Sean Lamont says Scotland are desperate to end their decade of failure against France — but denied they are shackled by an inferiority complex.

Scotland coach Vern Cotter has defended his decision to call up New Zealand-born flanker Hugh Blake for his RBS 6 Nations squad.

Stuart Lancaster has no qualms about picking Anthony Watson on the right wing for tomorrow’s QBE International against South Africa and believes he is ready for his first Test start.

There is much to be said for the power of positive thinking and so upbeat is Scott Johnson in his approach to solving Scottish rugby’s problems that 15 minutes in his company would convince anyone of his side’s potential for success.

As if Munster needed reminding they have a game on their hands in their final Heineken Cup game on Sunday, Edinburgh head coach Alan Solomons has stressed just how important an away victory at Thomond Park would be for the Scottish side.

He is Ulster’s first-choice out-half and prominent among the new breed of 10s breathing down Jonathan Sexton’s neck for the right to don Ireland’s number 10 jersey but the time has come to cut Paddy Jackson some slack.

RABODIRECT PRO12: Edinburgh 24 Connacht 32

Edinburgh Rugby are searching for a new head coach after informing Michael Bradley they will not renew his contract at the end of the season.

RBS Six Nations: ENGLAND V SCOTLAND

As a man of Munster but also head coach of Edinburgh, Michael Bradley is drawing encouragement from both teams ahead of tomorrow’s crucial Heineken Cup clash at Thomond Park.

The Ireland team to play Scotland in the first pre-World Cup warm-up game on Saturday has been named, with second row Leo Cullen named as captain for the first time.

RYAN JONES has urged Wales to be “bold, brave and clinical” in their make-or-break RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland today.

Ryan Jones has urged Wales to be “bold, brave and clinical” in their make-or-break RBS 6 Nations clash against Scotland tomorrow.

IRISH international Tommy Bowe last night completed a hat-trick of awards from his fellow players.

Scotland 15 England 15

ULSTER and Leinster are confident their weekend Heineken Cup games will go ahead as scheduled at Ravenhill and the RDS.

LEINSTER have won two from three in their Heineken Cup campaign — but still find themselves down in third place in a pool that could end up needing the calculators to determine quarter-final qualification.

Edinburgh have called on the Scottish Rugby Union to agree to mediation “without further delay”.

EDINBURGH are boosted by the return of veteran Scott Murray and Munster by Paul O’Connell for the Magners League game at Murrayfield tonight.

EDDIE O’SULLIVAN yesterday went close to admitting that he has never had an easier task in selecting an Irish side.

MARK JONES has recovered from ankle ligament damage and is named on the wing for Wales’ RBS 6 Nations clash with Scotland at Murrayfield.

Munster star Ronan O’Gara believes the European champions need to slash their error-count in Saturday’s Heineken Cup showdown with Leicester at Thomond Park.

Edinburgh 17 Borders 3

BELEAGURED England boss Andy Robinson has reacted to his team’s shambolic defeat against Argentina by making seven changes for the Twickenham appointment with South Africa on Saturday.

ENGLAND head coach Andy Robinson has challenged his experimental squad for the two-match tour to Australia to stake their claims for regular places in the build-up to the 2007 World Cup in France.

Hearts head coach Graham Rix is disappointed with the decision to stage the all-Edinburgh Tennent’s Scottish Cup semi-final at Hampden Park.

Edinburgh 32 Wasps 31

Matt Williams faces an anxious few hours as the Scottish Rugby Union meet to discuss his future today.

The Scottish Rugby Union board will meet tomorrow to discuss the future of coach Matt Williams.

Edinburgh 41 Leinster 33

Edinburgh 40 Perpignan 17

Hearts today took a big step towards quitting Tynecastle for good by announcing they have reached a conditional agreement to sell the stadium for £22m (€32.5m).

England coach Clive Woodward believes Scotland will have “absolutely everything to gain and nothing to lose” in tomorrow’s Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield.

Murrayfield-bound Ulster handed their coach Alan Solomons the ideal early Christmas present with their first try and win of the Heineken Cup’s Pool One tonight at a sold-out Ravenhill.

Scottish rugby marketing director Phil Anderton is confident Murrayfield will get the chance to host the Heineken Cup final within the next few years.

Bath have been warned by rugby chiefs for withdrawing players from an England training session.

Wales full-back Stephen Jones is battling to be fit for Saturday’s Six Nations Championship clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.