Scots plan England tickle-up at Twickers

The oldest fixture in rugby was, not so long ago, one of the most one-sided.

From 1991 to 2007, England and Scotland met 29 times. Scotland won just three of the games — and all of those victories came in grim Edinburgh weather at Murrayfield.

How the tide has turned. The boys in blue headed south this week, looking for a fourth win in their last six meetings with the auld enemy when they play at Twickenham tomorrow.

It’s a match that launches not only the 2023 Six Nations but also a new era in English rugby. Steve Borthwick takes charge for the first time since replacing Eddie Jones as coach.

The Calcutta Cup is often viewed as a bigger deal for Scotland. Maybe not this time.

“We haven’t played a game yet,” England back rower Sam Simmonds said, “but within the few training sessions we’ve had, it feels like we’re going in the right direction. There’s a buzz around the squad of excitement and enjoyment. The first game against Scotland is huge.”

Boos rang around Twickenham the last time England played there. That was in late November, at the end of their 27-13 pumping by South Africa that spelled the end of Jones’ sevenyear tenure.

England’s players might get some more slack from the home fans tomorrow, as Borthwick is unlikely to get a slick performance immediately as he moulds his own team (with eight changes) at the start of a World Cup year. A below-par performance might be accepted, even expected. Another loss isn’t.

Scotland will be hit with the combined might of a full house and fired-up opponents eager to impress their new coach — factors that weren’t in play when the Scots won at an empty Twickenham in 2021 during the Covid pandemic.

Two years earlier, there was the epic, breathless 38-38 draw between the old foes. Before that, a string of unbroken, mostly comfortable England wins since the 12-12 draw in 1989.

So Scotland cannot really relax. Not after a largely underwhelming 2022 when the high point was the first game of the year — an attritional home win over the English.

“We’re in a good place,” said Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie, pointing to the form of Edinburgh and Glasgow and what he saw as an encouraging November series featuring victories over Fiji and Argentina.

Then there’s the return of the mercurial Finn Russell at first-five, now he has patched up his differences with Scotland coach Gregor Townsend. Russell against Marcus Smith will be a must-watch head to-head.

Townsend is wary of England, especially as the hosts might be changing game plans under Borthwick and new attack coach, former All Black Nick Evans. Whatever it is — and Borthwick criticised England’s lack of adaptability late last year — it doesn’t include Manu Tuilagi.

Tuilagi was the icebreaker Jones embraced when fit. But he and the outside backs struggled to be used while Jones bedded in Smith and Owen Farrell together. Smith and Farrell have survived but Tuilagi has been axed beside Jonny May and Jack Nowell.

London Irish winger Ollie HassellCollins will make his England debut, along with Harlequins hooker Jack Walker, if he comes off the bench. Prop Dan Cole has been recalled for the first time since the 2019 World Cup final.

Townsend dropped Ali Price for inform London Irish halfback Ben White. Centre Chris Harris has made way for Huw Jones, who has four tries against England.