England squad to face Scotland

Starting XV: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Willis.

Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Martin, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Randall, Daly.

Pretty much as expected and to be fair why change a winning team too much. The one change made has merit as Chessum (in for Martin) had a great game when he came on and the line improved measurably, though Jamie George may have had a say in that.

I'm not that keen on a 6-2 split on the bench, unless of course the opposition pack warrants it and would like to have seen another speedster available. As it stands if Sleightholme gets crocked we are seriously one paced.

I still feel though that we will sneak a win as I think we will have the most possession - providing of course we don't kick it aimlessly away all afternoon.

Last paragraph more in hope than based on anything tangible.

This should be the games of the round, France to smash Italy, and Ireland the same to Wales. Looking forward to it

England by 10.

Scotlands run of form vs the auld enemy is due to run out.

@MN5 said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

England by 10.

Scotlands run of form vs the auld enemy is due to run out.

What?! Turncoat!! Tratour!

It still feels like Steve Borthwick's coaching and game plan are a handbrake on this England side. Scotland by 2-5.

Finn fit, 6:2 bench hoping lightning doesn't strike twice

Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Tom Jordan, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (cc), 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge (cc), 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Matt Fagerson, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Stafford McDowall

Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

@sparky

Couldn’t agree more, save the last sentence.

That can fuck right off.

@Machpants said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

Finn fit, 6:2 bench hoping lightning doesn't strike twice

Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Tom Jordan, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (cc), 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge (cc), 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Matt Fagerson, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Stafford McDowall

Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)

Woulda thought Stafford McDowell might have got the start after his SBW antics against Ireland.

I know nothing about Kyle Row or Tom Jordan.

But DVDM scores amazing tries against England for fun so heres hoping he has one of those days.

@MN5 said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

Scotlands run of form vs the auld enemy is due to run out.

But... but... I just read a headline which said it would be an "historic win" if Scotland got over England...?
Are you suggesting the Daily Mail could be full of shit?

@Kruse said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

@MN5 said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

Scotlands run of form vs the auld enemy is due to run out.

But... but... I just read a headline which said it would be an "historic win" if Scotland got over England...?
Are you suggesting the Daily Mail could be full of shit?

Historic indeed.

Hasn’t happened since 2024, 2023, 2022 and 2021.

@Catogrande said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

@sparky

Couldn’t agree more, save the last sentence.

That can fuck right off.

Nah, I think England are making steady progress under Borthwick. England by at least 10

@Victor-Meldrew said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

@Catogrande said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

@sparky

Couldn’t agree more, save the last sentence.

That can fuck right off.

Nah, I think England are making steady progress under Borthwick. England by at least 10

That's a bizarre call. What backs up the progress other than he has a group of really good players not being utilised properly? I'm all for an England win though, they'd be fucking dangerous if they had a decent coach.

England already mixing up between Marcus Smith and Fin Smith at first receiver.

Ben White in for Scotland after four minutes.

Beautiful work by Van Der Merwe. Lazy English defence.

Tommy Freeman in for England.

5-5.

Grounding looked a bit dodgy on the replay.

England 7 Scotland 5.

@sparky said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

Grounding looked a bit dodgy on the replay.

Yeah not convinced the he got just the tip there...

That was super dumb by Jones, why do that when you've just trapped them 10m out?

Huw Jones scores his 6th try against England.

Terrible English defence. So passive.

No conversion.

England 7 Scotland 10.

Van Der Merwe is s genuine world class talent. Setup both those tries

Scottish pressing hard for a third, but it's lost forward.

@sparky said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

Scottish pressing hard for a third, but it's lost forward.

Fluffed it badly, was completely on down the right, just needed to feed the outside.

Scotland looking far more lively so far. England looking lethargic and a bit clueless

See this is what I hate about the halfback shit. Mitchell tries to roll it back with his foot, can't reach so rolls it back with his hand until it's out of the ruck, then rolls it into the perfect position with his foot, then puts his hands on it ready to pass, for a few seconds.

Get rid of this.

Scotland dominating this but only three points ahead on the scoreboard.

England box kicking everything through Mitchell which is an odd tactic in perfect conditions against an excellent back 3.

@Victor-Meldrew said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

@Catogrande said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

@sparky

Couldn’t agree more, save the last sentence.

That can fuck right off.

Nah, I think England are making steady progress under Borthwick. England by at least 10

Fair way to go, but did you spell regress wrong?

England cough one up.

And it's half time.

England 7 Scotland 10

Ok that's worse than Scotland's fluff.

How good was Smith at imitating Mounga for fluffing that try.

Hmmm. A bit early to bring on your only outside back.

@Catogrande said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

Hmmm. A bit early to bring on your only outside back.

TWSS?

@Bones

You’d have to explain that one future-boy, I’m not that down with the kids

@Catogrande said in 6N 2025 England V Scotland:

@Bones

You’d have to explain that one future-boy, I’m not that down with the kids

That's what she said.