England vs Scotland, Six Nations 2023: kick off time, TV channel, team news, line-ups, venue, odds today

The former captain had very little time to shape his new vision for the future after taking over from Eddie Jones, who was sacked by the RFU after seven years in charge in December after 2022 saw the worst results in England since 2008.

But with a World Cup looming in France in September, time is running out as former Leicester supremo Borthwick aims to quickly get England back on track and claim the title after two straight years of disappointing Six Nations that totaled six losses.

With trips to Cardiff and Dublin planned and reigning Grand Slam champions France due to visit the headquarters, a win against the old foe would be a great way to launch the new regime.

This could be Gregor Townsend’s last Six Nations campaign as Scotland head coach and, with maverick playmaker Finn Russell in the fold, he will be aiming for a hat-trick of Calcutta Cup triumphs after having made very daring selection calls.

England vs Scotland kick off date, time and venue

England v Scotland is the second game on the program for the first Saturday of the Six Nations (February 4) in 2023, after Wales played Ireland in Cardiff.

The game is due to start at 4.45pm GMT, at Twickenham Stadium in south-west London.

How to watch England vs Scotland

TV channel: In the UK, England v Scotland is broadcast live and free on ITV1, with coverage starting at 4pm.

Direct: Fans can also follow all the action live online via the ITVX app or the ITV website.

Live: You can follow the Calcutta Cup live with Standard Sport’s dedicated blog, with expert analysis from rugby correspondent Nick Purewal at Twickenham.

England vs Scotland Team News

Borthwick’s first England outfit see a start to rob London Irish wing Ollie Hassell-Collins against Saracens’ Max Malins, while a glut of midfield injuries means Marcus Smith-Owen Farrell center opening and inside the center is at least temporarily restored.

But it’s Joe Marchant who gets the nod outside of them at 13, with Manu Tuilagi omitted from the squad entirely despite being fit and healthy for the first time in his career.

Jack van Poortvliet will pick up the pace from scrum-half, while up front Jamie George is fit to start after going through the necessary return-to-play protocols after a concussion.

The imposing Ollie Chessum joins Maro Itoje in second, Borthwick settling on a third-tier trio of Lewis Ludlam, Ben Curry and Alex Dombrandt.

It is only Curry’s second selection after his first 17 months ago, with his twin brother Tom sidelined with a hamstring strain. Vice-captain Courtney Lawes, Elliot Daly, Henry Slade, Dan Kelly, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart and George McGuigan are among the other notable injury absentees, while Jonny Hill and Jack Willis have both been sent back to their clubs , with Bevan Rodd, Joe Heyes, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley and Guy Porter.

For Scotland, there are a number of intriguing selections. Bath superstar Russell will pull the strings at half-butterfly, with former London Irish Under-20 England international Ben White chosen at 9 and Huw Jones lining up in place of Chris Harris ahead of the influential Australian-born Glasgow team-mate Sione Tuipulotu in midfield. Meanwhile, Kyle Steyn replaces injured winger Darcy Graham.

Stuart Hogg is fit after a heel injury, and Duhan van der Merwe is also ready following an ankle problem. Edinburgh’s Luke Crosbie earns only his third cap in the back row, although talismanic flanker Hamish Watson and key prop Zander Fagerson both miss the team led by Jamie Ritchie and Grant Gilchrist.

There’s no Ali Price or Sean Maitland either, with Blair Kinghorn only on the bench. George Horne supports White instead of Price, who is not involved.

Lineups England vs Scotland

XV of England: Steward; Malins, Marchant, Farrell (c), Hassell-Collins; Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Chessum, Ludlam, B Curry, Dombrandt.

Replacements: Walker, M Vunipola, Cole, Isiekwe, Earl, Youngs, Lawrence, Watson.

XV of Scotland: Hogg; Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe; Russell, white; Schoeman, Turner, Nel; Gray R, Gilchrist; Ritchie (c), Crosbie, M Fagerson.

Replacements: Brown, Bhatti, Berghan, J Gray, Dempsey, Horne, Kinghorn, Harris.

England vs Scotland head to head (h2h) history and results

Scotland have not lost at Twickenham since 2017, having not won there for around 38 years, having won 11-6 on their last visit in 2021 and producing that stunning 38-man draw two years before.

A 20-17 win at Murrayfield last February thanks to a late penalty shootout drama gave them back-to-back Calcutta Cup victories for the first time since 1984.

England win: 76

Scotland win: 45

Draws: 19

England vs Scotland Prediction

A relative lack of preparation time and a dearth of injuries mean this is not the XV Borthwick would have ideally wanted to choose, with the Smith-Farrell partnership proving hugely divisive having failed to draw again during a fall dreary.

Questions will also be asked about this rear row combination given the available depth. Hassell-Collins, however, provides real pace, finishing and physicality, while Malins, Van Poortvliet and the excellent Freddie Steward should help England play on pace.

There’s plenty of size and physicality in the pack, which should help the hosts secure plenty of crucial forward ball throughout the game. However, a very intriguing Scottish side also have a good mix of energy, toughness and power, which they say is enough to start the Six Nations with another bang.

England win, by seven points.

England vs Scotland odds

England win: 3/10

Scotland win: 11/4

Draw: 20/1

Odds via Betfair (subject to change).