Six Nations - Scotland vs England: Calcutta Cup Clash Set to Ignite Six Nations Rivalry
by Thobelani Moyo | by Cydias Aujard
Scotland: After the Rome setback, can Scotland bounce back?
Scotland began their 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations Championship in unconvincing fashion. A false start saw them suffer an 18-15 defeat against Italy in a Rome downpour. That outcome entered the history books, albeit in an unfortunate way. For the first time since 2020, Gregor Townsend’s side lost in the opening round of this competition.
Head coach Gregor Townsend, who has seen his side win just one of their last five matches in this competition (L4), will be hoping to get his side on the right track as he is now under immense pressure to deliver convincing results or be shown the door.
For the first time since 1998, no Edinburgh players are included in the starting XV. This has raised some serious major talking points regarding Townsend's selection.
Townsend is optimistic that this matchup against England is the fixture that could spark a turnaround. Will that ring true when he meets England in round two? Find out what our experts have to say in our Scotland vs England prediction for more insights on the match.
His record against these opponents has been impressive despite his side being the inferior team in the head-to-head meetings. This is the man who orchestrated a run of four straight victories between 2021 and 2024 for the first time since 1896.
However, that run was halted in February 2025 when they suffered a narrow 16-15 defeat at Twickenham Stadium in London. This was in round three of the Six Nations Championship.
England: Red Roses eyeing statement win over Scotland
England should be flying over the moon after they dismantled Wales in the opening round of the 2026 Guinness Men’s Six Nations Championship. The team had no trouble cruising to a commanding 48-7 victory.
The Red Roses, who are the record joint holders in this competition with 39 titles, are eyeing their first trophy in this competition in six years after France beat them to it in the previous edition. However, coming off a dominant display, this places them among the strong title contenders in this year's competition.
To prove that their victory was not a fluke, they need to beat Scotland in round two. That shouldn't be hard to achieve, considering they won the previous matchup between these two sides 16-15. For a side that already holds a strong record against this opponent, that victory marked their 83rd winin 133 games (L48).
Despite boasting a superior record in this fixture, caution must be exercised given they've struggled to cope at this venue - Murrayfield. Six of their last eight matches at this venue have resulted in defeat.
Steve Borthwick's men should still have belief on their side as they come into this match boasting a 12-Test unbeaten streak. Their last defeat was against Ireland in February 2025 in the previous Six Nations Championship edition, losing 27-22 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
