GET your glasses charged and your jerseys ready – because England are taking on Scotland in the Six Nations.
It will be Steve Borthwick’s first game in charge after Eddie Jones was sacked by the RFU in December.
It will be Steve Borthwick’s first game in charge of EnglandAP
GettyEngland and Scotland face off at Twickenham on the opening weekend of the 2023 Six Nations[/caption]
Borthwick re-installed Owen Farrell as permanent captain after taking charge, with the veteran star back from a three-match ban to face the Scots.
And the head coach will be under pressure to deliver first time out, with England losing both of their last two meetings with Scotland.
Last year the Red Rose threw away a lead to lose 20-17 at Murrayfield, with an 11-6 defeat at HQ the year before that.
In fact, England have won just one out of the last FIVE Calcutta Cup meetings between the two great rivals.
And a familiar face could come back to haunt the hosts on Saturday.
Ruaridh McConnochie, who has two England caps, is in Scotland’s 40-man squad for the Six Nations.
The Bath winger scored a try for the Red Rose at the 2019 World Cup, but has taken advantage of new eligibility laws to switch allegiances to Scotland after a three year cooling-off period.
Scotland will head to Twickenham full of confidence after their 52-29 battering over Argentina the last time they played in November.
England on the other hand endured a miserable Autumn campaign, winning just one out of four games, prompting Jones to be given the boot.
They were beaten by Argentina at Twickenham and lost their most recent game to South Africa, with a win over Japan and pulsating draw with New Zealand coming in between.
But they will be hoping a new head coach in Borthwick will breathe new life into the team, especially with a World Cup looming in eight months time.
First though, the small matter of a Six Nations meeting at Twickenham between rugby’s oldest rivals.
When is England vs Scotland?
England vs Scotland will take place on Saturday, February 4th.
Kick off is scheduled for 4.45pm (UK time).
What TV channel and live stream is England vs Scotland on?
The game will be shown live on ITV.
Fans in the UK can watch for FREE, providing they have a TV license.
What is the team news?
Henry Slade and Courtney Lawes have both been ruled out for England.
But experienced duo Jamie George and Anthony Watson have been added to the 36-man squad.
For Scotland Hamish Watson is a doubt after a series of head knocks.
While injury meant Darcy Graham, Stuart McInally, Scott Cummings, Rory Darge, Allan Dell, Zander Fagerson and Oli Kebble all failed to make the squad.
England 15 Steward, 14 Malins, 13 Marchant, 12 Farrell (captain), 11 Hassell-Collins, 10 Smith, 9 Van Poortvliet, 1 Genge, 2 George, 3 Sinckler, 4 Itoje, 5 Chessum, 6 Ludlam, 7 Curry, 8 Dombrandt
Replacements: 16 Walker, 17 Vunipola, 18 Cole, 19 Isiekwe, 20 Earl, 21 Youngs, 22 Lawrence, 23 Watson
Scotland: 15 Hogg, 14 Steyn, 13 Jones, 12 Tuipulotu, 11 Van der Merwe, 10 Russell, 9 White, 1 Schoeman, 2 Turner, 3 Nel, 4 Gray, 5 Gilchrist, 6 Ritchie (capt), 6 Ritchie (capt), 8 Fagerson
Replacements: 16 Brown, 17 Bhatti, 18 Berghan, 19 Gray, 20 Dempsey, 21 Horne, 22 Kinghorn, 23 Harris
What are the odds?
England win: 1/5
Draw: 25/1
Scotland win: 7/2
What other Six Nations games are on this weekend?
England vs Scotland is the second game of the weekend.
The 2023 Six Nations kicks off with favourites Ireland travelling to Cardiff to take on Wales at 2.15pm on Sunday.
Holders France begin the defence of their crown on Sunday, February 5th with a trip to Italy.
What happened in the Six Nations last year?
France secured the Grand Slam in 2022, winning all five of their games.
Ireland finished as runners-up – their sole defeat coming to champions France.
England won just two games – against Italy and Wales – and ended up finishing third in the table.
Scotland also finished with two wins but ended up behind England in fourth due to a worse points difference.
Wales and Italy both lost five and won just one, but the Azzurri took the wooden spoon with the lowest points difference.
France won the Grand Slam in 2022Getty Read More