Summary

  • Scotland win successive Calcutta Cup matches for first time since 1984

  • Debutant White crosses for Scotland with Smith going over and slotting four penalties for England

  • Visitors dominate territory & possession but late penalty try & Russell penalty give Scots win

  1. Scots get cosy with Calcutta Cuppublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 5 February 2022

    Scotland v England (16:45)

    At home, with a partisan crowd roaring them on, Scotland should be full of confidence.

    Having lost nine in a row against the Auld Enemy from 2009-2017, Scotland have partied with the Calcutta Cup in three of the past four years.

    Scotland beat England 11-6 last year, their first success at Twickenham since 1983Image source, SNS
    Image caption,

    Scotland beat England 11-6 last year, their first success at Twickenham since 1983

  2. Senior stars missing for Englandpublished at 16:05 Greenwich Mean Time 5 February 2022

    Scotland v England (16:45)

    It's a rather different story for England...

    In the absence of Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes, Tom Curry, 23, becomes England's youngest skipper since Will Carling in 1988.

    Manu Tuilagi, Jonny May, Jonny Hill, Sam Underhill, Joe Launchbury and Anthony Watson are all out too, along with the Vunipola brothers; Mako and Billy.

    There are seven players with 10 caps or fewer in the starting XV, but before we get the violins out it should be stressed that this is still a side brimming with quality and power.

    England: Steward; Malins, Daly, Slade, Marchant; Smith, Youngs; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Sinckler, Itoje, Isiekwe, Ludlam, Curry, Simmonds.

    Replacements: George, Marler, Stuart, Ewels, Dombrandt, Randall, Ford, Nowell.

  3. Scotland at full strengthpublished at 16:02 Greenwich Mean Time 5 February 2022

    Scotland v England (16:45)

    The general consensus is that Scotland have their strongest squad since the Calcutta Cup was first contested in 1879. Well, certainly since 1999 when head coach Gregor Townsend was strutting his stuff for the last Five Nations champions.

    They have a settled side, no injuries, eight players who were selected for the British & Irish Lions' tour to South Africa.

    Scotland: Hogg; Graham, Harris, Johnson, Van der Merwe; Russell, Price; Sutherland, Turner, Z Fagerson, J Gray, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, M Fagerson.

    Replacements: McInally, Schoeman, Nel, Skinner, M Bradbury, White, Kinghorn, Tuipulotu.

  4. Expect merry mayhem at Murrayfieldpublished at 15:58 Greenwich Mean Time 5 February 2022

    Scotland v England (16:45)

    How do you follow the 2021 edition of the Six Nations? It was the most cutthroat of championships, with no fewer than eight matches settled by a margin of five points or less.

    England were defending champions and finished fifth, Scotland landed their best ever points haul and finished fourth. Nobody gave Wales a prayer and they went home with the all-important trophy.

    The tournament had everything, bar one very important ingredient; the fans.

    Mercifully, Murrayfield is packed to rafters today and the decibel level should be off the scale as England roll into town.

    Ireland have put down a marker as they cruise to a big win over Wales. Let's see what these two have got.

    These fans are in good spirits despite the cold, wet weatherImage source, SNS
    Image caption,

    These fans are in good spirits despite the cold, wet weather