A Calcutta Cup match initially billed as a mildly interesting domestic scuffle before the clash of the Six Nations titans in Cardiff has suddenly turned into a potentially explosive battle between England and Scotland at Twickenham tomorrow.

Ireland are chasing a first Grand Slam since 1948 against defending champions Wales at the Millennium Stadium, while the only prize for the English and Scots is an idiosyncratic cup and bragging rights for the next 12 months.

To everyone's amazement, it has been mild-mannered Steve Borthwick, the England captain who has struggled to get referees, and quite a few pundits, to hear a single word he has said during the tournament, who has infuriated the Scots.

Buoyed by England's 34-10 destruction of France, the Saracens second row this week decided to launch a fierce verbal attack on the Scots for being ungracious victors when England flopped 15-9 at Murrayfield last year.

Borthwick (left), having disappeared into a metaphorical phone booth and emerged a totally different character, now has to deal with the consequences of insulting an entire nation - one that already has a healthy dislike of the auld enemy.

Recognising the seriousness of the situation, team manager Martin Johnson waded in behind his captain with this gem of an olive branch: "I have no sympathy for Scotland at the moment. They will regard themselves as underdogs and have that chip on their shoulder."

This was also a response to the news that Scotland coach Frank Hadden's contract from his Union requires at least two Six Nations wins each season and he comes to Twickenham having only enjoyed success against Italy.

The Scots players know they will determine Hadden's fate and, with the British and Irish Lions selectors sitting down to pick the tour party for South Africa in the summer once the Six Nations is over, there is plenty to play for. So stuffing Borthwick's words back down his throat is just one motivating factor.

England acknowledge the expertise of prop Euan Murray, the goal kicking of Chris Paterson, Mike Blair's threat at scrum-half and Thom Evans's pace on the wing, without being unduly worried about what might unfold.

Johnson has a proud record of victories against the Scots and knows his men have to finish the Six Nations on a high to prove the five-try win over France wasn't entirely due to the mental fragility of the opposition.

England haven't suddenly become a world force again but they have shown a welcome improvement in self-belief and a willingness to embrace the attacking strategy that backs coach Brian Smith was asked to bring to the national cause this year.

The inclusion of Simon Shaw alongside Borthwick gave the pack a physical edge they lacked and allowed the captain to concentrate on areas where his talents are best served, most notably the line-out.

Borthwick, when paired with the outstanding line-out skills of Nick Kennedy, deferred to his more agile partner and attempted to fill the bullocking, ball-carrying role which he is patently not equipped for at this level.

He managed a staggeringly poor eight metres gained with the ball in hand during the first three championship matches, a distance Shaw eclipsed with just one of his charges against France.

Shaw, despite giving away three penalties, wrestled three turnovers from the maul as England amassed an impressive 13 in total against France and the Scots will be worried.

As France found to their cost, England have rediscovered their "dog" up front and it was too good for the opposition poodles during the opening 50 minutes at Twickenham last Sunday. Scotland will concentrate on the last half-an-hour, when England allowed France back into the game and conceded seven penalties during an 11-minute period.

It was a stark reminder of England's ability to lose self-control under pressure and that offers Scotland the chance to end a 26-year wait for victory at Twickenham.

Hadden has tried to play down the seriousness of his situation and now faces an England team that have scored 13 tries in the championship.

But he is not that impressed and added to the niggle surrounding the match by stating: "It was inevitable with the quality of players that England have got, and the fact that they've been together constantly for eight weeks, that they would get better during this competition.

England finished last season with three wins and a repeat of that feat will give Johnson and his team a real base from which to build.

I expect England to extend Scotland's losing sequence at Twickenham and prove the French triumph was down to their efforts rather than the inadequacies of the opposition .