Murrayfield atmosphere not a problem for England’s Te’o

BEN TE’O will shrug off any antiEnglish enmity at Murrayfield on Saturday having been exposed to more hostile environments.

Grand Slam-chasing England have not lost in Edinburgh since 2008 and were the last team to inflict a home defeat on Scotland in the NatWest 6 Nations two years ago in the opening match of the Eddie Jones era.

The venue holds little fear for the champions including Te’o, the rugby league convert who made seven State of Origin appearances for Queensland and appeared in a NRL grand final with the Rabbitohs.

“I’m 31 now. By the time you get this far you’ve played in some big stadiums, in front of hostile crowds,” said Te’o, who will win his 11th England cap on Saturday.

“I suppose every year you come around to these certain games. Last year we were talking about going to the Millennium Stadium, this year Murrayfield, next year it will be somewhere else.

“You’re always going to have an away fixture with a hostile crowd, that’s part of the game. You’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.

“They’re all hostile environments and they’re great to play in. It doesn’t matter at all to me where I play.

“I wouldn’t say anything in rugby has tipped State of Origin yet, but there have been some very hostile environments for sure.”

The rivalry between the nations comprises the sport’s oldest international fixture dating back to 1871 and for all the history of dark days inflicted by Scottish hands, Te’o insists past memories have no bearing on Saturday.

“It’s completely irrelevant. It’s fans who love to talk about past games, past championships,” Te’o said.

“Every now and again the boys will mention a game they played in, maybe they were going for a Grand Slam and they bombed it or they didn’t play well.

“That’s about as far back as the conversation goes. I don’t think anyone dwells on it. I can’t say we sit around talking about stuff like that.”

England have included James Haskell in a 25-man squad.

Haskell is available for the first time in the 2018 Championship after serving a four-week ban for a dangerous tackle incurred on club duty for Wasps.

Eddie Jones will cull two players from the 25 on Thursday morning when he names his starting XV.

Nathan Hughes’s return to fitness after eight weeks out with knee ligament damage means he will start at No 8, previously filled by injured Sam Simmonds.