NEIL SQUIRES

SCOTLAND coach Gregor Townsend is banking on inside knowledge from the Lions tour giving his side a head start against England a week on Saturday.

Townsend was Warren Gatland’s assistant on the trip to South Africa and was able to scrutinise England playmaker Marcus Smith as well as Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes close up.

“There are insights to be learned from working with English players, but it is more our players’ insights into working and training alongside them,” said Townsend (right).

“We had eight on that tour and they maybe picked up things that a player likes to do or