Who will get the edge in the old rivalry?
Scotland v England predictions are in and based on recent results, Scotland will be favourites. The Calcutta Cup has been in Scotland’s hands since they beat England in 2021. Long gone are the days where England would lift the trophy high year after year – the team retained the Calcutta Cup nine times between 2009 and 2017.
However, Scotland are behind England in the table this year. So far in the 2024 tournament Gregor Townsend’s side have managed to hold off a Welsh comeback but fell short against France. England, meanwhile, have beaten Wales and Italy but have looked far from their best.
Related: What is the Calcutta Cup?
To keep their Six Nations title hopes alive, Scotland will have to defeat England. If the Scots suffer another defeat, the trophy may be out of their grasp, especially as they still have in-form Ireland to play. Whatever the result, the match is set to be one fans should not miss.
Scotland v England predictions
Sarah Rendell: Scotland by 10 points. England may be heading into the game with winning momentum but there hasn’t been a performance in the tournament so far that has convinced me they could beat Scotland. Steve Borthwick’s team are trialling new combinations, blooding new players and introducing a new defensive system while coming up against an experienced and well-oiled Scotland machine.
Scotland also have home advantage to add into those elements. Murrayfield will be abuzz with their team’s recent success against their old rivals, Duhan van der Merwe’s blistering Twickenham try just one memory. Returning England players such as Ollie Lawrence will help the visitors’ cause but it would take something special to down the Scots.
Josh Graham: Draw. Logic dictates Scotland should edge it at home given the recent meetings between these two. But it’s fire in the belly that takes over on Calcutta Cup day, not rationale. Jamie George playing in honour of his late mum will carry a lot of force for England. It’s inspirational stuff.
Scotland were stung at the end v France but shouldn’t have been scrapping at the death in a game they ought to have won comfortably – they also have a point to prove. Perhaps it will be too close to call…
Alan Dymock: Scotland by 1. The bookies value this as a three-point win for Scotland and we know it will be tighter than tight. But if Scotland have the edge slightly, then they have to do what they haven’t done in the last two matches and patiently work their way to the line at the very end of the game.
Scotland prop Alec Hepburn passes during the Captain’s Run ahead of the Calcutta Cup clash (Getty)
Against Wales, they could have made the crazy scoreline look that little bit more comfortable – and claimed a try-bonus – had van der Merwe not rushed to try and score his hat-trick try at the end. And then, as we know, Scotland were ruled as held up against France at the end, when they could have won. Firmly in control at that point, could they have held onto the ball for longer?
Of course, last time the Calcutta Cup match was in Scotland, England saw yellow and gave up a penalty try for Luke Cowan-Dickie volleyball-style palming the ball into touch when a crossfield kick could have resulted in a try. You just feel like there will be a disciplinary lapse this year too…
Alan Pearey: England by 6. Based more on what we saw in the World Cup than the disjointed performances against Italy and Wales.
There’s only been a score in it since the crazy 38-38 draw in 2019 and perhaps law of averages will dictate that England can finally finish on the right side of a close one.
But for those taking a punt, a draw is not a bad bet. You can get 22-1 or so on that outcome.
Kick-off time 4.45pm GMT – Sat 24 Feb
TV channel BBC (UK) – How to watch the Six Nations wherever you are
Venue Murrayfield
Capacity 67,144
Scotland v England head-to-head results
2023 Six Nations: England 23-29 Scotland
2022 Six Nations: Scotland 20-17 England
2021 Six Nations: England 6-11 Scotland
2020 Six Nations: Scotland 6-13 England
2019 Six Nations: England 38-38 Scotland
Scotland v England team news
Read more: Scotland Six Nations squad
SCOTLAND Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell (co-capt), Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge (co-capt), Jack Dempsey.
Replacements 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Andy Christie, 21 George Horne, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Cameron Redpath.
Related: England Six Nations squad
ENGLAND George Furbank; Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Danny Care; Ellis Genge, Jamie George (capt), Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Ethan Roots, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
Replacements 16 Theo Dan, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 George Martin, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
Download the digital edition of Rugby World straight to your tablet or subscribe to the print edition to get the magazine delivered to your door.