Scotland vs England LIVE: Six Nations updates with Calcutta Cup on the line at Murrayfield (Image: Getty)
Scotland vs England – LIVE
- Calcutta Cup up for grabs at Murrayfield
- Both sides lost their Six Nations openers
- Winners could go second in table
- Five changes for England; one for Scotland
02: Bright start from the hosts as they take control of a dozen or so phases but England defend well and earn a penalty.
01: Scotland get us underway with Stuart Hogg sending it into the England 22.
KICK-OFF
The teams are now gathering for the national anthems. The atmosphere is electric in Murrayfield. Let’s get it on!
Townsend’s message
The Calcutta Cup has historically been a bigger game for Scotland and they once again are fired up for this instalment following last year’s 38-38 draw.
Townsend said in the week: “This is the most important fixture that we play every year. We play for a trophy, it’s the oldest game in the history of Test rugby and we know what it means to our supporters if we win this game.
“It’s nice that there’s a bit of spice about the build-up. Rugby is a contact sport so you have to get yourself fired up for that contact.
“We know England are a very physical team, their game is based on a few things but the number one is winning gain-line in attack and defence. We know we have to be even more physical than we were last week to win this game.”
Scotland vs England LIVE: Gregor Townsend rouses his troops before the big one (Image: Getty)
Stats preview
- England could go three Calcutta Cup matches without winning for the first time since 1984
- Scotland could win successive Six Nations home games in this fixture for the first time since 2008
- They are winless in five Six Nations matches (D1, L4) having won nine of the previous 16
- Scotland failed to score a try for the first time in 20 Six Nations fixtures against Ireland
- England have lost five of their last seven away games in the Six Nations (W2)
- Against France, England failed to score in the first half of a Six Nations game for the first time since 1988
Scotland vs England LIVE: Let’s hope it livens up in Scotland (Image: Getty)
Bonus points explained
4.10pm: The Six Nations title could go down to the wire and after both sides lost their openers, any bonus points could prove invaluable come March 14. Here’s a little (or should I say, ‘wee’) explainer on them below…
As per the official rules of the tournament, the nation that wins a match earns four Match Points but a bonus point is added if they score four or more tries during the game (thus claiming five Match Points in total).
The losing country will not receive any Match Points but can claim a bonus point if they score four tries or more or lose by a margin of seven points or less.
If a team scores four or more tries and also loses the game by a margin of seven points or fewer, they will collect two bonus points.
Countries that draw a match shall each be awarded two Match Points and any of them that scores four tries or more in the process shall be awarded an additional one Match Point.
Scotland vs England LIVE: The Scots are in town – Edinburgh, to be precise (Image: Scotland vs England LIVE: Six Nations updates with Calcutta Cup on the line at Murrayfield)
Jones opens up
4pm: Eddie Jones is known for his provocative quotes and mannerisms but has tried to inspire a strong feeling inside the camp ahead of the Calcutta Cup.
“We’re not happy with how we played in the first 40 minutes against France and this is a new game and we have a great chance to play well,” he said.
“Consistency is a challenge for every team. Sometimes the circumstances make it difficult to find your best and we found that last week.
“We’re always trying to learn and find ways to get better, we had a good lesson last week. Sometimes these things need to be learned.”
The Australian opened up on the thinking behind his sometimes pithy statements about his own team and the opposition – see that in the interview below.
Townsend tweaks teamsheet
3.55pm: Gregor Townsend has made just change to his side which narrowly lost to Ireland last Saturday with Magnus Bradbury in for Nick Haining.
The Scots generally played well throughout their showing at Aviva Stadium and Townsend believes his side will win if they repeat their performance.
Scotland team
Hogg; Maitland, Jones, Johnson, Kinghorn; Hastings, Price; Sutherland, Brown, Fagerson, Cummings, Gray, Ritchie, Watson, Bradbury.
Replacements: McInally, Dell, Berghan, Toolis, Haining, Horne, Hutchinson, Harris.
Scotland vs England LIVE: The stage is set at Murrayfield (Image: Getty)
Jones rings the changes
3.50pm: Eddie Jones has made five changes to the side which crumbled at the hands of France last weekend, with Ben Young’s omission the big talking point.
Wil Heinz comes in for him while Courtney Lawes, George Kruis and Mako Vunipola have all been dropped from the XV for Lewis Ludlam, George Kruis and Mako Vunipola. Jonathan Joseph comes in for the injured Manu Tuilagi.
England team
Furbank; May, Joseph, Farrell, Daly; Ford, Heinz; M Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Kruis, Itoje, Ludlam, Underhill, Curry.
Replacements: Dunn, Genge, Stuart, Launchbury, Lawes, Earl, Youngs, Devoto.
FEASGAR MATH, GOOD AFTERNOON…
3.45pm: And welcome to Express Sport‘s live coverage of Scotland vs England in the Six Nations. Did you enjoy the Scottish Gaelic introduction? No? It’s going to be a long afternoon…
Anyhow, away from curious British languages and on with the rugby. Scotland. England. Murrayfield. Calcutta Cup. Six Nations campaigns on the line. Plenty to be excited about.
England are still reeling from their shock 24-17 loss in France last week while Scotland had positives to take from their closely-fought 19-12 defeat to Ireland.
We’ll be bringing you fresh build-up and updates on the big clash which gets underway at 4.45pm – stay tuned and gabh tlachd (enjoy).