Latest News From the England Camp Ahead of the Scotland Match

This weekend we are playing Scotland and we know that they are very keen to come to Twickenham and prove a point. They are a dangerous side with some big physical players up front. In many ways they are where England were a little while ago, under new management looking to build solid foundations and progress from there. There have been a few things that have been said from their camp reported in the press, we know they are determined to end their losing streak and we are ready to face them.

We're in our match week routine ahead of our first RBS Six Nations match on Saturday, so we're based at Pennyhill Park keeping the same itinerary as usual. That means training on Monday with a bit of media, then the hardest training session of the week on Tuesday which is followed by a rest day on Wednesday to recover. Thursday morning is light training with the afternoon off and then on Friday we go to the stadium for the team run.

A few of the players have been helping film for O2 Inside Line. This is our official behind the scenes show and we make it so fans can get a better insight into our training and life in the England camp. This week David Strettle had the player cam and might have even caught me on film. There's also bits with Chris Ashton and the Youngs brothers.

When we head to the stadium on Friday for the team run we will do some light training, go through our set moves and do all the final physical and mental preparations ahead of match day on the Saturday.

Often players will be waiting to see if they can be passed as fit before a game if they have a niggling injury. Touch wood I haven't had to do many fitness tests myself but these tests will involve a lot of running drills and offline work.

So if for instance it's testing an ankle injury instead of just running up and down there will be lots of side-steps, running angles, changing directions, coming back and forward. Agility work helps test whether the injury has recovered fully or not. If it's a shoulder injury they would do some bag and pad work, testing hits on the shoulder, increasing the pressure to see how it holds up.

No player wants to miss a match through injury but you have to be fully fit. The last thing you want is to underperform when you pull on that shirt. You would be found out and we are always honest and open within the team.

This weekend we are playing Scotland and we know that they are very keen to come to Twickenham and prove a point. They are a dangerous side with some big physical players up front. In many ways they are where England were a little while ago, under new management looking to build solid foundations and progress from there. There have been a few things that have been said from their camp reported in the press, we know they are determined to end their losing streak and we are ready to face them.

Having played in many countries there are lots of familiar faces and ex-teammates that I'll see during the tournament. It will be very competitive on the pitch and we might have a brief catch up after the game. However, there are so many games that we don't have much time; post match we have dinner then head home to sleep before preparing for the next match. I can't wait to get started.

Get the latest behind-the-scenes news from James Haskell and his England teammates with O2 Inside Line, the weekly show from O2 - proud sponsor of England Rugby - & the RFU at O2 Inside Line

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