It’s been a long eight years since England lifted the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham. Ellis Genge’s try did give them a victory at a stormy Murrayfield in 2020 but they’ve been living off scraps since. Here are our England v Scotland predictions.
Steve Borthwick has stuck with the Smith-Smith axis with fly-half Fin son to Scottish parents to give Saturday’s late afternoon kick-off extra spice. Gregor Townsend is without Darcy Graham after his sickening head knock against Ireland but Finn Russell is fit to start opposite Smith at fly-half after being injured in the same collision.
Read more: How to watch England v Scotland
England v Scotland predictions
Josh Graham, Deputy Editor of Rugby World: England 33-7 Scotland
All good things must come to an end and for Scotland this Saturday, I think their stranglehold on the Calcutta Cup will end in spectacular style. England will be buoyed by that last-gasp victory over France and with a supportive Twickenham crowd, this team could finally hit their straps.
Scotland have not looked at their best in this year’s championship and are arguably there for the taking. This could be a one-sided blowout if England come roaring out of the blocks.
Flanker Rory Darge gets the ball away for Scotland during their victory in last year’s clash (Getty Images)
Joe Robinson, Editor of Rugby World: England 26-17 Scotland
For decades, the Calcutta Cup Curse lurked ominously around the necks of Scotland. Since 2018, it has hung around the English with this being their worst run in the match-up in history. Scotland have had England’s number in recent years, mainly thanks to Finn Russell and Duhan van der Merwe causing havoc in this annual affair.
Will 2025 see a return to English triumph? I think so. Scotland were embarrassed at Murrayfield against Ireland two weeks ago and I suspect the hangover of that performance may linger. England will prove too powerful in the forwards and strangle Scotland into submission throughout the second half.
Ollie Chessum starting at lock will create a fierce lineout platform from which England will land a few smart strike-moves, like they did against France. It’ll be close but England will have enough.
Ted Hill at a team run. The back-row has replaced George Martin on England’s bench (SNS Group/Getty)
Alan Pearey, Writer & Chief Sub of Rugby World: England 30-21 Scotland
The fear that seemed to paralyse Scotland against Ireland a fortnight ago will be absent at Twickenham. Their four-match winning run in this fixture will give them confidence and that is their trump card.
But the fact remains they haven’t really impressed yet in this championship and they’re up against an English side liberated by finally getting on the right side of a close result. Even if their victory over France probably owed more to inexplicable opposition handling errors than their own skill and tenacity.
So despite that string of Scottish wins, all those tries by Duhan van der Merwe and all those telling interventions by Finn Russell, who returns after his concussion two weeks ago, England are in the driving seat.
They lost 30-21 at Murrayfield a year ago, so how about an exact reversal this time.
Read more: Everything you need to know about the Six Nations
Kick-off time: 4.45pm GMT – Sat 22 Feb
TV channel: ITV (UK) – How to watch the Six Nations
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
Capacity: 82,000
Read more: How Scotland broke their Calcutta Cup hoodoo
England v Scotland head-to-head results
2024 Six Nations: Scotland 30-21 England
2023 Six Nations: England 23-29 Scotland
2022 Six Nations: Scotland 20-17 England
2021 Six Nations: England 6-11 Scotland
Richie Gray carries during the 2023 Calcutta Cup win at Twickenham (SNS Group/Getty Images)
2020 Six Nations: Scotland 6-13 England
England v Scotland team news
England
England originally named George Martin on the bench but his place has been taken by Bath’s Ted Hill due to injury.
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly
Scotland
15. Blair Kinghorn
14. Kyle Rowe
13. Huw Jones
12. Tom Jordan
11. Duhan van der Merwe
10. Finn Russell (co-captain)
9. Ben White
1. Pierre Schoeman
2. Dave Cherry
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Jonny Gray
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Rory Darge (co-captain)
8. Jack Dempsey
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
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