SCOTLAND NOW TRAVEL IN EXPECTATION, NOT HOPE

GREGOR TOWNSEND played against England five times at Twickenham – and was a loser every time.

In 10 appearances against the Auld Enemy, the playmaker turned head coach enjoyed just one victory.

Scotland have never won the Six Nations. Since 1983 they can count away successes over England on one finger.

Yet Owen Farrell has gone out of his way to warn his team that come Saturday they will face a Scots side “playing better than ever”.

The Red Rose captain was on the losing side two years ago at Murrayfield (above, as coach Townsend celebrated victory with Stuart Hogg).

Farrell said: “They have been together a long time now, coaching staff and players – building year on year. The way they’ve been playing, the way they’ve been competing in games, they’ve been brilliant.

“They’re a team that’s pushing everybody they play against.”

The last time Scotland were talked up like this ahead of a Twickenham visit was 2017 and England responded with a record 61-21 win.

Since then, however, the men in white have failed to beat their arch rivals, with Finn Russell, Hogg, Hamish Watson and Co making hay.

Less than a fortnight ago an Edinburgh team stacked with internationals offered up a reminder of the current trend by beating a Saracens side similarly stocked with England men.

Townsend (above left, losing as a player in 2003), said: “To say we’ve gone from hope to expectation is right.

“Our supporters now come to our games, home or away, really believing we can win.

“Expectation brings more demands, more responsibility and criticism when you don’t reach those levels.

“We have to take that on board, but we would much rather our supporters come to our games expecting us to win rather than just hoping.”

Townsend, referencing the November Test against New

Zealand where Scotland let victory slip late on, added: “You’re not going to win all the time.

“But seeing the supporters staying for an hour and a half after that game, waiting for the players after a defeat, shows how well the players are connecting with them and also how much the supporters are driving us forward.”

Captain Jamie Ritchie echoed his boss, saying: “When I grew up watching Scotland it was often hopefully, but now we go into every game confident we can win.

“It’s about dealing with what comes with that in terms of expectation and criticism and scrutiny if you don’t live up to expectations.”