Cusiter has talks with Hadden

Scotland scrum-half Chris Cusiter has held showdown talks withcoach Frank Hadden.

The former Robert Gordon's College pupil was dropped from thesquad for tomorrow's Calcutta Cup clash with England at Murrayfield.

Despite featuring from the bench in all of Scotland's Six Nationsmatches so far, the 25-year-old did not make the 22-man matchdaysquad.

Hadden, pictured, opted to go with Gloucester's Rory Lawson onthe bench, with stand-in captain Mike Blair continuing at scrumhalf.

Cusiter said: "I've asked what I can do to improve my game inorder to get myself into the starting line-up.

"Frank is open and honest enough to give you a straight answer.When a coach's mind is made up, the only way you can change it is byplaying well and making it hard for them to ignore you."

But despite his disappointment at not making the squad, thePerpignan player is confident his team-mates can cause a shock anddump Brian Ashton's men.

He said: "Every time we play England, we are reminded of howphysical a side they can be. It's necessary to front up to that ifyou are to have a chance of winning the game.

"We defended really well in 2006 to beat them as we managed tokeep their pack at bay."

Meanwhile, Scotland flanker Alasdair Strokosch reckons the Scotshave to bully England.

He said: "You've got to step up and hit them harder than they canhit you."