Scotland and England meet in the Six Nations at Murrayfield on Saturday with the hosts tipped for a famous victory.

England are aiming to bounce back from a fifth-place finish last year and gain revenge for their defeat at Twickenham.

Their transitional side won every game in the autumn, signing off by beating world champions South Africa.

Venue: Murrayfield Date: Saturday, 5 February Kick-off: 16:45 GMT/18:45 South African Time.

Team news

Scotland are in a confident mood and head coach Gregor Townsend believes he has selected their finest squad this century.

Thirteen of the XV who started last year’s closing Six Nations win over France have been included in his line-up, while Exeter lock Jonny Gray returns having missed the autumn series though injury.

Edinburgh back row Magnus Bradbury is named in the replacements and could make his first appearance since 2020.

London Irish scrum-half Ben White is also on the bench, the only uncapped player in the squad.

Sale flanker Tom Curry becomes England’s youngest skipper since Will Carling in 1988 in the absence of Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes.

Harlequins fly-half Marcus Smith marshals a new-look midfield that features Exeter’s Henry Slade at inside centre and Saracens’ Elliot Daly at 13.

Daly has not started at outside centre for England since 2016 but did so for the British and Irish Lions in their opening Test win in South Africa last summer.

Harlequins back Joe Marchant has recovered from Covid in time to take his place on the left wing, while Saracens utility back Max Malins takes the number 14 jersey, forcing Exeter’s Jack Nowell to settle for a spot among the replacements.

Saracens lock Maro Itoje is joined in the engine room by club team-mate Nick Isiekwe, who was only called into the squad last week as cover for Lawes.

Commentator’s notes

Andrew Cotter: “Even before kick-off the competition has been fierce to claim the underdog status and, while it may sit uncomfortably with Scotland, the reality is that they might be very slight favourites – Gregor Townsend’s side is settled with few injuries in contrast to the visitors who will miss several senior figures.

“Yet, such is the depth of talent available to Eddie Jones, every England position is still taken by major talents. The question is how well they can now come together.

“Both these sides now look to play a fast, attacking brand of rugby, revolving around two of the most exciting fly-halves in the game in Finn Russell and Marcus Smith – the hope is that the weather allows them to do so.

“The oldest international fixture in the game is always eagerly anticipated but this time it is also so very difficult to predict.”

View from both camps

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: “Every coach does this little song and dance going into a game trying to convince the media they are underdogs and telling the players their backs are against the wall, ‘we’re going to this hostile place’.

“The bookies pick the favourites and I know we’re not the favourites with them.”

England head coach Eddie Jones: “It’s the first time I’ve had the experience of going up there when Scotland have been red-hot favourites. They’re expected to win.

“Every time their players look at the crowd at Murrayfield they’ll feel that expectation – they’ve got to cope with that.”

Line-ups

Scotland: 15-Hogg, 14-Graham, 13-Harris, 12-Johnson, 11-Van der Merwe, 10-Russell, 9-Price; 1-Sutherland, 2-Turner, 3- Z. Fagerson, 4-J. Gray, 5- Gilchrist, 6-Ritchie, 7-Watson, 8-M. Fagerson

Replacements: 16-McInally, 17-Schoeman, 18-Nel, 19-Skinner, 20-Bradbury, 21-White, 22-Kinghorn, 23-Tuipulotu

England: 15-Steward, 14-Malins, 13-Daly, 12-Slade, 11-Marchant; 10-Smith, 9-Youngs; 1-Genge, 2-Cowan-Dickie, 3-Sinckler, 4-Itoje, 5-Isiekwe, 6-Ludlam, 7-T. Curry (capt), 8-Simmonds

Replacements: 16-George, 17-Marler, 18-Stuart, 19-Ewels, 20-Dombrandt, 21-Randall, 22-Ford, 23-Nowell

bbc