2025 Six Nations preview: England v Scotland
Everything you need to know as England host Scotland in Round 3 of the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations, with the Calcutta Cup at stake.
Steve Borthwick’s England head into the game buoyed by a last-gasp win over France at Allianz Stadium, having narrowly lost to Ireland in Round 1.
Elliot Daly’s last-minute try, followed by Fin Smith’s conversion secured a thrilling 26-25 victory against Les Bleus, with Tommy Freeman, Fin Baxter and Ollie Lawrence also scoring to earn an attacking bonus-point.
England’s last Calcutta Cup encounter with Scotland, who arrive in London on the back of an 18-32 loss to the Irish, ended in defeat, with the Scots claiming a 30-21 win.
| Where | Allianz Stadium, Twickenham |
| When | Saturday 22 February |
| Kick-off | 16:45 |
| Where to watch | ITV |
Team News
There has been a change to the England bench for the weekend, with Ted Hill replacing George Martin.
Last time out
Views from camp
Ben Earl
"I’ve always found that the higher level of rugby you’re playing, the simpler the emotional element becomes.
"You can have a game plan, but I promise you, once you get under the lights at home, it’s as gladiatorial as it gets, and you’re not going to be short of emotion or intensity."
Steve Borthwick
"We’re all aware of the recent record against Scotland, but we’re all about the here and now. They’re a very smart team and a very well-coached team, and we need to make sure we play well this weekend.
"Finn Russell has got a very varied kicking game, both long and contestable, and a very attacking kicking game. We’re going to have to be very sharp to make sure that space is covered, because he can find it.
"In space, Duhan van der Merwe is very dangerous. He’s got pace and power down that edge, and if you give him that space he’ll take it. Fundamentally, denying him that space will be important."
Stats & facts
England have made the most kicks in play (84) of any side in this year’s Six Nations whereas Scotland have made the fewest (46); 15 of England’s kicks have been grubber kicks, while Scotland have only used one.
Scotland have won eight of their last 10 men’s Test matches, their only defeats in that time coming against the top two ranked countries in World Rugby, South Africa and Ireland, their eight victories in this run have come by an average margin of 32 points.
England have won nine turnovers from jackals during this year's Six Nations, more than any other side with Tom Curry (4) winning twice as many as any other player (Ben Earl and Lorenzo Cannone, both 2).
Scotland have managed the quickest attacking ruck speed (3.3s average) of any side at this Six Nations and their tally of 235 rucks is the highest of any side.
Keep your eye on
Fin Smith at fly-half. The young Northampton Saint excelled against France in his first Test start and has been entrusted with the no.10 shirt again for Scotland’s visit to Allianz Stadium.
Ollie Chessum’s return. Chessum last started for England in last year’s Six Nations defeat to France and last started at lock against Scotland the same year.
Ellis Genge’s power. Last time England hosted Scotland, Genge scored England’s third try of the game with a characteristically powerful drive, having already carried well just two phases earlier.
Tommy Freeman’s aerial ability. Against Les Bleus, Freeman was very impressive under the high ball and managed to get on the scoresheet thanks to his athleticism in the air.
Previous encounters
Scotland 30-21 England
England 23-29 Scotland
Scotland 20-17 England
England 6-11 Scotland
Scotland 6-13 England
Related topics
- Attack
- T - Tries
- M - Metres carried
- C - Carries
- DB - Defenders beaten
- CB - Clean breaks
- P - Passes
- O - Offloads
- TC - Turnovers conceded
- TA - Try assists
- PTS - Points
- Defence
- Tackles - Tackles
- MT - Missed tackles
- TW - Turnovers won
- Kicking
- K - Kicks in play
- C - Conversions
- PG - Penalty goals
- DG - Drop goals
- Set plays
- TW - Throws won
- LW - Lineouts won
- LS - Lineout steals
- Discipline
- PC - Penalties conceded
- RC - Red cards
- YC - Yellow cards
England edge past Scotland in thriller to win Calcutta Cup
A hard-fought 16-15 win at Allianz Stadium saw England reclaim the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2020 and keep themselves in the race for the Guinness Men's Six Nations. Tommy Freeman's try, eight points from the boot of Marcus Smith and a long-range Fin Smith penalty sealed the win.
Scotland hit the ground running after three minutes as deft hands on half way released Tom Jordan, who passed inside for Ben White to gallop over, but Finn Russell was unable to convert.
England responded well by winning a penalty a few minutes later. Henry Slade kicked to touch and from the lineout Steve Borthwick’s side launched into phase play. Powerful carries from the forwards drew the defenders, before Freeman powered over on the 13th phase for his third try in three games. Marcus Smith converted to put the hosts ahead by two points.
The following 10 minutes settled into a pattern of box kicks from both scrum halves until Scotland kicked to touch from a penalty. Off lineout ball, Russell unleashed the backs and Duhan van der Merwe’s offload found Jones who crashed over in the corner. However, Russell’s conversion went awry to leave the score at 7-10.
The visitors dominated possession and on the half-hour mark threatened the English line, but as they looked to play wide Kyle Rowe knocked on to offer England respite. Tom Willis carried hard off the back of the scrum and after a few kicks exchanged, Marcus Smith cleared up to half way from a marked kick.
Scotland won a penalty from the lineout but England’s defence stood strong until Blair Kinghorn spilt the ball on the 22 with five minutes of the half remaining.
With Willis off the field for an HIA, the Scots again found themselves in the English 22 as they made the most of broken field, but replacement Ben Curry won an important penalty at the breakdown.
England won a penalty from the final play of the half and showed their intent by kicking for touch. They launched an impressive strike play as Ollie Lawrence burst through a gap before offloading to Marcus Smith.
Smith jinked left and right as England rushed into the Scottish 22, but was tackled short of the line. England recycled and played it wide looking to finish with a flourish, but Lawrence’s offload was too high for Sleightholme to gather and the score remained 7-10 at half-time.
Borthwick’s men started the second half at pace, with a powerful Ben Earl carry providing field position, but Lawrence was unable to hold Slade’s offload.
Van der Merwe continued to threaten with a strong carry and set Scotland up in the English 22, but Maro Itoje stripped the ball to snuff out the danger and England won a penalty at the resulting scrum.
With 55 minutes on the clock, a deft ball by Lawrence found Earl on his shoulder and England won a penalty at the breakdown 30 metres out. Marcus Smith then converted to draw England level with the first points of the half.
Scotland almost bounced back through a Russell break, but Itoje did brilliantly again to steal the ball back and relieve the pressure.
A dangerous tackle by Rowe with 15 minutes remaining handed England the advantage and they kicked to the corner looking to score their second try. Itoje won the lineout and the backs looked to recreate Elliot Daly’s try against France. The plan was thwarted but England had a penalty advantage, allowing Marcus Smith to convert and put England three points ahead.
Five minutes later, a dangerous clearout by the visitors just inside the Scottish half gave Fin Smith a shot at goal from distance, which he duly converted to extend England’s lead to six points.
Scotland looked to come back with a lineout in the English 22, but Itoje disrupted the ball and England showed their defensive ability to keep the Scots out.
With just over a minute remaining Stafford McDowall broke through a gap at the breakdown on halfway. He was brought down in the 22 but Scotland recycled to work it wide for Van der Merwe to score out wide, but the angle proved too much for Russell whose kick drifted wide.
Just one point separated the two sides and England kicked deep from the restart. Scotland looked to go 80 metres and won a penalty for a knock-on in the tackle, with Russell kicking up to the English 10-metre line.
Scotland won the lineout, but loose ball allowed England to hold the ball up and reclaim the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2020 in a thrilling 16-15 victory.
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