However, so much of the frustration built up over the course of a close summer series in New Zealand and narrow autumn defeats by the All Blacks, Australia and South Africa was released in memorable scenes that followed Elliot Daly’s last-gasp try off the bench that secured a thrilling shock 26-25 victory over Les Bleus.
While they rode their luck at times as France botched numerous try-scoring chances with uncharacteristic handling errors galore in the wet conditions, it nevertheless felt like a seismic moment for this England side and Borthwick, who will be hoping that it doesn’t prove merely a false dawn as Scotland now head down south of the border looking for a fifth consecutive victory over the auld enemy and third in a row at Twickenham.
England vs Scotland date and venue
England vs Scotland in the Six Nations takes place on Saturday February 22, 2025 at Allianz Stadium Twickenham in south-west London.
England vs Scotland kick-off time
Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash is due to begin at 4:45pm GMT in the UK.
How to watch England vs Scotland
TV channel: In the UK, England vs Scotland is being broadcast live and free-to-air on ITV1, with coverage beginning at 4pm.
Live stream: The game is also available to watch online via the ITVX app and website, which is free with a sign up.
Live blog: Follow the action as it happens with Standard Sport’s live blog, featuring expert analysis from Simon Collings at Twickenham.
England vs Scotland team news
Martin has been dealing with a knee issue after round two but was back in training and initially named on the bench, though his place has now gone to Bath flanker Ted Hill. Tom Curry – one of the players of the Six Nations so far – has shaken off a knock to start in the back row again.
Otherwise it’s a case of as you were for England, who continue with Marcus Smith at full-back and namesake Fin Smith at fly-half.
Borthwick had recalled Alex Dombrandt into his wider training squad at the weekend along with the fit-again Alex Coles and Henry Pollock, with Curtis Langdon and Alex Lozowski dropping out.
Partnership: Ollie Chessum joins Maro Itoje in the England second row against Scotland
Getty Images
Both players were progressing through the necessary return-to-play protocols and took part in some light skills work at a training camp in Spain earlier this week, though only Russell is involved against England.
There are two changes in the pack, with Pierre Schoeman returning at loosehead prop in place of Rory Sutherland and Jamie Ritchie replacing Matt Fagerson at blindside flanker.
Bath centre Cam Redpath had been added to the training squad along with experienced scrum-half Ali Price and Edinburgh wing Ross McCann, but centre Matt Currie withdrew with concussion and George Horne has been having a facial injury assessed. Alexander Masibaka has been released back to club side Soyaux-Angouleme in France, meanwhile.
Scotland’s lengthy list of injury absentees is headlined by influential captain Sione Tuipulotu, with the likes of lock Scott Cummings also sidelined.
England vs Scotland lineups
England XV: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Sleightholme; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart; Itoje (c), Chessum; T Curry, Earl, Willis
Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Hill, Cunningham-South, B Curry, Randall, Daly
Scotland XV: Kinghorn; Rowe, Jones, Jordan, Van der Merwe; Russell (co-c), White; Schoeman, Cherry, Z Fagerson; Gray, Gilchrist; Ritchie, Darge (co-c), Dempsey
Replacements: Ashman, Sutherland, Hurd, Skinner, Brown, M Fagerson, Dobie, McDowall
England vs Scotland head-to-head record and results
England won nine of 10 matches against Scotland between 2009-17, but have now been victorious just once in the last seven meetings – a 13-6 win in an error-strewn battle played in inclement weather conditions at Murrayfield in 2020.
Scotland have dominated this fixture in recent years, winning four Calcutta Cup contests in a row for the first time since 1896 and reeling off back-to-back victories at Twickenham for the first time ever.
Last year, Duhan van der Merwe proved the thorn in England’s side once again with a devastating hat-trick in a 30-21 triumph in Edinburgh.
Hat-trick hero: England have been unable to stop Scotland wing Duhan van der Merwe in recent times
Jane Barlow/PA Wire
England vs Scotland prediction
The stakes are as high as ever where these old rivals are concerned. As euphoric as England’s shock last-gasp victory over France was, it will mean preciously little in the grand scheme of things if it’s immediately followed up by a fifth consecutive Calcutta Cup loss and third in a row against Scotland on home soil.
Back-to-back wins for England after such a difficult run would give Borthwick real momentum ahead of on paper their two easiest fixtures of the tournament at home to Italy and away in Wales, giving him an odds-on chance to achieve a goal of four victories set by the RFU that appeared fanciful at best at the start of the Six Nations.
Scotland have well and truly had England’s number in recent years and will head to Twickenham in confident mood with a psychological edge despite that punishing loss to Ireland in which the final 32-18 scoreline flattered them greatly, but the availability of Russell is huge. We still give England a slight edge, but it’ll be close.
England to win, by seven points.
Odds via Betfair (subject to change).