Scotland vs England: Player-vs-Player Preview Ratings
It may have been a rather one-sided match-up in recent years, but there is still something very special about the Calcutta Cup, especially one played at Murrayfield.
For Scotland, it is their greatest rivals coming to town and a game which, if won, can uplift even the direst of campaigns, whilst for England, it has become a stern test of the sizeable expectations which get heaped upon the side and nothing less than a win, preferably a convincing one, will do.
Both sides have now been named for Saturday’s clash in Edinburgh and we have run the rule over both XVs to see which team comes out on top heading into the contest.
- Stuart Hogg 8.5 vs Mike Brown 7.5
A quick look at the weather forecast shows a dry, sunny day in Edinburgh on Saturday, otherwise these ratings could be reversed. The semi-regular defensive lapses are all that prevents Hogg from taking a spot alongside Ben Smith as the world’s best full-back, but his attacking game is peerless in the northern hemisphere. Brown is more reliable but can’t create space and attacking opportunities out wide like Hogg can.
- Tommy Seymour 7.5 vs Anthony Watson 8
There is a similarity to Hogg vs Brown here, in that Watson arguably edges Seymour defensively, especially with his cover defence, but the difference is that he offers just as much with ball-in-hand as the Scotsman. Watson also has his ability as a counter-attacker to throw into the mix.
- Huw Jones 8 vs Jonathan Joseph 8
This is an even contest, with Joseph perhaps shading the match-up in terms of his defence, whilst Jones can influence the game in attack more proficiently whilst his side are on the back-foot. Both players will be reliant on what their teammates do around them, but both can land a knockout punch if given the opportunity.
- Pete Horne 6.5 vs Owen Farrell 8.5
Scotland will miss Alex Dunbar’s defensive ability here, despite his horror show at Twickenham last year. Horne is a good rugby player and shouldn’t be underestimated, but Farrell is an exceptional one. This is one of the few match-ups in this game where there is a clear disparity between the two teams.
- Sean Maitland 8 vs Jonny May 7.5
Maitland was no slouch in defence before his move to Saracens, but it has certainly improved his positioning and work rate when he doesn’t have the ball in his hands. This is just enough to give Maitland the edge here, with May still prone to the odd error here and there.
- Finn Russell 7.5 vs George Ford 8
Russell has been the target of some flak over the last couple of weeks, following two less than measured performances in the opening two rounds of the Six Nations. Ford, on the other hand, played his hand well against Wales and showed the control he was often critiqued for not having earlier in his career. Both players have the capability to be game-winners, but Ford’s form shades this one for him.
- Greig Laidlaw 7.5 vs Danny Care 7
Two very contrasting scrum-halves, coming off of very contrasting performances. Promoted to starter in the absence of Ben Youngs against Wales, Care wasn’t quite able to inject the same tempo into the game from the start that he usually does from the bench, whilst the more controlled Laidlaw provided the impetus to get Scotland over the line against France. Care will need to manage the game better this week if England are to return from Murrayfield triumphant.
- Gordon Reid 7 vs Mako Vunipola 8.5
The worrying factor for Reid here could be, just how much did Vunipola learn from the two days spent scrummaging against the Georgian pack last week? Obviously these two don’t go directly head-to-head in the scrum, but if there was one edge that Reid might have been able to claim, it would be in his scrummaging. Vunipola comes in off the back of two very impressive performances.
- Stuart McInally 7 vs Dylan Hartley 7.5
McInally has been throwing well at the lineout but Hartley has a 100% record with his throwing over the first two games and there has been a clear and effective chemistry with England’s three top jumpers. Neither player is the most rambunctious in the loose, but they do their job well.
- Simon Berghan 6.5 vs Dan Cole 7.5
Scotland are really taking a hammering in these front-row ratings and it shows just how much they have been hamstrung by injuries at the position. Berghan is relatively inexperienced at this level, whilst his opposite number has 79 caps and two Lions tours worth of experience to call upon.
- Grant Gilchrist 7.5 vs Joe Launchbury 8
Launchbury has stepped up as a carrier for England over their opening two games, providing plenty of go forward around the fringes and usually emptying the tank at about the 60-minute mark. Gilchrist will keep Scotland functioning at the set-piece, but in terms of overall impact on the game, he could fall just short of Launchbury.
- Jonny Gray 8 vs Maro Itoje 8.5
The two young second row talismans are fairly evenly matched, with the Englishman just edging the contest with his defensive lineout work and line speed, both in the defensive line and as a chaser. Gray is no fool in these areas, either, so don’t expect a clear advantage for Itoje, just a minor one. This could be one of the most interesting contests to watch at Murrayfield.
- John Barclay 8 vs Courtney Lawes 7.5
Two very contrasting flankers, with Barclay an added threat at the breakdown, whilst Lawes brings the power of the second-row to the loose trio. Barclay will hope to exploit England’s ill-discipline around the contact area and could well prove to be a hard-to-remove thorn in the visitors’ sides on Saturday. Lawes has been a solid, hard-working, nuts and bolts type so far this tournament, without bringing his usual “highlight plays” to the mix.
- Hamish Watson 7.5 vs Chris Robshaw 7.5
Both these flankers’ contributions to their sides go relatively underappreciated, with the clearing, tackling and pick and goes that don’t wow on the stats sheet or in the highlights, but are vital to a team staying on the front foot. Robshaw will likely win the work rate and leadership battles, whilst Watson is the more dynamic player, making this an even contest.
- Ryan Wilson 7.5 vs Nathan Hughes 7.5
We’re going conservative with Hughes here, who is playing in his first Test since returning from injury, so a level of rust and lack of conditioning is to be expected. If he hits the ground running, however, this match-up could look significantly different. Wilson is a fine player, but he doesn’t have the same line-breaking ability that Hughes has, nor is he able to keep phases alive and defences on the back foot as successfully as his opponent.
Totals
Scotland – 112.5
England – 117
Comments on RugbyPass
This sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
12 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
12 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
12 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
12 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
12 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
12 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to comments