Austin Healey believes a new-look England will restore their battered reputation in the RBS 6 Nations after a year of hell.

Initially, the former Tigers and England scrum-half was worried about their chances under interim coach Stuart Lancaster, who faces a baptism of fire against Scotland at Murrayfield today (5.0).

But, having watched a training session, he wishes he was still playing. "I think their chances are pretty good," said Healey, 39, now a presenter of ESPN's Aviva Premiership rugby coverage.

"I was a bit dubious about the squad and the make-up of the team, but then I watched a training session on Tuesday and I was really impressed.

"I thought they had a renewed energy, there was a lot of laughing going on, a lot of fun. I liked what the coaches were doing and saying. I came away feeling enthused by it all.

"I'm impressed with Lancaster as a person, he's a good bloke, and the hard work he has done in the short term shows he will knuckle down.

"It might transpire that he will need more coaches, more experience. But I was watching (backs coach) Andy Farrell's session and I thought it was really good.

"It was all about making up your own mind in terms of decision-making. Hardly any of it was proscribed.

"I thought to myself 'if I'd been a back playing in this, I'd have really enjoyed it."

England, with four Tigers in the squad, will be under enormous pressure today after 12 months to forget.

As well as boardroom bust-ups, they suffered a World Cup disaster when they made the front pages as often as the back, manager Martin Johnson quit, coaches were removed and revelations from a leaked player survey made England a laughing stock.

Lancaster has got rid of some of the old guard and introduced new faces, most notably in midfield, where Saracens' Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt form a new centre pairing, and in the back row with new captain Chris Robshaw and Phil Dowson.

After all their problems, England's task is akin to climbing Everest dressed in shorts and plimsolls and armed with just a toothpick.

But Healey likes the appointment of Robshaw, even though he may be keeping the seat warm for Northampton's injured flanker Tom Wood.

"I genuinely think he's a good selection," said the Leicester Lip. "If England win their first two games and he plays a blinder, it's going to be difficult for Tom Wood to come in as captain."

After Scotland, England face Italy away, Wales and Ireland at home and France away.

Healey said: "I think the minimum is to win the Six Nations.

"And I think it's possible. France will probably be too strong and, if England lose the first game, you can see them losing four. But, if they win the first game you can see them winning four."

England: Foden; Ashton, Barritt, Farrell, Strettle; C Hodgson, Youngs; Corbisiero, Hartley, Cole, Botha, Palmer, Croft, Robshaw (capt), Dowson.

Reps: Webber, Stevens, Parling, Morgan, Dickson, Turner-Hall, Brown.

Austin Healey is a presenter for ESPN's Aviva Premiership rugby coverage.ESPNScrum.com is providing live scores, commentary and analysis from the RBS Six Nations. ESPN Classic programming starts on the 4th February with legendary RBS Six Nations encounters between England and Scotland.