Scotland ‘red-hot favourites’ heading into Calcutta Cup clash – Eddie Jones
Eddie Jones believes that Scotland are favourites in Saturday's Calcutta Cup game
©PA
After announcing his England squad to take on Scotland in the opening game of the Guinness Six Nations, Eddie Jones has branded England’s hosts on Saturday as ‘red-hot favourites’ at Murrayfield.
Since Jones tenure began in 2016, the Calcutta Cup has changed hands contstantly. Each side have lifted the trophy on three occasions each, Scotland shocking England last year at Twickenham to win 11-6 in the English capital.
Scotland's recent good form in the contest is just one side of the story this year, with England having had heavily disrupted preparations for the opening Test of the Six Nations.
Whether that be Owen Farrell’s ankle injury that has ruled him out of the tournament, Joe Marler and Joe Marchant’s positive Covid-19 test results or hotel evacuations, plenty has been thrown England’s way.
This along with a media narrative that Scotland are a more settled side leaved the Australian coach feeling that the Scots are the favourites for the clash on Saturday afternoon.
“I have never been involved in a game at Murrayfield where Scotland are such red-hot favourites,” Jones said. “That is different for them, carrying that expectation of success.
“For us, it is normal. We are expected to win every game we play. So, that’s something they’re going to have to handle. They are well coached by Gregor, they have got some outstanding players, but the expectation of winning is a different pressure to handle.
“We are not sure how they will handle that, but what we know is we are well-prepared, and we are coming after them. We have still got a young team, but a very good team that is improving all the time.
“All the problems we have had, have just created opportunities for the team to gel a bit more and we will be on the front foot against Scotland on Saturday.”
Elliot Daly starts at outside centre, the utility back combining with Henry Slade in the midfield, as the similarly axed George Ford acts as fly-half cover for Marcus Smith from the bench.
With no Jonny May, Max Malins starts on the wing in a back three that also contains Joe Marchant, who got the all-clear to play after clearing Covid protocols.
In the pack there are few surprises, Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Kyle Sinckler the first-choice front-row and Maro Itoje starting at lock alongside Isiekwe at lock, the 23-year-old making his first England appearance since 2018. Sam Simmonds starting at No. 8 in a back-row that also contains Lewis Ludlam and Tom Curry.
Curry has a particular spotlight on him this weekend, the 23-year-old British and Irish Lion now also charged with being his country’s captain, England's youngest captain since Will Carling in 1988. Part of the leadership group in the Autumn, Curry’s captaincy has in some ways been forced as a result of Courtney Lawes being under head injury protocols.
Jones has always been a cheerleader for Curry and drew yet another comparison between the Sale Shark and another great of the game when asked how he expected his new captain to lead at the weekend.
“He reminds me of a young Richie McCaw, that was able to lead by example,” Jones said, “and as his career progresses there will be other bits and pieces of his captaincy that goes with that, but at the start of his career it is all about leading by example, getting the team on the front foot.”
In contrast to England, Scotland have selected a settled side. With Stuart Hogg, Chris Harris, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Hamish Watson, Jamie Ritchie, Jonny Gray and Rory Sutherland all available to Townsend, plenty of pre-existing combinations will be on display, giving the hosts the edge when looking at the two teams on paper.
By describing Scotland as out and out favourites, Jones is heaping the pressure onto the opposition, the 61-year-old playing mind games like never before. Even with that said, England have had their tyres pumped thanks to their Autumn Nations Series, where Jones’ side beat Tonga, Australia and South Africa at Twickenham.
England still have 452 caps worth of experience in their side, and whilst Ben Youngs accounts for 112 of those caps, it is as open a competition as ever on the hunt for one of rugby’s most famous bits of silverware.
England Starting XV: Freddie Steward, Max Malins, Elliot Daly, Henry Slade, Joe Marchant; Marcus Smith, Ben Youngs; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe, Lewis Ludlam, Tom Curry © & Sam Simmonds
Replacements: Jamie George, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Charlie Ewels, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford & Jack Nowell
