England take drastic steps to combat cold in Edinburgh

England will use battery powered  heated track suits to help their replacements combat the cold against Scotland in Saturday’s Six Nations clash at Murrayfield.

With predicted single figure temperatures for match day, ensuring the muscles of the replacements are ready for action will be even more important and Eddie Jones has borrowed an idea from England cycling with the introduction of heated trousers that use batteries to generate up to 40c and retail at £150 a pair. British Cycling used heated trousers at the 2012 London Olympics and this is the latest attempt by England to get an edge over their Six Nations rivals  .

Jamie George wore the new track suit heated trousers as a replacement against Wales although a head injury assessment for captain Dylan Hartley in the opening minute meant his first experience was a short one. He explained: “I had just sat down, we have got these new heated trousers. I had just tried those on and literally having just pulled them up I had to pull them down again.”

England’s training today at their Pennyhill Park base in Bagshot was being watched by football managers David Moyes (West Ham), Stuart Pearce ( ex-England U20), Les Ferdinand ( QPR) and former England women’s player Hope Powell. Previously, the England coaches, headed by Eddie Jones, have invited England manager Gareth Southgate and Chelsea’s Antonio Conte to attend training and swap ideas.

Forwards coach Steve Borthwick said: “We have David Moyes, Les Ferdinand, Hope Powell, Stuart Pearce all in watching training and then we will sit down and pick their brains. We have a meeting after when we have guests in to have a Q and A to see what we can learn and things we can develop.”

Former Sheffield Wednesday academy player Danny Care said: “We have had Gareth Southgate and Antonio Conte here before at training and it is great that people want to come in and see what is going on with England. It is testament to the success we have had in the last few years that people want to find out what we are doing.”

Scotland backrow David Denton targets Calcutta Cup upset