Steve Borthwick calls Scotland 'clear favourites' after shock George Furbank selection
England head coach Steve Borthwick has claimed the underdog tag for the Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland as he sprung a major selection surprise by dropping full back Freddie Steward for George Furbank.
Scotland have won their last three matches against the Auld Enemy with England winning just one of their past six fixtures. Furbank is one of five changes Borthwick has made for the Saturday’s Six Nations game at Murrayfield with scrum Danny Care, centre Ollie Lawrence and the prop pairing of Ellis Genge and Dan Cole coming into the starting XV.
After opening their campaign with victories over Italy and Wales, Borthwick has said that his squad are enjoying being in the title race but now face their toughest test against a Scotland team whom he says benefit from both confidence and cohesion. “We’re concentrating very much on Scotland who are clearly favourites going into this fixture again with the record they’ve had,” Borthwick said. “They’re very confident.
“This is a team where Gregor has been in place for seven years. It’s a team that’s been together a long time and is a very settled team. We’re different to that. We’re in a different situation to where they are. And I’m sure they’re a very confident team given the run of fixtures and given how long they’ve been together.
“I think the (England) guys are really excited about being involved in this championship and if we look back at previous championships, maybe that hasn’t been the case with England. In previous championships... I wasn’t here for a number of years so I don’t fully know what was happening. But we are enjoying being in this championship, playing in these great games and we’re looking forward to this one against a really good Scotland team.”
In discussing his backline changes, Borthwick referenced the line-breaking ability of both Furbank and Lawrence, who replaces Fraser Dingwall at inside centre after recovering from a hip injury. What England lose in Steward’s high-ball security, Borthwick hopes they will gain in Furbank’s playmaking and counter-attacking ability.
“I think George has been exceptional all season for his club side and been brilliant in training here,” Borthwick said. “George is a guy who is high up on line-break assists across European and Premiership rugby, he is a very good player who I think is right for this game.”
Borthwick admitted that Steward, who he also dropped for the World Cup quarter-final against Fiji, was disappointed with the decision as Furbank features in his first international Test in two years. The 27-year-old Northampton Saint was one of Eddie Jones’ major selection curveballs, starting the first match of the 2020 Six Nations against France, which Furbank admits caught him off guard along with the ensuing attention it brought. “Getting the call-up for that game was more of a shock than anything else,” Furbank said. “I never thought I was going to be playing. I feel more ready now than I did back then.
“I guess I was probably a bit of a worrier and worried about people’s opinions that didn’t really matter. At Saints, a few people talk about you, around Northampton, but that’s about it. Then you come to England and you’re on BBC Sport headlines, and you think ‘this is mental’. It feels like everyone’s talking about you.”
However, as his wont, Jones quickly abandoned the experiment with Furbank only winning a further five caps. Furbank responded by knuckling down at Northampton whom he has captained to the top of the league and is now ready to seize the mantle given to him at full back by Borthwick.
“I’ve definitely grown as a player and a person,” Furbank said. “Literally...I’ve put on a bit of size which has helped my game. But I’ve also learned a bit about the mental side of things as well which has definitely helped. And having a leadership role at Saints has definitely developed me as a character. That’s something I’ve really enjoyed as well and that’s helped my game. There’s multiple factors and I definitely feel like a different player now.
“Steve just said he wanted me to bring my game – and the things I’ve done well at Saints – to this England team. That’s what I’m looking to do really – be Fordy’s eyes and ears, feed information into him, dominate with ball in hand and be aggressive with that side of things.”
While Lawrence and second row George Martin, who is named on the bench, return from injury, there is no place in the England squad for fit-again centre Manu Tuilagi. Care makes his first Six Nations start in six years and wins his 99th cap, replacing the injured Alex Mitchell.
Meanwhile, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend makes three changes from the side that narrowly lost to France with full back Blair Kinghorn, wing Kyle Steyn and back-rower Jamie Ritchie, the former captain, coming into the starting XV..
England’s team to face Scotland: Reaction and analysis below
03:20 PM GMT
A change to England's front row
Interesting to see England switch their props, with Ellis Genge and Dan Cole coming in as the starters. France landed a key blow in the scrum before half-time two weeks ago, winning a penalty when Cyril Baille put pressure on Scotland tighthead Zander Fagerson to win a penalty with Scotland on the attack. England will hope for similar returns.
Also, England probably did not want to rush back George Martin’s return, but it shows how well Ethan Roots has settled into the back row that he keeps his place in the starting XV.
03:19 PM GMT
A harsh call on Freddie Steward?
You can have your say on Steve Borthwick’s full-back call in the comments.
03:12 PM GMT
Gregor Townsend on having Kinghorn back
Townsend, discussing Kinghorn’s return, said: “He had a good week with Toulouse and we’re obviously delighted that he is fully fit. It wasn’t a long injury and he is ready to go, a key player for us over the past couple of seasons.”
Addressing the mood in the camp after the defeat to France, Townsend added: “It’s really good, lots of positive energy around us playing at home taking on our biggest rival. And also knowing we should have won against France, not just in terms of the decision at the end which we were frustrated with, but with the pressure we created we should have put France away. We have to make sure we are better for that experience.
“The energy we get in any game at home is tremendous, but for this one it is something special. We won’t need to build up the emotional side too much, it is about staying together, calm, delivering what we know these players are capable of and riding on the wave of energy the supporters are going to bring.”
03:11 PM GMT
Ollie Lawrence back in the England team
03:01 PM GMT
Why Furbank has earned a first England start since 2022
George Furbank has had one of the more interesting England careers in recent memory. His form for Northampton this season has been excellent, thriving in the side’s rise to the top of the table.
He hasn’t been capped since being thrust back into the side for the end of the 2022 Six Nations, when England shifted Freddie Steward to the wing and came up short trying to deny France a Grand Slam. His last appearance before that? At fly-half against Tonga.
Notable changes this season? His leadership, having captained Northampton on a regular basis. He is also one of the Northampton players to have seemingly benefited from adding a bit of extra muscle.
His form deserved a recall and now, he is arguably England’s most intriguing selection at Murrayfield.
03:00 PM GMT
England team announced: Furbank preferred to Steward as Borthwick makes five changes
England XV: G Furbank; T Freeman, H Slade, O Lawrence; G Ford, D Care; E Genge, J George, D Cole, M Itoje, O Chessum, E Roots, S Underhill, B Earl
Replacements: T Dan, J Marler, W Stuart, G Martin, C Cunningham-South, B Spencer, F Smith, Feyi-Waboso
Here are Borthwick’s thoughts now he has picked his team:
We’re pleased with the start we’ve made to our Guinness Six Nations campaign but know that a difficult test awaits us in Edinburgh against an in-form Scotland team.
The atmosphere is always special for any Calcutta Cup match and I’m sure this weekend’s game at Murrayfield will be no different.
This group of players are looking forward to the challenge on Saturday and to creating some very special memories.
02:54 PM GMT
Kyle Steyn on his first Calcutta Cup
We definitely take confidence from that, and a bit of momentum, but coming off the back of the World Cup, they’ve just made the semi-finals and they seem to be finding their gears under the new management.
They are a really good side with a lot of threats, so it’s a great challenge for us. It’s an amazing game to play.
I’ve never played (for the) Calcutta Cup at home so I can’t wait for that. As far as the Six Nations goes and being a Scottish rugby player, there’s no bigger occasion than the Calcutta Cup at home.
We’re really excited by the opportunity, especially in a year where we’ve only got two home games.
We had the force of Murrayfield behind us for the France game and the boys are really looking forward to feeling that support again on the weekend.
02:47 PM GMT
Mike Tindall interview
The issue of red cards, head contact and the bunker system are never far away from the top of the agenda, and England’s Rugby World Cup-winning centre Mike Tindall believes cards are now dished out too liberally. He believes the physical contest is part of rugby’s appeal and should be preserved. You can read his thoughts in full here.
That’s going to be hard knocks, that is what it is. That’s why we play Test matches, it’s a test of your body, your mind, your soul and that’s what people love to see. I think we have got to embrace what we are.
02:40 PM GMT
Danny Care's secret
A few days out from a 99th England cap, less than two months after his 37th birthday, it turns out burgers and cakes have been key to Danny Care’s longevity. “I’ve not been massively into nutrition,” Care says, which may be an understatement. Read the full story of England’s evergreen scrum-half here.
02:32 PM GMT
How can England beat Scotland?
Writing in his Telegraph Sport column, Brian Moore says he would go with an experienced front row of Joe Marler, Jamie George and Dan Cole to get on top of Scotland at the set-piece. We will find out in half hour or so whether his advice has been heeded.
Murrayfield is not a large ground. One side of the pitch is much further away from the touchline then the other and sometimes it can feel barren. When Scotland get on top, it is the most transformative of stadiums and England must, as an absolute minimum, not start badly.
02:26 PM GMT
Ireland team news: Key trio return to face Wales
Ireland will be without full-back Hugo Keenan against Wales but welcome back Tadgh Furlong, Peter O’Mahony and Bundee Aki to the side on Saturday.
Keenan has been struggling with a knee injury and is replaced at full-back by Ciaran Frawley, who makes a first start for his country after coming off the bench against France.
Furlong, O’Mahony and Aki all missed the win over Italy two weeks ago but now return as part of a strong XV, with Ireland looking to continue their unbeaten start to the Six Nations.
Among a six-two split on the bench is uncapped prop Oli Jager, who spent six seasons playing for the Crusaders in New Zealand before returning to Ireland to join Munster last year. Conor Murray and Stuart McCloskey are the two backs as cover on the bench.
Wales have not won in Dublin since the 2015 Rugby World Cup warm-up matches, and their last victory away to Ireland in the Six Nations came in 2012.
02:25 PM GMT
Battle of the anthems
Ben Coles has decided to tread on dangerous ground by putting forward Flower of Scotland as the best pre-match Six Nations anthem. Does he have a point or should he face charges for treason?
02:20 PM GMT
Jason Robinson interview
In an interview with Telegraph Sport, England’s 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Jason Robinson discusses how he shunned the chance to play for Scotland. Robinson was eligible for Scotland through his mother Dorothy, but said they were simply not enough of a competitive force. You can read his interview in full here.
Had there been a stronger Scotland team at the time, though, it certainly would have been a consideration to play for them. As it happened, that wasn’t the case back in the day, so it was an easy decision to play for England.
02:03 PM GMT
Blair Kinghorn returns for Scotland
Scotland have been boosted by the return of full-back Blair Kinghorn ahead of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash against England, however they continue to be without wing Darcy Graham.
Kinghorn, who now plays for Toulouse, missed the first two rounds of the Six Nations with a knee issue but now comes straight back into the side at full-back at the expense of Harry Paterson, who impressed making his Test debut in the defeat against France.
Graham had originally been pencilled in to return against England but is continuing his recovery from a quad injury, meaning that Kyle Steyn - a late withdrawal before the game against France after his wife went into labour - continues on the right wing. Kyle Rowe, who impressed at full-back against Wales and on the wing against France, misses out entirely.
Scotland’s third and final change to their starting side comes in the back row, with Jamie Ritchie returning to the side and replacing Matt Fagerson.
The rest of the 23 remains unchanged as Scotland look to continue their impressive recent record against England, winning four of the last six and also drawing at Twickenham.
Scotland XV: B Kinghorn; K Steyn, H Jones, S Tuipulotu, D Van der Merwe; F Russell, B White; P Schoeman, G Turner, Z Fagerson, G Gilchrist, S Cummings, J Ritchie, R Darge, J Dempsey
Replacements: E Ashman, A Hepburn, E Millar-Mills, S Skinner, A Christie, G Horne, B Healy, C Redpath
02:02 PM GMT
England to name team for Murrayfield acid test
England’s Calcutta Cup match against Scotland at Murrayfield next Saturday promises to be an acid test of their bolder, more enterprising style and this afternoon we will discover their starting XV.
As reported by Telegraph Sport, England are expected to restore Ollie Lawrence to their midfield with the centre back fit again following injury. Danny Care is also expected to wear the No 9 jersey in the absence of Alex Mitchell, who has suffered a strain to his anterior cruciate ligament. Manu Tuilagi is also available, with Brian Moore urging Steve Borthwick to pick the Sale Sharks centre in his Telegraph Sport column. Loose forward George Martin is also expected to return to the matchday squad after recovering from a knee injury.
Scotland are favourites with the bookmakers and recent history is also not on England’s side. England have lost their last three matches against Scotland and have won just one of the last six Calcutta Cups.
“There’s a resilience in us, for sure,” said Ben Earl, who is set to continue in the back row.
“There is a good group of experienced players in this team now - Jamie (George), George Ford, Joe Marler, Dan Cole, Ellis Genge. Those guys are all different characters, but they’ve seen all the curve balls in the past.
“And then you’ve also got a group of lads who might not have played a load of Test rugby but who have played a lot of club rugby in some great games and in some great stadiums.
“So I’d say the group, in terms of expectation, is probably as prepared as any to deal with anything that’s thrown at us. You have to love it. If you don’t love it, then you’re playing the wrong sport at the wrong level. I absolutely love it.
“We’ve certainly spoken about the kind of Scotland are, what a good team they are, how good they are at home. It’s a tough place to play and we’ve definitely touched upon the trend of results over the last three or four years.”
The team will be announced at 3pm.
