Scotland welcome rivals England to Murrayfield for the latest chapter of the Calcutta Cup rivalry, hoping recent history is once again on their side.
The men in blue have held the advantage over the men in white right across Gregor Townsend’s reign, and even with Steve Borthwick’s side heading north with the treasured trophy in their possession, Scotland have won four of the past five against the Auld enemy and have not tasted defeat to England on home soil since 2021.
But, this is a Scotland side in troubled waters. A defeat in last weekend’s opener against Italy not only ended Scotland’s slim title hopes but has also seen Townsend‘s future as head coach plunged into further doubt from both fans and members of the media alike, while there continue to be question marks over this squad dubbed ‘the golden generation’.
While a defeat to the Azzurri is no sign of crisis, after all, they have won just as many Six Nations Tests as Scotland since the 2023 World Cup, it’s the manner of the defeat that causes concern. Townsend’s side were 12-0 down after just 14 minutes in the Rome rain and didn’t fire a shot back until the 23rd minute. Around that, Townsend’s side failed to record a single linebreak across the 80 minutes, and while the conditions were barely playable, let alone conducive to attacking rugby, Italy managed to make five in the same time and same conditions, while the scrum came under the pump and Italy also won the breakdown battle.
On the flip side, England come to Edinburgh brimming with confidence after a convincing 48-7 win over Wales in their Championship opener and boast a run of 12 consecutive Test victories as well.
Borthwick‘s side again showcased their new-look attack, built around the kicking game of fly-half George Ford. The Sale man posted an astonishing 1001 metres from his 26 kicks out-of-hand, but it also got England playing in the right areas, winning 59% of the territory on the day. They also showed a new focus on ball-in-hand, built around the punch of Tommy Freeman at 13 with the Northampton man notching 104 metres from 14 carries, while Ben Earl backed that up too with 17 carries for 78 metres, which again represents just how much their attack has changed in the past 12 months.
But, the head coach admitted in his post-match press conference that he felt his side missed opportunities to score more in the second-half, and even cited that they still have things to work on. If you can come away with a 41-point winning margin in a Tier One Test match and still feel you have to improve, that’s a scary thought.
This is just about the perfect mix to turn the narrative once again in this historic rugby rivalry.
Where the game will be won
Potentially going away from the traditional areas of Test rugby, but the battle between the opposing backlines will be fascinating to say the least. Both sides are capable of some delicious attacking rugby when they turn their mind to it, particularly when the game starts to open up a bit, and you feel whoever can do it better than their opponents could win.
Looking at Scotland’s backline, it’s built for attack. Finn Russell, Tom Jordan and Jamie Dobie all thrive when the tempo of the game is high and they inject themselves into proceedings, while Huw Jones is also a master at picking up slightly more obscure holes to break through – as England have seen in the past.
England, too, have picked a backline capable of exploding into life. Henry Arundell’s ability to read the play – ironically honed by his time working with Russell at Bath – was there for all to see last weekend, while the playmaking axis of George Ford, Fraser Dingwall and Alex Mitchell have this delicate control of the tempo of the overall attack, almost toying with the defence as a result.
Both sides also have a clever kicking game, and although it functions in slightly different ways, the winner of that aerial battlefield might come out on top.
Watch this space.
Last time they met
What they said
Speaking ahead of the Test, Townsend described it as the biggest game of Scotland’s season: “It’s huge. It’s our biggest game of the season and it always has been.
“It’s even more important on the back of a disappointing defeat.
“We know our supporters are behind us, as they always are, and we’ll need their energy.”
The head coach also finds himself under the cosh following a tough run of results, but he insists that criticism will not distract him ahead of Saturday.
“The feeling of losing is worse than the distraction of people giving their opinions to the group or to me as a coach. It’s the feeling of losing that’s the hardest one you have to get over.”
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The visitors will also be on the hunt for their first real statement victory away from home in a good while, and of course their first in Scotland for five years, and Borthwick detailed that his side are excited by that opportunity.
“Playing Scotland at Murrayfield is always a fantastic occasion and a challenge we are relishing,” he said.
“We made a pleasing start to the Championship, but we understand that we must continue to raise our standards. The squad has trained with focus and determination this week, and we’re excited for the opportunity to test ourselves again on Saturday.”
Players to watch
While Scotland’s backline might not have got as much of a look-in as they would have liked in Rome, they should be vastly improved this weekend, which brings centre duo Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu into the mix. As individuals, they both have genuine game-breaking ability and power through those midfield channels, but then as a pair, they are almost the lifeblood of this side. Their connection, forged through playing alongside each other for club and country, is almost telepathic, running lines and throwing offloads that nobody other than them can see. It has worked time and time again for Townsend, particularly against England, and he will need them to step up again this weekend.
Jamie Dobie will also look to cause England trouble out wide, and possibly offers something they have yet to come across in recent Tests. He is such an electric runner ball-in-hand, but his time at scrum-half allows him to see space slightly differently and read the game far better than the traditional winger, which then allows him to just inject himself when a chance genuinely presents itself. He can also float off his wing depending on what shape Scotland are running, and with his ability at nine, can step in and keep them playing at high tempo.
Last weekend was a disappointment for Scotland, but Jack Dempsey was a bright spark for his side and should be in the thick of things again. He seems to have really come on in the past year or so for Glasgow, and his abrasive nature on both sides of the ball gives Scotland that much-needed enforcer. His work in the breakdown is also a major strength, and he should really compete with the aggressive England back-row in that department as well.
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England’s last visit to Murrayfield probably served as Freddie Steward’s lowest moment in the Test squad after being dropped for George Furbank, but this could very easily be a full-circle moment for the Leicester full-back. The 25-year-old has already spoken openly about how that axing has since made him a better player, and even a better person, and you feel we are starting to see the fruits of that now. Gone are the days of purely relying on his aerial work, which is still a consistently good part of his game, and he is now a much stronger runner with the ball on the counter-attack and is looking to add in that distribution aspect that Borthwick is keen to see in his 15.
Tommy Freeman is seemingly relishing his switch to outside centre and finds himself playing a key role in England’s attack as a result. The Northampton Saints man has always thrived when coming off his wing and into the 13 channel, but with that number now on his back, he is able to get his hands on the ball much more frequently and add some punch. Around that, England are also using him in a slightly different way to how they have used their centres in recent years, in that he’s more like a rugby league centre with his ability to cut back against the grain. It’s really clever, and crucially, effective.
Ben Earl will likely take a lot of the load once more, and if he gets into his groove, could open the floodgates for his side. His maurauding carries in the tight are becoming an ever-important part of England’s attacking system, but his ability to slot into the centres as and when needed also gives it an entirely different dynamic and threat, giving him the freedom to use his pace in slightly different pockets on the pitch. He is also a major part of their breakdown plan, and will need to step up in this area against a strong Scottish unit.
Returning captain Maro Itoje also brings such a wealth of quality and experience to his side, and should again help steer the ship. Around his obvious talents and change in his game since taking on the leadership of this side, which has coincided with their good run of form, his work in the lineout will likely be decisive given Scotland’s issues in this department last week.
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Main head-to-head
It’s pretty evident that the clash between Finn Russell and George Ford is the main head-to-head, potentially the biggest of the weekend. They do like to play slightly different styles, with Russell your more flamboyant fly-half and Ford your conductor, but both 10s have absolute control over their sides’ respective attacks.
The Bath ace has certainly changed his game from the all-out attacking player we saw a few years ago, and the player that was in and out of the Scotland side, but he still likes to play quick, attractive rugby. He thrives with clean ball from the ruck and when those outside him are running all sorts of different lines and creating havoc and space for him to play into – something he has spoken at length about in the past. If he gets that, Scotland will be flying.
Ford is certainly a more controlled player, and that is reflected in the England attack. His kicking game is unrelenting, allowing his side to dominate the territory battle in the process and suffocate the opposition with their kick-chase, but he also seems to know what is going to happen two or even three phases into the future, which then allows him to pull the trigger quickly. When things open up, Ford shifts into gear, playing flat at the line and getting his fellow backs in place to hit them with a customery bullet pass – like we saw for Arundell’s opener last weekend.
This head-to-head is going to be a delicious watch.
Prediction
England will be looking to once again show their title authority this weekend, and getting that major statement victory away from home would be the best way to do just that.
It will by no means be the waltzing win England secured last time out, but you’d think they will just have enough to squeeze over the line come the final whistle. This run they are currently on has just given them renewed confidence in their game, but also in their ability to close out games when it matters. Look at their three wins over Argentina, their victory over the All Blacks or even the triumph against France; they have lots of experience at winning tight contests now and that has to count for something. On the reverse, Scotland also have seemingley turned into what England were around 12 or 18 months ago, just falling on the wrong side of tight defeats.
You would think England should head back south with the Calcutta Cup in their luggage holder, and only put Townsend in the pressure cooker over his future. England by 7.
Previous results
2025: England won 16-15 in London
2024: Scotland won 30-21 in Edinburgh
2023: Scotland won 29-23 in London
2022: Scotland won 20-17 in Edinburgh
2021: Scotland won 11-6 in London
2020: England won 13-6 in Edinburgh
2019: England and Scotland drew 38-38 in London
2018: Scotland won 25-13 in Edinburgh
2017: England won 61-21 in London
2016: England won 15-6 in Edinburgh
The teams
Scotland: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Gregor Brown, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Nathan McBeth
Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Darcy Graham
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Henry Arundell, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Guy Pepper, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ellis Genge
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Ben Spencer, 23 Fin Smith
Date: Saturday, 14 February, 2026
Kick-off: 16:40 GMT
Venue: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
TV: ITV, Virgin Media, TF1, SuperSport, Sky Italia, Sky NZ, Stan Sports, Peacock
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (GRU)
Assistant Referees: Andrea Piardi (FIR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
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