Well, championship leaders England go into what could be a pivotal match in their quest to retain the Six Nations title. It has been a strange tournament from the defending champions as they haven’t played terrific, overly convincing stuff at any stage and they have had to rely on their grit, guile and never-say-die attitude to hold in narrow wins over both Wales and France. Then there was that bizarre game against Italy at Twickenham a fortnight ago, when the Azzurri deployed some less than popular tactics that England had a hard time adjusting too.
Now, with Scotland enjoying a great season with two wins from three games in the Championship, England may be put under severe pressure again in this Calcutta Cup battle at Twickenham on the weekend. So even though England haven’t been going particularly well and haven’t blown anyone out of the water yet, they have been winning and that says a lot about them. A tremendous amount in fact. They will have been disappointed though to have only collected the one try-scoring bonus point this season and with Ireland just three points back of them in second, things are tight.
England go to Ireland on the final weekend in what could be a title showdown. England are likely to have Owen Farrell fit after an injury scare this week, so he is likely to show up for the oldest international fixture. He had a bit of a shocker against Italy though and will need to be a lot sharper. The immense Billy Vunipola will be on the bench as well and there will be three changes in the back line with Ben Youngs, Jonathan Joseph and Jack Nowell coming back. England have yet to start a match well in the Six Nations 2017 and have, by and large, been rescued by their placements.
Scotland, who have beaten both Ireland and Wales at Murrayfield this season, but who lost in France, seem intent on attacking at Twickenham. There has certainly been a huge improvement in their output this season compared to their 2014 and 2015 campaigns, and their home wins have put them in with a chance of the title. For that to happen they would have to beat the English at Twickenham, something that they haven’t done since 1983. Their last victory over England came back in 2008 so wins have been few and far between, and they will have some added pressure really because of new expectancy. A Scotland +12 Handicap at even money with Betfred looks big value.
A fast start could be key for Scotland in the game because heat will give them something to defend later on. England have been slow out of the gates in their games, but can wind their way up through the gears and they have a vastly deeper well of talent to call upon from the bench than the visitors to Twickenham will have. So Scotland are going to attack and they would love to deny England the chance to equal New Zealand’s world record of 18 straight Test victories, as well as get their hands on the Calcutta Cup and jump above the English in the championship table. With a final game to come against Italy, a win at Twickenham would be momentous for the Scots.
England v Scotland Six Nations Rugby Odds
England 1/5, Scotland 4/1, Draw 33/1
England v Scotland Six Nations Rugby Prediction
England have won the last six in a row against Scotland in the Six Nations and are unbeaten in eight against them. Since 2000 Scotland have bagged just the three wins against England the tournament. The Scots only suffered a narrow defeat out in France and it was a defeat nonetheless. This will probably be tight for a long period, but look for England to grind it out in the final twenty minutes. Look for Scotland to hold that +12 handicap.
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