In recent years, the Calcutta Cup has become a source of frustration for England, with just one win in their last seven encounters against Scotland. The Scots, once seen as underdogs in this fixture, have won four in a row and made a habit of spoiling English ambitions. However, Saturday’s clash at Twickenham presents a golden opportunity for England to reverse the trend and build on their thrilling victory over France.
Momentum is on England’s side, but consistency remains their biggest challenge. Their performances have often fluctuated, sometimes within the same match. Against France, they were fortunate not to be trailing by a significant margin early on, as Les Bleus squandered key opportunities. A similar lapse in concentration against Scotland could prove costly, given the form of Finn Russell and Duhan van der Merwe. The latter has been particularly devastating in this fixture, scoring five tries in his last two meetings with England.
Despite past disappointments, England’s players have spoken of learning hard lessons, vowing to be more resilient and aggressive when the pressure mounts. Their victory over France showcased a newfound edge, but backing it up with another strong performance will be key to proving that result was no fluke. If they can secure back-to-back wins, a top-two finish in the Six Nations for the first time since 2020 becomes a realistic possibility.
Scotland, meanwhile, are still chasing greater consistency themselves. They have proven they can beat England but have struggled to topple Ireland or South Africa, teams that apply relentless pressure and force mistakes. Their heavy defeat to Ireland earlier in the tournament exposed vulnerabilities, particularly when forced to play from behind. England will look to replicate that approach, slowing Scotland’s ruck speed and cutting off Russell’s supply lines to their dangerous outside backs.
The opening exchanges will be crucial. Scotland need to plant early seeds of doubt in English minds, just as they did at Murrayfield last year when an early England try was quickly nullified. If the visitors can disrupt England’s rhythm and put Marcus Smith or Fin Smith under pressure, they will fancy their chances of extending their winning streak. Conversely, if England’s forwards impose themselves, they can dictate terms.
Ollie Chessum’s return to the starting lineup is a major boost, adding physicality and lineout presence. With Tom Curry in excellent form, Tom Willis bringing power in the carry, and Ted Hill set to make an impact off the bench, England’s pack looks well-equipped to meet the challenge. Meanwhile, Jamie George will bring valuable experience, winning his 99th cap from the bench.
Scotland have won their last two Calcutta Cup matches by scoring at least 29 points, a tally they may need again to secure another Twickenham triumph. However, injuries to key players such as Sione Tuipulotu and Darcy Graham weaken their attack. England, too, will miss George Furbank and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, but they have enough firepower to end their recent struggles in this fixture.
This promises to be another fiercely contested battle in rugby’s oldest international rivalry. Seventy years ago, Scottish prop Tom Elliot believed he had scored a match-winning try at Twickenham, only for England to scrape a narrow win. Now, his grandson, Fin Smith, will wear the red rose in a game that could define England’s Six Nations campaign. The question remains—will history repeat itself, or is this the year England finally reclaim the Calcutta Cup?
