ENGLAND continue their 2024 Six Nations journey with a tricky test against bitter British rivals Scotland – and the Calcutta Cup is on the line.
Red Rose escaped Stadio Olimpico with a 27-24 Italy win on the opening weekend.
England have won their opening two fixtures at the 2024 Six Nations[/caption] Scotland suffered a marginal defeat to France last time out[/caption]And Steve Borthwick witnessed his side pull off an incredible comeback against old foes Wales seven days later which temporarily fired them to the top of the leaderboard.
But the Scots’ triumph over Wales was even more dramatic as they were forced to hold on to a marginal lead despite being 20-0 up at halftime.
Furthermore, Scotland are the current Calcutta Cup holders so they’ll be determined to retain their title.
However, Gregor Townsend’s will need to perform a lot better than they did in their most recent outing, having suffered a 20-16 loss to France.
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Scotland’s showdown piece against England can be watched for FREE as long as you hold a valid TV license in the UK.
The Calcutta Cup is named after the defunct Calcutta RFC, founded in India in 1873 after a relatively successful Christmas Day rugby fixture between 20 English and 20 Scottish players.
Legend has it that when the club was disbanded in 1878 its members decided to melt down the remaining rupees in the coffers to make a trophy, which was gifted to the RFU.
And design of the trophy has three king cobras as the handles, whilst on the lid there is an elephant.
Irvwas first competed for in 1879, at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh where the match ended in a draw, but England became the first team to get their hands on the trophy the following year.
England XV: G Furbank; T Freeman, H Slade, O Lawrence; G Ford, D Care; E Genge, J George, D Cole, M Itoje, O Chessum, E Roots, S Underhill, B Earl
Replacements: T Dan, J Marler, W Stuart, G Martin, C Cunningham-South, B Spencer, F Smith, Feyi-Waboso
Scotland XV: B Kinghorn; K Steyn, H Jones, S Tuipulotu, D Van der Merwe; F Russell, B White; P Schoeman, G Turner, Z Fagerson, G Gilchrist, S Cummings, J Ritchie, R Darge, J Dempsey
Replacements: E Ashman, A Hepburn, E Millar-Mills, S Skinner, A Christie, G Horne, B Healy, C Redpath
Find out the full Six Nations 2024 squads.
*Odds courtesy of Paddy Power are correct at time of publication