England have the right alternative to get their new period below coach Steve Borthwick off to an uplifting begin after they host Scotland on Saturday, the primary match of a Six Nations draw that has fallen completely to start the revival.
England observe up with a house sport in opposition to Italy subsequent week after which a visit to Wales. Ought to they get three wins below their belt they are going to host holders France with a stage of confidence palpably lacking from the final two wretched campaigns, earlier than signing off away in Eire.
An enchancment on third and fifth-placed finishes within the final two seasons already seems probably and with the gamers at Borthwick’s disposal and a brand new, optimistic environment within the camp, discuss of the title now not seems fanciful.
After a long time of dominating the oldest fixture in worldwide rugby, England have stumbled badly in opposition to the Scots lately, shedding three and drawing one of many final 5 conferences.
Nonetheless, there may be already a palpable really feel of confidence as Borthwick, and his inspirational defence coach Kevin Sinfield, set about “restoring the delight within the shirt and the reference to the followers”.
When and the place is England vs Scotland?
This primary-round tie will happen on Saturday, February 4, with the match kicking off at Twickenham at 4.45pm.
The opposite matches this weekend are Wales vs Eire at 2.15pm on Saturday and Italy vs France at 3pm on Sunday.
What TV channel is England vs Scotland on?
England vs Scotland shall be broadcast on ITV.
What occurred on this fixture in 2022?
Scotland received their second Calcutta Cup match on the trot, for the primary time since 1984, after beating England 20-17 in a close-run affair that got here right down to a penalty attempt conceded when Luke Cowan-Dickie was proven a yellow card for intentionally kicking into contact.
Learn Telegraph Sport’s full protection of the match right here.
What’s the newest group information?
England
Manu Tuilagi has been dropped by Steve Borthwick as the top coach named a revamped aspect for England’s Six Nations opener in opposition to Scotland.
Tuilagi, a veteran of fifty caps and an everyday selection for the Crimson Rose for a lot of the previous decade, has not even been named in Borthwick’s first 23-man squad.
Joe Marchant takes the 31-year-old’s place within the England line-up, with Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell to renew their playmaking axis for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup conflict at Twickenham.
Wing Ollie Hassell-Collins has been handed his first cap in a rejigged midfield following accidents to Elliot Daly, Henry Slade and Dan Kelly within the build-up to Saturday’s fixture.
Ben Curry shall be awarded his first cap in opposition to main opposition following his debut in an underwhelming victory over the US almost two years in the past.
Lewis Ludlam joins Curry as the opposite flanker, with Alex Dombrandt at No 8, whereas Jamie George begins at hooker after overcoming concussion sustained in Saracens’ defeat by Edinburgh on January 22.
England XV: Steward; Malins, Marchant, Farrell (capt), Hassell-Collins; Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Chessum, Ludlam, B Curry, Dombrandt.
Replacements: Walker, M Vunipola, Cole, Isiekwe, Earl, Youngs, Lawrence, Watson.
Scotland
Scotland have determined in opposition to throwing Zander Fagerson straight again into motion.
Forwards coach John Dalziel stated on Tuesday the Glasgow prop was in competition for the Calcutta Cup showdown regardless of being sidelined for the reason that begin of December with a hamstring damage.
Nonetheless, administration have opted to present the 2021 British and Irish Lions squad member extra time to stand up to hurry as he has not been included within the aspect for this weekend’s match at Twickenham.
WP Nel, the 36-year-old Edinburgh prop, takes over from Fagerson within the No 3 jersey.
Different notable alternatives embrace London Irish scrum-half Ben White getting the nod over common No 9 Ali Worth, who will not be even on the bench.
Chris Harris – who begins on the bench – is one other shock omission from the XV, with Huw Jones taking up from the Gloucester centre.
Kyle Steyn has overwhelmed off competitors from Blair Kinghorn and Sean Maitland to take the place of the injured Darcy Graham on the wing.
Edinburgh flanker Luke Crosbie is the least skilled participant within the 23 with two caps. He begins at No 7.
Key duo Stuart Hogg and Duhan van der Merwe are each within the XV regardless of latest health issues.
There isn’t a shock that Finn Russell is chosen at stand-off after forcing his approach again to the top of the queue for the No 10 shirt with a few spectacular shows in opposition to New Zealand and Argentina in November following his omission from the preliminary squad for the Autumn Checks.
Scotland XV: Hogg; Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe; Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Nel; R Grey, Gilchrist; Ritchie (capt), Crosbie, M Fagerson.
Replacements: Brown, Bhatti, Berghan, J Grey, Dempsey, Horne, Kinghorn, Harris.
Who’s the referee for England vs Scotland?
New Zealander Paul Williams has been picked for this fixture. He has not taken cost of a championship match since France’s loss to Scotland at Murrayfield in 2020. In that notorious fixture, Williams despatched off French tighthead Mohamed Haouas for a punch on Scottish flanker Jamie Ritchie, a transfer that successfully ended Les Bleus’ hopes of successful the title and the Grand Slam.
Regardless of the three-year break, Steve Borthwick’s aspect know Williams. The 37-year-old refereed England’s collection decider over Australia in July, a 21-17 victory in opposition to the Wallabies below former head coach Eddie Jones.
What’s Williams’ historical past?
Having taken up refereeing in 2011, Williams officiated his first Take a look at match in 2017 – Italy versus Scotland in Singapore – and was chosen among the many panel of officers for the 2019 World Cup in Japan, the place he took cost of England’s group-stage opener in opposition to Tonga.
Considered one of Williams’ most controversial moments got here within the 2022 Rugby Championship, the place he confirmed a yellow card to South Africa scrum-half Faf de Klerk for a seemingly faint hand to the face of reverse quantity Nic White throughout a Wallabies’ victory in Adelaide.
How will he officiate the match?
We all know that Kiwi officers are lenient on the breakdown, which shall be music to the ears of Jack Willis, Ben Earl, Jamie Ritchie et al. In preparation for the northern hemisphere change, nonetheless, Williams was tasked with overseeing Connacht’s United Rugby Championship match in opposition to Emirates Lions final weekend.
- Assistant Referee 1: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR)
- Assistant Referee 2: James Doleman (NZR)
- TMO: Brendon Pickerill (NZR)
What are they saying?
Gregor Townsend has challenged his Scotland aspect to “encourage the nation”.
Scotland triumphed the final time that the 2 sides met at Twickenham, in 2021, however the win – their first on the dwelling of English rugby since 1983 – occurred behind closed doorways as a result of Covid-19 pandemic. Townsend admitted {that a} win on Saturday in entrance of a full home could be an enormous optimistic for Scotland.
“It might be huge,” Townsend stated. “2021 meant a lot, too; we had been despatched movies from individuals at dwelling who had been confined to their homes throughout lockdown. That gave us a large raise. However we’re right here to win and we’re right here to encourage our nation and make them proud. For that, there is not any higher fixture.
“The environment at Twickenham is all the time of anticipation and pleasure. It is their first Six Nations sport, will probably be loud. The primary couple of minutes, the group shall be supporting their group.
“It is a problem to focus the thoughts. We have had England first up the previous two seasons. It means greater than only a one-off fixture. However it’ll be massively difficult away from dwelling in opposition to England. We’ve got to be at our greatest for 80 minutes and that does focus the gamers’ minds.”
England vs Scotland newest odds
- England 2/7
- Scotland 3/1
- Draw 28/1
Odds right as of February 3
What’s our prediction?
England 23 Scotland 19
It might be way more gritty than fairly, however count on Steve Borthwick to get off the mark by edging out Scotland. He’ll encourage set-piece enhancements instantly, and that may go a good distance.
