The Calcutta Cup, it’s probably my favourite match in the 6 Nations, with the England France game being a close second. Scotland always seem to play 10 times better than they’re capable of in it. Let’s hope England can do the same.
It’s imperative that England rack up the points against Scotland, a feat they failed to do against Italy as it is a possibility that this year’s tournament will be decided on points difference. However, racking up points against Scotland is not an easy feat this year. After spending the summer in the gym Scotland are solid and it will be like running into a brick wall for the first half hour. England will need to use the pace and power out wide.
Cipriani controversy aside, I would like to see Balshaw bought in to the line so he can cut them up. If he can’t cope under the high ball or position himself correctly, then he can at least join the line in attack where appropriate. It’ll be nice to see the front five taking some crash balls as well- hopefully aimed straight at Patterson. He’s one man England definitely need to put pressure on.
The Calcutta Cup can be one of the most exciting games of the 6 Nations or a stupidly boring one that you would usually turn off if not for fear of the Scots winning! Let’s hope it’s the former.
It’s also a game that some might sing the 6th verse of the National Anthem to, not me, I wouldn’t dare.
Lord grant that Marshal Wade
May by thy mighty aid
Victory bring.
May he sedition hush,
And like a torrent rush,
Rebellious Scots to crush.
God save the Queen!
Here are the teams, courtesy of BBC Sport.
England team:
I Balshaw (Gloucester); P Sackey (Wasps), J Noon (Newcastle), T Flood (Newcastle), L Vainikolo (Gloucester); J Wilkinson (Newcastle), R Wigglesworth (Sale Sharks); A Sheridan (Sale Sharks), L Mears (Bath), P Vickery (Wasps, capt), S Shaw (Wasps), S Borthwick (Bath), T Croft (Leicester), M Lipman (Bath), N Easter (Harlequins)
Replacements: G Chuter (Leicester), M Stevens (Bath), B Kay (Leicester), L Narraway (Gloucester), P Hodgson (London Irish), M Tait (Newcastle), C Hodgson (Sale Sharks).
Scotland team: H Southwell (Edinburgh); R Lamont (Sale Sharks), S Webster (Edinburgh), G Morrison (Glasgow Warriors), N Walker (Ospreys); C Paterson (Gloucester), M Blair (Edinburgh, captain); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton Saints), N Hines (Perpignan), S MacLeod (Llanelli Scarlets), A Strokosch (Gloucester), S Taylor (Stade Francais), A Hogg (Edinburgh).
Replacements: F Thomson (Glasgow Warriors), A Dickinson (Gloucester), C Smith (Edinburgh), J White (Sale Sharks), K Brown (Glasgow Warriors), R Lawson (Gloucester), D Parks (Glasgow Warriors).
