Murrayfield is the venue as England begin their 2022 Six Nations campaign today, with the Calcutta Cup at stake against Scotland.
Eddie Jones’ side head into the northern hemisphere’s premier rugby tournament looking to build on a woeful 2021 performance in which they finished fifth after amassing only two wins.
England can take great encouragement from an autumn campaign that saw them see off world champions South Africa and Australia on home soil, though their Six Nations preparations have been fraught with difficulty.
Jones is without captain Owen Farrell for the duration of the tournament following ankle surgery, while deputy Courtney Lawes is also out of the trip to Edinburgh along with the likes of Manu Tuilagi, Jonny May, Sam Underhill, Anthony Watson and Jonny Hill.
The wily head coach has predictably tried to pile the pressure on “red-hot favourites” Scotland ahead of a game set to take place in horrid weather conditions, as was the case two years ago.
The hosts continue to take impressive strides under Gregor Townsend, beating Australia in November and marked as dark horses for a potential run at a first title since winning the last Five Nations edition in 1999.
Scotland vs England date, kick-off time and venue
Scotland vs England kicks off at 4:45pm GMT on Saturday, February 5, 2022.
The match will take place at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, where the weather forecast predicts plenty of cold, wind and rain.
How to watch Scotland vs England
TV channel: Scotland vs England is being broadcast live on BBC One, with coverage beginning at 4pm.
Live stream: Fans can also watch the game live online via the BBC iPlayer or BBC Sport website.
Live coverage: You can also follow all the action with Standard Sport’s LIVE match blog, featuring expert analysis from Will Macpherson at Murrayfield.
Scotland vs England team news
As mentioned, England are without a raft of players including Farrell, Lawes, Tuilagi, Underhill, May, Hill and Watson.
Jones has handed the captain’s armband to Tom Curry, who becomes the youngest skipper of his country since Will Carling in 1988.
England have picked a mobile but inexperienced team that has a makeshift look with so many absentees, with Jones’ bold calls including Ellis Genge over Joe Marler in the front row, Elliot Daly at outside centre for the first time since 2016 and Joe Marchant - now free from Covid isolation - out on the wing.
Nick Isiekwe starts for only the second time for England in the second row alongside Maro Itoje.
As for Scotland, who have opted for a seasoned and experienced lineup, the headline team news is Jonny Gray back in the second row after missing the autumn tests through injury.
Scotland vs England lineups
Scotland XV: Hogg; Graham, Harris, Johnson, Van der Merwe; Russell, Price; Sutherland, Turner, Z Fagerson, J Gray, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, M Fagerson.
Replacements: McInally, Schoeman, Nel, Skinner, M Bradbury, White, Kinghorn, Tuipulotu.
England XV: Steward; Malins, Daly, Slade, Marchant; Smith, Youngs; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Sinckler, Itoje, Isiekwe, Ludlam, Curry, Simmonds.
Replacements: George, Marler, Stuart, Ewels, Dombrandt, Randall, Ford, Nowell.
Scotland vs England head to head history and results
Saturday evening will mark the 140th meeting between these two auld enemies.
England have won 76 of those previous contests to Scotland’s 44, with 19 draws.
England had won nine in a row leading up to 2018, since when Scotland have won two of the last four, emerging victorious at Twickenham last year for the first time since 1983.
There was also that classic 38-all draw in 2019, while 2020 was a game played in atrocious conditions.
Scotland vs England prediction
Townsend has firmly dismissed claims from Jones that Scotland are overwhelming favourites for this fixture.
England are still favoured by the bookies, though fans will be concerned by their injury-laden build-up and the sheer number of experienced absentees.
A hostile Murrayfield on a windy night is no place for the uninitiated and it would hardly be a shock if Scotland were to triumph again here ahead of a trip to Cardiff in round two.
An England win would be a huge morale-boost and with a visit to Rome next on the agenda, would set them up nicely for home ties against Wales and Ireland.
However, we expect Scotland to edge it as things stand.
Scotland vs England betting odds
Scotland to win: 6/5
England to win: 8/11
Draw: 18/1
