Scotland and England meet in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on Saturday with the hosts tipped for a famous victory.
Scotland secured historic wins in London and Paris last year and have continued to improve, sparking hopes of a first Six Nations title.
England are aiming to bounce back from a fifth-place finish last year and gain revenge for their defeat at Twickenham.
Their transitional side won every game in the autumn, signing off by beating world champions South Africa.
Venue: Murrayfield Date: Saturday, 5 February Kick-off: 16:45 GMT/18:45 South African Time.
Team news
Scotland are in a confident mood and head coach Gregor Townsend believes he has selected their finest squad this century.
Thirteen of the XV who started last year’s closing Six Nations win over France have been included in his line-up, while Exeter lock Jonny Gray returns having missed the autumn series though injury.
Edinburgh back row Magnus Bradbury is named in the replacements and could make his first appearance since 2020.
London Irish scrum-half Ben White is also on the bench, the only uncapped player in the squad.
Sale flanker Tom Curry becomes England’s youngest skipper since Will Carling in 1988 in the absence of Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes.
Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith marshals a new-look midfield that features Exeter’s Henry Slade at inside centre and Saracens’ Elliot Daly at 13.
Daly has not started at outside centre for England since 2016 but did so for the British and Irish Lions in their opening Test win in South Africa last summer.
Harlequins back Joe Marchant has recovered from Covid in time to take his place on the left wing, while Saracens utility back Max Malins takes the number 14 jersey, forcing Exeter’s Jack Nowell to settle for a spot among the replacements.
Saracens lock Maro Itoje is joined in the engine room by club team-mate Nick Isiekwe, who was only called into the squad last week as cover for Lawes.
Commentator’s notes
Andrew Cotter: “Even before kick-off the competition has been fierce to claim the underdog status and, while it may sit uncomfortably with Scotland, the reality is that they might be very slight favourites – Gregor Townsend’s side is settled with few injuries in contrast to the visitors who will miss several senior figures.
“Yet, such is the depth of talent available to Eddie Jones, every England position is still taken by major talents. The question is how well they can now come together.
“Both these sides now look to play a fast, attacking brand of rugby, revolving around two of the most exciting fly-halves in the game in Finn Russell and Marcus Smith – the hope is that the weather allows them to do so.
“The oldest international fixture in the game is always eagerly anticipated but this time it is also so very difficult to predict.”
View from both camps
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: “Every coach does this little song and dance going into a game trying to convince the media they are underdogs and telling the players their backs are against the wall, ‘we’re going to this hostile place’.
“The bookies pick the favourites and I know we’re not the favourites with them.”
England head coach Eddie Jones: “It’s the first time I’ve had the experience of going up there when Scotland have been red-hot favourites. They’re expected to win.
“Every time their players look at the crowd at Murrayfield they’ll feel that expectation – they’ve got to cope with that.”
Line-ups
Scotland: 15-Hogg, 14-Graham, 13-Harris, 12-Johnson, 11-Van der Merwe, 10-Russell, 9-Price; 1-Sutherland, 2-Turner, 3- Z. Fagerson, 4-J. Gray, 5- Gilchrist, 6-Ritchie, 7-Watson, 8-M. Fagerson
Replacements: 16-McInally, 17-Schoeman, 18-Nel, 19-Skinner, 20-Bradbury, 21-White, 22-Kinghorn, 23-Tuipulotu
England: 15-Steward, 14-Malins, 13-Daly, 12-Slade, 11-Marchant; 10-Smith, 9-Youngs; 1-Genge, 2-Cowan-Dickie, 3-Sinckler, 4-Itoje, 5-Isiekwe, 6-Ludlam, 7-T. Curry (capt), 8-Simmonds
Replacements: 16-George, 17-Marler, 18-Stuart, 19-Ewels, 20-Dombrandt, 21-Randall, 22-Ford, 23-Nowell
bbc
Halftime in Edinburgh in the U20s 6 Nations:
Scotland 12/10 England, 2 tries each
Scotland have been dominant with territory, possesion and upfront and could have had at least another couple of tries by now. England forwards have been on the back foot most of the game but have defended quite solidly repelling many Scotland close carries near their try line and England have also defended the maul fairly well reducing this attacking platform a bit. England backs have been swift on the counter attack and scored a wonderful try from play that started on a back peddling scrum of theirs near their goal line, but Scotland have also struggled with defensive alignment in the backs making England backs look dangerous on the few occasions they have got the ball, looks like Scotland are defending too narrow. England’s 2nd try came from one of the few times they have been in Scotland 22, off a 5m lineout from a penalty they secured the lineout and drove over far too easily.
Hopefully Scotland can maintain their intensity in the 2nd half. Scotland number 8 scored both of their tries and looks a very good player.
Try by Scotland’s left wing Melville, not converted by flyhalf Townsend.
Scotland 17/10 England 45th min
Oh dear England lineout deep in Scotland 22
England went over the try line but ref spotted a knock on think in the line out so 6m scrum Scotland, phew
Scotland scrumhalf is called Gelderbloom.
England backs looking slick, Scotland 13 clumsy in defence. Play breaks down England penalty straight in front
Scotland 17/13 England, penalty slotted 51st min, England subs on 17 and 20
Brilliant counter attacking by England fullback Arundell gains lots of ground and passes for his team mate to score. But again the build up to that Scotland were hesitant in defence so England centre made good ground but then a good steal from Scotland who passed the ball wide to a back who hesitated then launched what looked to be a good kick far upfield. Scotland should have closed that down with England initially scrambling backwards to gather the ball before it made its way to Arundell.
Poor camera work making to hard to see what is happening but basically a lot of interchange of possesion.
Scotland 17/20 England 59th minute
Scotland 12 carries the ball from a lineout into England 22 then looses the ball in the tackle good turnover for England
Scotland midfield are just too narrow in defence and attack from 10 to 13 very close together leaving a big gap out to the wing
That space is exploited by England some passes and then a powerful run by 14 Bailey who eventually stumbles but England get a penalty not sure what for
England 5m scrum just left of the left post…
Much better defence Scotland, forwards helping the backs but eventually England power over. Missed it while updating here looks like Scotland have a player in the bin, may have been when Bailey stumbled as it looked like may have been a trip
Wow hard to keep up England run in a try from inside their 22 after gathering the kick off, game looks to be running away from Scotland now.
Scotland 17/34 England 67th min. From a 3 point game a few minutes ago, England making Scotland pay for the yellow card.
England offside at the ruck missed by the ref!
Good break by Scotland lock ball goes loose as he tries to offload, 13 hacks it forward and dots it down, checking to see if it went forward
Bad luck there ball must have gone marginally forward, England defensive scrum just inside their 22
And again in no time England deep in Scotland 22 but Scotland have possession now
England line out about 8m out
Lucky escape as England loose possesion at the lineout, good touch finder by Gelderbloom but England take a quick through, back and forth and a bit scrappy before play eventually breaks down
Scotland back up to 15 players 72nd min now
Scotland scrum midway between their 10m and 22, not much time left
Scotland pushed off their own scrum and eventually centre Litchfield score for England
Scotland 17/41 England good conversion by their replacement 22 who looks like a better kicker than the starting 10 78th min
Last chance for Scotland to try get the try bonus point 5m lineout
Held up but it’s a penalty to Scotland, England have conceded many penalties in their 22, but no cards…
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