Cusiter up for England challenge

Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter admits the Calcutta Cup clash with England next month will be a huge test for Frank Hadden’s struggling side.

The Scots have lost all three of their RBS 6 Nations matches so far and are in desperate danger of finishing with the wooden spoon for a second successive year.

After the England clash at Murrayfield on March 8, they must travel to face an Italy side who beat them in Edinburgh last year and then ran the Scots close at the World Cup.

Cusiter, who has come off the bench in each match so far, believes the Scots have to be optimistic.

He told BBC Sport: “After three defeats, our aim now has to be to win our two remaining games.

“Next up it’s England at home. That’ll be a massive match, especially after their great achievement of winning in Paris.

“They’re in good form and will come to Murrayfield full of confidence, and they’ve got a huge set of forwards.

“But we’ve got guys like Alasdair Strokosch, Nathan Hines and Scott Murray - who can more than hold their own against them.

“Despite our run of results, the Scottish fans always have high expectations in Calcutta Cup clashes.

“We’ll be trying our best to live up to them.”