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Agence France-Presse

Passion is guaranteed when Scotland play England but it may take more than raw emotion to secure a win in the latest edition of rugby union’s oldest international match.
In the build-up to Saturday’s fixture at Murrayfield, the latest chapter in a 149-year-old rivalry, Scotland centre Sam Johnson declared “no one likes England”, a sentiment the Queensland-born player would have been familiar with growing up in Australia.
Meanwhile England flanker Lewis Ludlam, who had never been to Scotland before, said: “It’s going to be a war.”
Both sides need to bounce back after losing their opening Six Nations encounters last weekend.
Kolisi’s rainbow Boks and Australians, except Eddie Jones: winners and losers from Japan’s Rugby World Cup
As happened in their World Cup final loss to South Africa, England were denied the early try that has been a hallmark of many of their recent wins, notably the impressive semi-final victory over New Zealand, by France in Paris.
The French did rather more than that, surging into a 17-0 lead and although England fought back through two Jonny May tries, Les Bleus deservedly won 24-17.


England have lost five of their last seven Six Nations away games and coach Eddie Jones has responded by making five changes to his starting side, notably dropping experienced scrum-half Ben Youngs and giving a first Championship start to Willi Heinz, the surprise pick of his World Cup squad.
In the forwards, Jones has also recalled Ludlam, Mako Vunipola and George Kruis in place of Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler and Charlie Ewels but has kept faith with converted flanker Tom Curry at number eight.
Best Rugby World Cup sees 2019 kick off exciting new era
Jonathan Joseph, an early replacement for Manu Tuilagi in Paris, starts at centre.
“Consistency is a challenge for every team,” Jones said. “We had a good lesson last week. Sometimes these things need to be learned.”
New Zealand-born Heinz, who missed the World Cup final with a hamstring injury after only making his test debut months earlier, finds himself, at 33, preferred to Youngs, England’s most-capped scrum-half.
“You want to start well but equally so do the opposition,” Heinz said. “It’s about riding through that and finding ways to get the momentum back.”
Jones, perhaps influenced by new forwards coach Matt Proudfoot, who was with South Africa at the World Cup, has also opted to choose six forwards and just two backs as replacements, just as the Springboks did to great effect with their “bomb squad” bench in Japan.


Scotland were their own worst enemies yet again in a 19-12 loss to Ireland in Dublin. New captain Stuart Hogg encapsulated their performance when he inexplicably dropped the ball with a try at his mercy.
Finn Russell, the inspiration for Scotland’s 25-13 win over England at Murrayfield in 2018 and their stunning recovery from 31-0 down in a 38-38 draw at Twickenham last year, remains in the cold.
The fly-half was left out of the Ireland match following a late-night drinking session. Adam Hastings, the son of Scotland great Gavin, continues at stand-off.
Coach Gregor Townsend, who will “reassess” Russell’s position after this weekend, has made just one change, with Magnus Bradbury, fit following a thigh strain, starting at number eight.
“We were proud of parts of our performance in Dublin at a very difficult venue,” said Townsend, a former Scotland playmaker.
“The challenge for the squad is to replicate that level and take our chances when they come, in order to win tight games.”


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Scotland players react at the final whistle after the Six Nations loss to Ireland in Dublin last week. Photo: AFP

Kolisi’s rainbow Boks and Australians, except Eddie Jones: winners and losers from Japan’s Rugby World Cup

South Africa's Pieter-Steph du Toit celebrates with his teammates. Who else won at the Rugby World Cup? Photo: AP

New Zealand's centre Jack Goodhue reacts after losing the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between England and New Zealand at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama on October 26, 2019. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 19, 2019, England's fly-half Owen Farrell (L) tackles Australia's centre Jordan Petaia during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between England and Australia at the Oita Stadium in Oita. - The 19-year-old Petaia became Australia's youngest-ever World Cup player with an electric debut against Uruguay, as he crashed over for one try and set up another in a crucial 45-10 bonus-point win. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on October 19, 2019 New Zealand's wing Sevu Reece holds onto the ball during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between New Zealand and Ireland at the Tokyo Stadium in Tokyo. - All Black wing Sevu Reece was one of only six uncapped players in the preliminary World Cup squad but the 22-year-old forced himself into the first-choice XV with a string of glittering performances. (Photo by Odd Andersen / AFP)

TOPSHOT - England's full back Elliot Daly (L) fights for the ball with Australia's wing Marika Koroibete during the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match between England and Australia at the Oita Stadium in Oita on October 19, 2019. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)

Best Rugby World Cup sees 2019 kick off exciting new era

Rugby in 2019 was not like 2018, and will most likely be a lot different in 2020 as the sport expands and brings about new levels of parity. Photo: EPA

(FILES) In this file photograph taken on November 2, 2019, South Africa's flanker Siya Kolisi (C) lifts the Webb Ellis Cup as he celebrates with teammates after winning the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup final match between England and South Africa at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama. - The Springboks delighted the 'Rainbow Nation' by overcoming an opening pool defeat by New Zealand to claim a third World Cup title after previous successes in 1995 and 2007. Reinvigorated by coach Rassie Erasmus, a multi-cultural team skippered by the country's first black skipper, Siya Kolisi, beat Japan and Wales in the knock-out phase to set up a final against England, a game they won easily, 32-12, to claim the Webb Ellis trophy. The Springboks' gameplan was not a tough one to work out: forward power and a crashball midfield alongside a solid kicking game to ensure maximum pressure on opponents. When they cracked, the playmakers set outstanding flying wingers Makazole Mapimpi and Cheslin K

epa07975051 Captain of the South African national rugby team Siya Kolisi (C) holds the Webb Ellis Cup as he is greeted by thousands of supporters at O.R.Tambo International airport as some of the national rugby team known as the Springboks arrive from Japan after winning the Rugby World Cup, Johannesburg, South Africa 05 November 2019. South Africa won the Webb Ellis trophy after defeating England 32-12 in the Rugby World Cup final played in Japan on 02 November 2019. EPA-EFE/STR

New Zealand's head coach Steve Hansen (L) and New Zealand's number 8 Kieran Read react after losing the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-final match between England and New Zealand at the International Stadium Yokohama in Yokohama on October 26, 2019. (Photo by Odd Andersen / AFP)

epa07964323 Richie Mo'unga (L) and Sam Cane (R) of New Zealand tackle Owen Watkin of Wales (C) during the Rugby World Cup Bronze Final match between New Zealand and Wales at the Tokyo Stadium, Tokyo, Japan, 01 November 2019. EPA-EFE/MARK R. CRISTINO EDITORIAL USE ONLY/ NO COMMERCIAL SALES / NOT USED IN ASSOCATION WITH ANY COMMERCIAL ENTITY

Six Nations: Scotland and England in search of Calcutta Cup revival

The build-up to Saturday’s fixture at Murrayfield continues