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Scotland will be chasing another famous afternoon at Murrayfield when they take on England in Round 2 of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations on Saturday.
Gregor Townsend’s team have come under early pressure after they underwhelmed in Round 1 and lost 18-15 to Italy in Rome.
Murrayfield has been a happy place when England cross the border. Scotland have secured wins in Edinburgh in 2018, 2022, and 2024.
Here’s what ATR thinks Scotland needs to do to secure their first win over 2026.
Don’t Compound Errors
What did Scotland do well in Rome? Very little in truth, though they were somehow in contention at the end. Much of that was self-inflicted. Take that early penalty that they kicked deep into Italy’s half and then wasted by butchering the lineout.
It wasn’t the only error, and they know against an England side on a run of 12 consecutive victories, that such wastefulness is likely to lead to being on the wrong end of defeat by far more than three points.
Scotland also need to be competitive in the tight. Italy’s packed toyed with them at the scrum (100 percent wins to 83 percent) and lineouts (94 percent to 74 percent). It meant that their superiority in territory and possession went to waste.
Get The Balance Right
In Rome, Townsend opted for a five-three split for his team. Even though rain was forecast, he decided to put Adam Hastings on the bench, and then left him there while his team struggled.
Tom Jordan’s selection at fullback, and ability to cover flyhalf and centre, meant there could have been space for a heavy runner and ball carrier such as Duhan van der Merwe, or another forward, such as the niggly Jamie Ritche, who loves nothing more than making life difficult for the opposition.
Instead, Hastings sat there, like the odd one out at a party. What was the point? Jordan wasn’t at his best, neither was Finn Russell. It is another sign that perhaps the Townsend regime has become too chummy, and that having clashed with Russell a few years ago, it is route he doesn’t want to go down again with the clamour for his removal becoming louder each week.
Cherry On Top
Townsend has made all his changes in the pack and left his backline alone. Is that a vote of confidence or last chance saloon before he calls for the likes of Blair Kinghorn or van der Merwe?
Ritchie’s experience and doggedness will be vital. Matt Fagerson is more of a powerful, ball-carrying number eight moved to one side to accommodate Jack Demspey. Ritchie’s ruggedness and ability to wind up the opposition are likely to be more important on a wet day in Edinburgh.
George Turner will need an improved performance at hooker, after he replaces the injured Evan Ashman. He and Gregor Brown will need to ensure the lineout functions much better this week, after the latter replaces Grant Gilchrist.
Interestingly, Townsend has kept the five-three split on the bench. Reserve hooker Dave Cherry is in line for his first cap since the end of the 2025 Six Nations, since when he has joined Vannes in France’s ProD2.
Don’t Take Victory For Granted
Yes, Scotland have won three of the last four Calcutta Cup matches hosted at Murrayfield, but that is no sign that they will win again. Have belief yes, but they shouldn’t expect the match to play out as it has in the past.
We know the emotion will be ramped up in the days, and hours before. The bag piper will be blaring out from on high, there might be a slow walk onto the home pitch as memories of 1990 are played out again.
That may have worked at the fag end of the Eddie Jones regime, or the start of the Steve Borthwick years, but it won’t now. This is a team unscarred by the past, and with confidence ragingly high. Boo Henry Pollock? He will lap it up and throw it back with a vengeance.
Yes, there needs to emotion to drive the win, but if Scotland want to show that they can mix with higher-ranked teams, then they need a cool-headed approach surrounding a well-structured gameplan. If they manage that, then they have a chance against the side that Scots fans love to hate more than any other.
