Rugby Union: Scotland's Murrayfield crowd crisis

HAVING conceded 80 points against New Zealand and Wales already this winter, Scotland want all the help they can get against the Auld Enemy in the Five Nations' Championship tomorrow. But yesterday doubts were cast over exactly how many of their passionate supporters would be allowed into Murrayfield.

The safety certificate for the new West Stand has not yet been issued and the Scottish Rugby Union has until 4.30 this afternoon to get its house in order. The problem concerns access ways and if the worst comes to the worst 11,000 angry supporters could be left milling around outside tomorrow. Last night, though, according to a source close to Murrayfield, 'an army the size of Napoleon's' was working at the ground.

England were trying to avoid complacency as they wrapped up their preparations yesterday before heading north.

Having trained in miserable conditions, their manager, Geoff Cooke, said: 'If we are beaten, the season goes down the tubes. There will be no Grand Slam, no Triple Crown and probably no Five Nations' Championship.'