England clash with Scotland in Round 3 of the Six Nations at Twickenham on Saturday and after turning the French over last time out England start as the bookmakers favourites.
England v Scotland, Saturday 22nd February, Twickenham, KO 18:45 (South African time)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
Weather Forecast – Twickenham
England
Despite starting as 6.5 point underdogs on bookmakers main handicap line England put themselves in the winners box in Round 2 when they edged out France 26-25 at Twickenham. They scored 4 tries in total including 2 in the last 10 minutes through Baxter and finally Daly either side of a Les Bleus try. Both of England's late scores were converted by Finn Smith to scrape a win with a bonus point.
England were also around 6.5 point underdogs for their opening round clash against Ireland in Dublin, a game they lost 27-22. A strong first half showing saw them lead 10-5 at half time and threaten a surprise but Ireland scored 3 tries from the 52nd to 72nd minute to go 27-10 up and a couple of late England tries secured a losing bonus point.
England finished Round 2 in third spot with 6 log points, behind France on points difference and 4 shy of Ireland. In the outright betting markets with WSB England are currently 11/2 to win the title.
Fixtures & Results: R1 Ireland (a) lost 27-22, R2 France (h) won 26-25, R3 Scotland (h), R4 Italy (h), R5 Wales (a)
Scotland
Scotland were given around 6.5 points start on the main handicap line for their clash with Ireland at Murrayfield in Round 2 but it was never enough as they went down 32-18. They scored 2 tries through van der Merwe (41) and late on by White but after conceding the first 17 points of the game and losing Darcy Graham and Finn Russell through a head clash in the first half there was to be no way back.
Scotland opened their tournament at home to Italy in Round 1 and they eventually came out on top 31-19, short of the bookmakers main handicap line of around 17.5 points.
The Scots are in fourth place with 5 log points and in the outright betting markets with WSB they are currently 66/1 to win the title
Fixtures & Results: R1 Italy (h) won 31-19, R2 Ireland (h) lost 32-18, R3 England (a), R4 Wales (h), R5 France (a)
Team News
England: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Henry Slade, 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Ben Earl, 6 Tom Curry, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 3 Will Stuart, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ellis Genge.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 George Martin, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Ben Curry, 22 Harry Randall, 23 Elliot Daly
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Tom Jordan, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (co-captain), 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge (co-captain), 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Matt Fagerson, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Stafford McDowall
Head to Head (6 Nations Only)
2024 6N Edinburgh Scotland 30–21 England
2023 6N Twickenham England 23-29 Scotland
2022 6N Edinburgh Scotland 20-17 England
2021 6N Twickenham England 6-11 Scotland
2020 6N Edinburgh Scotland 6-13 England
2019 6N Twickenham England 38-38 Scotland
2018 6N Edinburgh Scotland 25-13 England
2017 6N Twickenham England 61-21 Scotland
The Betting
Updated 21 Feb 16h53
England -8.5 points at 9/10
Scotland +8.5 points at 9/10
Note, odds quoted are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
Posted 21 Feb 16h58
This handicap has been stable all week.
The points line has edged up from 46.5 to 47.5 in most places and I have been eyeing out an overs play here.
I don't want to risk the market edging out further and will back it now.
Conditions should be good and I expect attacking and positive rugby from both teams.
BET: 5 units over 47.5 at 9/10 at Pokerbet
Note, odds are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
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