Gregor Townsend backs Scotland to rebound against England in Six Nations

Scotland aim for fifth straight Calcutta Cup win after Ireland defeat.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend during the warm-up before the Guinness Six Nations 2025 match between Scotland and Ireland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, on February 9, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images

By Adila Ghina and Yuni Utomo

Gregor Townsend believes Scotland’s showdown against England at Twickenham on Saturday is exactly what his team needs to revive their Six Nations campaign. After a 32-18 defeat to Ireland in the second round, Scotland is looking to bounce back with a historic fifth consecutive Calcutta Cup win—something they have not achieved since the 19th century.

Scotland started the tournament with a victory over Italy but struggled against Ireland, suffering their 11th consecutive loss to the reigning champions. However, under Townsend’s tenure, Scotland has dominated this fixture, winning five of the last seven encounters against England, with one draw in a memorable 38-38 thriller at Twickenham in 2019.

"It means a huge amount," Townsend said after announcing his squad on Thursday. "We play for a separate trophy, and it’s the fixture our nation and supporters look forward to the most. It’s also the middle game of the Six Nations, and we need a response after losing the last game."

Finn Russell cleared to play after head injury

Scotland received a boost ahead of the match with fly-half and co-captain Finn Russell cleared to play despite suffering a concussion against Ireland. The 31-year-old was involved in a heavy collision with teammate Darcy Graham, who has been ruled out of the England match.

"They've both been training well, going through the right protocols, and passing every stage," Townsend said. "Finn was symptom-free much earlier and didn’t have as severe a head knock as Darcy."

With Graham sidelined, Kyle Rowe takes his place on the wing, while Jamie Ritchie replaces Matt Fagerson in the back row. Pierre Schoeman also comes in at prop, replacing Rory Sutherland.

England looking to build on France victory

England, under head coach Steve Borthwick, suffered a disappointing start to their Six Nations campaign with a defeat to Ireland. However, they responded with a thrilling 26-25 win over France at Twickenham, ending a seven-match losing streak against top-tier opponents.

"They [England] have played consistently well for a while now," Townsend said. "Their summer tour in New Zealand showed their quality, and in November, they were involved in tight matches against strong teams. Their win over France was very impressive, and I’m sure they will be confident, especially at home."

Despite England’s resurgence, Townsend remains confident in his squad’s ability to deliver a strong performance. "We believe in this group," he said. "This is another opportunity for us to show who we are in attack and defense, and to play our best rugby on both sides of the ball."

Scotland’s chance to make history

Scotland has not enjoyed such sustained dominance over England since the late 1800s, but a win at Twickenham would cement their growing reputation as a force in the Six Nations. The Calcutta Cup fixture, first played in 1871, remains one of rugby’s most historic rivalries, and Townsend’s side will be eager to extend their recent success.

With Russell fit and a strong squad ready to respond after the Ireland defeat, Scotland heads to Twickenham with confidence, knowing a victory could reignite their Six Nations hopes.