ENGLAND head coach Stuart Lancaster has told hooker Rob Webber to “seize the day” when he’s called upon to make his debut in this year’s Six Nations.

The 25-year-old Wasps star is on the bench for today’s clash at Murrayfield against the old enemy Scotland as England ring the changes after their dismal World Cup experience.

Only six players remain in the starting XV from the side that bowed out against France in that showpiece’s quarter-final.

And as one of England’s new generation, former Pocklington player Webber is champing at the bit to impress this afternoon.

He said: “It’s an honour and a privilege for me to be representing my country.

“I’m hoping for a decent run-out in a big game and a hostile environment.

“It’s been quite a wait for my debut because of injuries but it’s great to be getting my chance at last.

“We’re looking at putting in the performances first and foremost and if we can do that, winning the tournament isn’t an unattainable goal.

“It’s all down to hard work at the end of the day.”

Webber was a part of the England squad that toured Australasia in 2010 but torn biceps put paid to his chances for much of last season.

The call from Lancaster – Webber’s old coach at Leeds Academy – and the announcement of an impending move to rugby giants Bath at the end of the season, though, has provided the icing on the cake.

Factor in a new spirit engendered by new post-World Cup personnel, and Webber’s optimism at his impending milestone is understandable.

“It’s been a brilliant couple of weeks,” he says.

“The World Cup has been and gone now and it’s all about the future under a new coach.

“I wasn’t involved in the World Cup and Stuart has picked a lot of players who are playing well in the Premiership and we’re just all looking forward to getting out there.

“We want to build a winning team with England.”

Joining up again with Lancaster seemed like fate for Webber.

“I first came across him when I was at school,” he explained.

“He was Leeds Academy coach when I went there so there is some symmetry about meeting up with him again now.

“He knew me from my time at Leeds and has told me to go out there, take my chance, enjoy it and seize the day.”

Webber’s rugby career hit the fast lane when he swapped Headingley for Wasps in 2005.

Spending much of his first campaign on-loan to Blackheath, he went on to play rugby for England at every level from under-16s to 21s and claim six Saxons caps.

His other honours include being part of the Wasps A team that lifted their respective league title, winning a place in the club’s senior squad for 2007-08 before appearing in every Premiership match the next season.

“I’ve loved my time at Wasps but it’s time to move on for a new chapter at Bath,” he said. “A change is as good as a rest, as they say, and I’m looking forward to going there as it’s a fresh challenge for me.”

It’s all a far cry from Webber’s formative years, spent at Pocklington while attending the local school. He still goes back to the club as often as he can and visited the Yorkshire One side just before Christmas.

It’s a family affair with brother Matt captaining the first XV and mother Gwen still providing food at the club on Sundays with her famed lunches.

“All the family are still up there and that’s where I learned the game,” he said.

“My brother plays for the first team and I get up to see them when I can.

“I was at the club from the age of about six to the Under-16s so it was a massive part of my life.

“As soon as I could run around I was at Pocklington rugby club and had a great 10 or so years with them.”

England’s match day squad to play Scotland: B Foden (Northampton); C Ashton (Northampton), B Barritt (Saracens), O Farrell (Saracens), D Strettle (Saracens); C Hodgson (Saracens), B Youngs (Leicester); A Corbisiero (London Irish), D Hartley (Northampton), D Cole (Leicester), M Botha (Saracens), T Palmer (Stade Francais), T Croft (Leicester), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), P Dowson (Northampton). Replacements: R Webber (Wasps), M Stevens (Saracens), G Parling (Leicester), B Morgan (Scarlets), L Dickson (Northampton), J Turner-Hall (Harlequins), M Brown (Harlequins).