Lions out in cold, Townsend fights for job: 5 Scotland-England talking points

England and Scotland meet for 144th time when they collide in round two of the Guinness Six Nations at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday.

Here the PA news agency looks at five talking points heading into the international game’s oldest fixture.

England aim to break the Murrayfield spell
England arrive in Edinburgh with form on their side, but history firmly against them. It has been six years since they last stormed Scotland and prior to that turgid 13-6 victory played out in the midst of Storm Ciara, their most recent victory came in 2017.

There is no more hostile venue for England to visit, but on this occasion they are emboldened by a 12-Test winning run and the ambition of setting up a title decider against France on March 14. But for that to happen, they must first turn the page on their Murrayfield misery.

Townsend on the ropes
While England swagger into the Scottish capital, the hosts are in a pickle. Reeling from an 18-15 upset by Italy on the opening weekend, head coach Gregor Townsend is facing calls for his removal as patience wears thin with a reign that began in 2017.

Scotland’s record in the Six Nations and World Cup is disappointing given he has been blessed with a ‘golden generation’ of talent, but his success in the Calcutta Cup is remarkable, having lost just twice in eight instalments. However, lose on Saturday and the fixture that has shored up his regime could end up triggering his downfall.

Lions duo left out in the cold
Duhan van der Merwe may be out of form and a liability under the high ball, but England will still be relieved his name is missing from the team sheet.

No player has done more damage in Scotland’s Calcutta Cup dominance than the Edinburgh try machine, who has crossed seven times in five appearances against the Auld Enemy. Add in the omission of Blair Kinghorn – a Test British and Irish Lion against Australia last summer – and Townsend has made some bold selection calls for a game he describes as the “biggest of the season”.

Seeking perfection
England crushed Wales 48-7 in round one, but by their own admission there were shortcomings to be addressed. Try-scoring opportunities were wasted in the second half and there was a noticeable drop off in intensity during the third quarter, a fault that has been examined closely during the review process.

Head coach Steve Borthwick will also be looking for more punch from a bench that failed to provide the kind of impact seen during the autumn. England’s heavyweight replacements offer a key advantage over Scotland and have the power to turn the tide in a close contest.

Finn Russell v George Ford
Two masters of their craft go head-to-head in an intriguing fly-half duel. Russell is Scotland’s magician, a maverick playmaker who has reined in some of his wilder instincts during a maturing process that has seen him become a more rounded player.

Ford, meanwhile, is operating at the peak of his powers with an all-court game that has been a foundation of England’s winning run.