Six Nations: Magnus Bradbury the only change for Scotland against England

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Magnus BradburyImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Magnus Bradbury will win his 12th Scotland cap on Saturday

Six Nations Championship: Scotland v England

Venue: Murrayfield Stadium Date: Saturday, 8 February Kick-off: 16:45 GMT

Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Scotland, live text commentary on BBC Sport website & app

Back row Magnus Bradbury replaces Nick Haining in the only change to the Scotland line-up for Saturday's Six Nations visit of England.

Haining, 29, impressed on his debut last week in the 19-12 opening-day loss to Ireland but drops to the bench, with Cornell du Preez omitted altogether.

Bradbury missed the defeat in Dublin but will line up at Murrayfield.

Gregor Townsend's men are aiming to keep the Calcutta Cup for the third year running.

Scotland prevailed 25-13 in the teams' last Murrayfield meeting in 2018, and retained the trophy after fighting back from 31-0 down in a madcap 38-38 draw at Twickenham last year.

Townsend has kept faith with the vast bulk of the side that delivered an encouraging but wasteful performance in Dublin.

Despite some defensive lapses, Huw Jones is again given a start in midfield alongside Sam Johnson, who scored the try that briefly put Scotland in front at Twickenham.

Fly-half Finn Russell remains in international exile after breaching team protocol last month, and Adam Hastings is trusted once more with steering the team in the number 10 jersey.

Explaining his decision to introduce Bradbury, Townsend said: "It was a good debut from Nick but Magnus has played very well for us in the World Cup and at number eight against England at Twickenham.

"He's worked more with the two back-row colleagues in Jamie and Hamish.

Media caption,

Townsend refuses to bite over Jones's pre-match comments

"We trained with Magnus at number eight for about four or five days leading up to the Ireland game.

"It's a difficult decision especially after someone plays well and then has to drop out. There was also Cornell du Preez who came on and managed to get four carries within six minutes."

The head coach insisted Scotland must take their chances when they present themselves to win tight matches such as the match in Dublin.

And looking ahead to the Calcutta Cup match, he said: "England are an excellent team whose run to the Rugby World Cup final was no fluke.

"They will be smarting from their opener in Paris and Eddie [Jones, head coach] will have them primed to come to Edinburgh and put in an improved performance."

Scotland: Hogg (capt); Maitland, Jones, Johnson, Kinghorn; Hastings, Price; Sutherland, Brown, Fagerson, Cummings, Gray, Ritchie, Watson, Bradbury.

Replacements: McInally, Dell, Berghan, Toolis, Haining, Horne, Hutchinson, Harris.

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