Murrayfield magic excites Farrells
England's Owen Farrell has insisted there will be no fear factor when he makes his test debut in front of a passionate crowd at Murrayfield while his father Andy watches from the coaches' box.
A new-look England side have been given arguably the hardest possible start to life under acting head coach Stuart Lancaster when they begin the defence of their Six Nations title away to old rivals Scotland here on Saturday in front of what is set to be a sell-out 67 000 crowd.
Just over a year ago, Saracens centre Owen Farrell was on loan to lower league side Bedford.
But, despite his youth, he demonstrated a liking for the big occasion by playing a central role in Saracens' English Premiership final victory against Leicester last season in front of a capacity crowd at Twickenham.
Farrell had been tipped for England honours before his father Andy, the former dual code international, was seconded from Saracens to Lancaster's staff as the squad's backs coach.
"The team gets picked on form and nothing else. I am looking forward to getting stuck in," Farrell junior said.
"I am looking to take the atmosphere in, I am looking to enjoy it and hopefully thrive off it," the 20-year-old added. "It's what you play rugby for, to enjoy those moments.
"I try to take my nerves and put them into excitement. As I walk out I have a huge smile on my face. I take the occasion in – and then it's game-time."
Saturday's match will be a proud one for the Farrell family, with the game marking 36-year-old England rugby league great Andy's test debut as a coach.
And for all that he's achieved in both codes, there was no mistaking Andy Farrell's enthusiasm for the task at hand.
"I think when you get towards 10 days of being together as a new squad, you've put so much work into gelling together, I think there's more an air of excitement and let's get the show on the road."
Meanwhile Andy, who coached Owen at Saracens, insisted his relationship with him in an England context was no different from anyone else in the squad.
"As far as having your son playing, he's a rugby player like the rest of the boys that I coach and that's the way it's been all week."
Owen Farrell will have some familiar faces alongside him this weekend, with fellow Saracens centre Brad Barritt also making his test debut at Murrayfield and their teammate, Charlie Hodgson, inside the duo at fly-half for what will be the stand-off's first England start in four years.
"We know each other inside out now," Owen said.
"We have been playing together all this year but it is not just that, we are good mates."
And he was adamant the special atmosphere of a test at Murrayfield, where the pre-game ceremonies are as spectacular as any in international rugby union, would not prove disconcerting.
"I have heard bagpipes before," said Owen. "Once you step over that whitewash it is the same as every other game. You have to concentrate whether you are playing in front of 80 000 or 6 000 people."
And Andy said talk of a hostile environment was misplaced.
"It's a great place to play. I think it's exciting more than anything. I think it's one of the theatres of world rugby, isn't it?
"It's a dream of everybody to get their first cap under their belt but to get your first cap in the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield with such history is extra special. I wouldn't think it was daunting, it was more exciting than anything."