theory, is Iain Balshaw's gain and Ashton is seeking a suitably strong response from the player he initially omitted from the starting line-up.
"I think he'll see this as a remarkable opportunity to prove that what I did was totally the wrong decision," the coach said. "I hope he can turn around in the dressingroom afterwards and stick two fingers up at me. In some people's eyes that'll be two mistakes I've made this week."
Yet if the saloon-bar windows continue to rattle and the trees keep swaying as much as they did yesterday, Scotland will sense a possibility of repeating their Calcutta Cup triumphs of 2000 and 2006. England endured a breezy training session and the blustery forecast will encourage the hosts to test Balshaw.
"Potentially they're a very dangerous side," admitted Ashton. "They don't like losing to England, and if they lose this game they could well go to Italy to play for a wooden spoon. If you stick that lot together, it's pretty strong motivation. We're expecting one hell of a battle. As one of our players said this week, the Scots seem to grow six inches and become five metres quicker every time they see 15 white shirts with a red rose on them."
The only near certainty is that Jonny Wilkinson will break the world Test points record of 1,090, which he shares with Wales's Neil Jenkins. When he does so, he will trot away with barely a flicker of emotion.
"I love records for what they do for people's aspirations and how they bring an excitement to everything, but in terms of being part of it myself it really does nothing for me," he said. "Somebody told me after the French game that I had a certain number of points and I haven't thought about it once since."
Scotland have already seen enough of Wilkinson, not least at Twickenham last year, to suspect the outhalf will not merely restrict himself to a solitary successful kick. But as England seek to secure their first win in six attempts on Scottish, Irish or Welsh soil since Clive Woodward stepped down in 2004, their captain, Phil Vickery, is not yet contemplating a late title assault. "People are talking about tries and points difference, but if it's 3-0 or 9-6 I won't care," he muttered.
Should England win by a wider margin, a late-night toast to absent friends would seem appropriate.
