Take a closer look to home Mr Borthwick

Borthwick's comments on last year's fixture when Scotland pulled off a shock (and I do stress this term as it may help the Anglos amongst you understand the Scottish reaction to that) 15-9 victory at Murrayfield had one thinking: "Great. One Englishman in Stewart Lee gave me some fine comedy material on telly the other night. Now their rugby captain has proven to be a great follow-up act".

It would appear that the big, tough lock forward was none too happy about Scotland's chaps celebrating in an enthusiastic manner last year and this has stuck in his craw somewhat.

Here's what he said: "They won fair and square, but that result hurt me and every Englishman.

"There are certain things I won't forget after that game. They made no disguise in rubbing in the fact they had beaten England.

"After Sunday's game against France, we won and we were pleased with our game but I would like to think we handled that win in a gracious manner."

With his opening salvo, fair enough. Losing a game you were red-hot favourites to win will have no doubt grated on the nerves. More so when collectively as a team, England had a shocking off-day.

With the second volley, let's look at the context of the victory. Scotland were written off by all and sundry - including some of their own support with this writer just praying to be pleasantly surprised.

Why the negativity? Destroyed by France at home in the opener. Outclassed in Cardiff. Used as sparring practice by the Irish. It would be fair to say that optimism was somewhat on the low side going into the England game.

Add in the fact that since the glory of 1990 and all that, we had only beaten the Auld Enemy on two occasions, for us to make it a third no doubt stunned the players and maybe, fuelled by novelty and adrenaline, their partying displayed a little less decorum than normal. Something I'm sure Frank Hadden and skipper Mike Blair would be only too happy to apologise for, if England wish it.

With Borthwick's final bombshell, I'm sure any rugby player would choose to be gracious in victory than come up to a fearsome-looking Sebastien Chabal and tell him to "get it right up ya". Joking apart, if the rest of England are buying into Borthwick's diatribe, then they should realise that they are not exactly squeaky clean when in comes to being able to restrain any tendency to display any forms of hubris.

As current Glasgow Warriors boss - and veteran of Scotland's 1990 Grandslam side - Sean Lineen once said of the conduct of their English counterparts, "they had 1990 Grandslam winning ties all made up before the game and even took photos of various parts of the try-line to show the folks back home of the spot where they would score against us".

Lest we forget what went on during the game - particularly before half-time when besieged on their own try-line, Scotland conceded a number of penalties and instead of taking a kick at goal, England bullishly elected for a scrum everytime thinking they could push their hosts over. Bad call as it was Scotland who forced the error.

Lest we also forget ex-England flanker Mickey Skinner's various "sweaty socks - Jocks" gibes in subsequent campaigns. Ex-England scrum-half Steve Smith on national TV showing disrespect to the Scots anthem "Flower of Scotland", and every petulant remark from ex-England centre Jeremy Guscott who still hasn't got over 1990.

Or even delving back to 1986 when all the talk of how much England would win by wound up Scotland back rowers John Jeffrey and John Beattie so much that the former was said to have thrown an offending newspaper across a press conference room while the latter made short work of English opposite Maurice Colclough by cleaning him out at the first lineout. Scotland would go on to record their biggest win over England and make a complete nonsense of all the Anglo pre-match boasting.

And of course, 2003 when England won the World Cup and were gracious with it (sic). They deserved it sure but the nasty odour of Jericho-esque superiority being rammed down the throats of the Celtic nations, Mr Borthwick, was not at all as gracious as you perceive yourself to be. Not surprisingly, the Celtic trumpets were all too ready to herald the fall of Jericho once England's crown began to slip. One doesn't remember too much crowing when New Zealand, Australia and South Africa lost theirs.

Of course, it would be naive to suggest that some sections of Scotland's support, media and even playing staff, do not get drunk on nationalism - they do and some become very unpleasant with it which may have happened at Murrayfield last year stirring enough anger in Borthwick for him to make his statement.

After all, maybe Steve Borthwick is one of those folk who see this planet as being a round world the last time he looked.

If he is, then perhaps he could instruct those south of the border who themselves lack a chunk of humility, which also afflict a section north of the Tweed, to put their own house in order if he is to appear as white as the shirt he'll proudly be wearing come 3pm at Twickenham on Saturday?