Three key battles
FINN RUSSELL v GEORGE FORD
RUSSELL gets all the headlines and rightly so because he’s a phenomenal player. he’s always been able to deliver a moment of individual magic but now he can control games for 80 minutes and I think his growth as a player has been reflected by Scotland giving him the co-captaincy. Russell can tear england’s defence to pieces in a heartbeat. I’m sure Felix Jones has had a busy week getting england’s structures in place to stop him — something england haven’t been able to do in recent years. Ford is a less ‘showy’ player but his experience will be vital in edinburgh. he is unlikely to get flustered even if things are going against his side which is what you need at a place like Murrayfield.
SIONE TUIPULOTU v OLLIE LAWRENCE
I’M DELIGHTED to see Lawrence back in the team after injury. Fraser Dingwall is unlucky but if Lawrence hadn’t had a hip problem, he’d have started the wins over Italy and Wales too. Lawrence can crash the ball up. But he’s more versatile than just that.
It’s fascinating that Lawrence and Russell are Bath teammates but on opposite sides today. They know each other’s game so well so should be able to guess what’s coming. Tuipulotu is all about power. he’s such a key figure for Scotland because when Russell is under pressure, he knows he has an out ball and his inside centre can get his team over the gainline.
GRANT GILCHRIST v MARO ITOJE
SCOTLAND lost Richie Gray to a biceps injury in their win over Wales and although Gilchrist and Scott Cummings are good players, england have a world-class talent in Maro Itoje in their second row. If england are to win, they’ll need a big game from Itoje, who has looked back to his best. he has Ollie Chessum alongside him with George Martin — who I also like — in reserve after recovering from injury. england have to get on top up front to win. Itoje is the key to that.