I just hope the Scots front up

IHOPE Scotland really front up today after a tough Six Nations for them.

Under Gregor Townsend I have always thought they could be a great team and they have kicked on, but they cannot afford to pick up injuries like they have done in this tournament.

Unlike England, Ireland and Wales they don’t have the strength in depth in key positions.

They need to give England a competitive match. Last time they came to Twickenham, they were very confident and were beaten 61-21.

It is a really tough watch for supporters and on television when it is so one-sided, like the last two matches England have had at Twickenham.

They have hardly been tested at home, beating a terrible France side 44-8 and smashing Italy 57-14. So yes, England fans will want their team to do well but for the good of the Championship we need Scotland to turn up.

And in Hamish Watson and Sam Skinner, I think they have two flankers who can really get stuck into England.

Watson was a thorn in England’s side, along with the now-injured John Barclay, when Scotland won at Murrayfield last season — and he came on against Wales last Saturday and looked excellent.

Skinner has been in great form for Exeter Chiefs, is new on the international scene, but is back and can definitely make an impact against the country of his birth.

For England, the challenge is to find out if they can really change their approach mid-match, off the

cuff. In previous games they have been unable to adapt to an unfolding situation that is not going their way.

As well as a win, they have to get something out of this — their last competitive match before the World Cup — to move their whole year forward.

After a scintillating start in Dublin, England have been made to tread water since losing to Wales, with rest weeks and a dead rubber against Italy.

This Scotland match is the last opportunity to put a marker down ahead of the World Cup at the end of the year.

Warm-up games have benefit, but are nothing compared to a full- on, highstakes Test match. We are only six months from the World Cup, so England need to make the most of this.

I feel the southern hemisphere teams have a huge advantage with their Rugby Championship on the eve of the World Cup.

At the moment, none of them will be scared of the Six Nations teams, with playing time on their side as well.

Eddie Jones’s selection, as I said yesterday, is a bit lightweight, which is a real shame. With no Joe Cokanasiga and Ellis Genge, England’s head coach has potentially taken the sting out of the game.

I always took the approach that I would pick a team as if it was my last game in charge.

If this was Eddie’s last match with England, would he have picked this team?

Selection must always rest with Eddie (below), but it doesn’t seem like anyone is questioning him. I am sure England will get the job done, but they might not make the statement they need to.

The last round throws up a lot of ‘what-if’ scenarios — the kind you face in World Cup pool matches.

If Wales win in the earlier kick-off, it’s all over and they have a Grand Slam. England should then get into a World Cup mindset of scoring four tries and winning with a bonus point. They won’t win the title, but it’s an important exercise nonetheless.

Having said that, if Wales lose, England will become favourites and the Scotland game becomes a ‘ must- win’ knockout game of sorts. Either way England must attack, making Eddie’s selections look stranger. I thought he would be out for revenge for 2018, but the team he has picked doesn’t look like one to put Scotland to the sword.

I am sure England will win, but more than that is needed ahead of Japan.