It's England in Scotland tomorrow and I'm starting to feel excited, especially now we know the side that Stuart Lancaster has picked for the Calcutta Cup.

You always have a certain amount of change when there is the natural end of an era, such as following a World Cup. You are bound to have players who can no longer compete at that level of physicality and so need to bring in some youngsters.

Stuart has certainly done that. This England side must be one of the most inexperienced line-ups in half a century. The England team at the last World Cup had over 500 caps between them; when we won it in 2003 we totalled over 600. But you have got to start somewhere.

It is a side very much with the fact that the World Cup will be in this country in 2015 in mind. And it is a very exciting side because of that, with a lot of those young players who you see playing with such freedom and lack of fear in the Premiership getting their chance on the big stage.

One of the main issues it presents is the fact that there are a lot of unknown quantities. I would say from the make-up of the side that they do intend to throw the ball around, whereas in the World Cup just gone they tended to be very conservative. You would guess that they do want to go out and play.

The selection of Charlie Hodgson is a testament to that, as he will be looking to play an open game. And, when he looks up and sees his Saracens team-mates David Strettle, Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt around him, it will make the difference.

They are certainly not all rookies, though, there is a solid backbone in the pack, with the likes of Dan Cole, Dylan Hartley, Tom Croft and Tom Palmer, who have all played together a lot, so there is a good blend of youth and experience.

Scotland are going to look to deny England a platform and break the game up but I would like to think that this side is good enough to play a structured game, but also pick up the tempo and play with pace.

Like any year, you don't want to lose your opening game, but this is no ordinary opening game. The 'Auld Enemy', in Scotland, for the oldest rivalry in the game, playing for the Calcutta Cup. It's about the passion of it all, and the pride. The Scots do like to think that they have the patent on pride, but it means just as much to England as them.

I, personally, never found Murrayfield to be that intimidating, to be honest. If anything, the noise, the passion coming from the supporters, the pipes playing as you run out, all those things inspired me.

It's one of the best places I have ever played rugby, and you really want to rise to the challenge. You can't get away from the history between the nations, but that is what makes it so special.

And, from the 15 games I played against Scotland, I only experienced losing once. So, for me, playing against them brings nothing but happy memories.