England squad for the Calcutta Cup match:

Steward; Roebuck, Freeman, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Chessum, Itoje, Pepper, Underhill, Earl.
Replacements: George, Rodd, Davison, Coles, Pollock, Curry, Spencer, F Smith

Itoje straight back in as expected, which allows LCD to start at hooker. The only other change being on the bench where F Smith replaces M Smith. This decision seems odd to me as Fin Smith covers only one position. For sure we have some versatility having Freeman at 13 who can cover outside and 15 but we're buggered if a centre goes down injured. Earl at 13? Well maybe and maybe that will work but not for more than about 10 minutes towards the end of the game. Slightly bonkers decision IMO.

Other than that, I am quite happy with the squad.

@Catogrande said in Scotland v England 2026 6N:

LCD to start at hooker

Why is he named at blindside then

@Bones

Tu t'acharnes encore sur ce sujet déjà épuisé ?

@Catogrande

Le manger
Le sac
Les bites

As has been noted here Scotland are a team in a bit of a decline, ranked 10th now and that loss to Italy was telling.

Obviously there is still a chance they will lift for this game being England and all, plus the old cliche of "Fortress" Murrayfield but conversely a real hiding could be on the cards too. It would be nice if Townsend recalled Kinghorn and Van Der Merwe for a bit more presence in that back three.

Anyway, Razor could be coaching them later in the year apparently

Scotland to win. Poms will be overconfident and the Murrayfield crowd will lift the Scots who aren't a poor side just limited

@kidcalder said in Scotland v England 2026 6N:

Scotland to win. Poms will be overconfident and the Murrayfield crowd will lift the Scots who aren't a poor side just limited

This term kind of applies to everyone playing this game.

Just call them English piston wristed gibbons like the rest of us

read this morning that England haven't won a game in the 6N against a good team away from home since Murrayfield in 2020. Assuming in this context that a good team means France, Ireland or Scotland. Interesting stat, puts some pressure on them, which at this stage of the cycle is a good thing.

Still back us to win but agree with Cato that I don't understand the 6-2 bench split with 2 specialist 10s in the 23. I assume they seen Finn Smith as a potential 12, not sure i've seen that tbh, Freeman will then move to back 3 should someone go down and Earl moves to 13. Just seems a lot of potential scenarios where it blows up in their face. I do have a grudging admiration of Borthwick building the culture of horses for courses though.

@Dodge said in Scotland v England 2026 6N:

I assume they seen Finn Smith as a potential 12, not sure i've seen that tbh,

He's a bit small for a modern 12 surely?

@antipodean said in Scotland v England 2026 6N:

@Dodge said in Scotland v England 2026 6N:

I assume they seen Finn Smith as a potential 12, not sure i've seen that tbh,

He's a bit small for a modern 12 surely?

Add not much in the way of pace and a lack of game time there and, well fuck really.

@Dodge said in Scotland v England 2026 6N:

read this morning that England haven't won a game in the 6N against a good team away from home since Murrayfield in 2020. Assuming in this context that a good team means France, Ireland or Scotland. Interesting stat, puts some pressure on them, which at this stage of the cycle is a good thing.

Still back us to win but agree with Cato that I don't understand the 6-2 bench split with 2 specialist 10s in the 23. I assume they seen Finn Smith as a potential 12, not sure i've seen that tbh, Freeman will then move to back 3 should someone go down and Earl moves to 13. Just seems a lot of potential scenarios where it blows up in their face. I do have a grudging admiration of Borthwick building the culture of horses for courses though.

That surprised me so I had a look back. We beat Wales in Cardiff in 2023, prior to the RWC. They weren't a bad side then. That's it mind.

Not a huge amount of changes for a team on the back of a loss. Same back three. James Ritchie in for a bit of useful niggle.

England by 30.

Jamie Ritchie is one of those players that worries me and pleases me as an opposition fan, from my memory of him, he's a 3-1 brain fade to Man of the match ratio player

@Dodge said in Scotland v England 2026 6N:

Jamie Ritchie is one of those players that worries me and pleases me as an opposition fan, from my memory of him, he's a 3-1 brain fade to Man of the match ratio player

Agreed and the thing is when he's your 3-1 man you love him, when he's the oppositions 3-1 man you never know when you're going to love him or hate him.

Back along when every Scot, plastic or otherwise, was wanking on about Hamish Watson, I always thought that Ritchie was the more useful player.

Come on Scotland!

England to win by 14 or 15 points.

@sparky said in Scotland v England 2026 6N:

England to win by 14 or 15 points.

Boo

Scotland with the better start.

Scotland get the first points. Finn Russell kicks a penalty right in front.

Scotland 3 England 0.

Sleepy start by England.

Yellow Card to Henry Arundell. England down to 14 men for 10 minutes.

The crowd getting louder and louder.

All the sweaties so far

Huw Jones in for Scotland.

Try Scotland!

And the bagpipes to celebrate.

Risky but effective play by Russell

Conversion good.

Scotland 10 England 0.

Dream start for the men from north of the Cheviot Hills.

Finn Russell splits the defence. And Jamie Ritchie scores for Scotland.

Damn.

15 points for Scotland after 14 minutes.

Scotland 17 England 0.

The Murrayfield crowd are rather happy.

Even that box kick to exit out of their 22 was incredible

The Calcutta Cup and the Raeburn Shield will be changing hands if it stays like this.

Someone wake up @mn5!

Scottish ruck speed and ball movement has been sensational some lessons there for a team in black

Henry Arundell in (who is back on) for a try and after skilful and clever work by George Ford.

Scotland 17 England 7.

Utterly absorbing contest so far.

England awake now