Scotland v England: Six Nations 2024 – live

Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 1: Chris Busby (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Eoghan Cross (IRFU)
TMO: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Jamie George is at the head of the England line in the tunnel, in this incredibly emotional week with him having lost his mum on Wednesday.

His team and Scotland players file out past the Calcutta Cup and into the floodlit evening.

Have a read while you wait for the match

Scotland fans, am I wrong and are you actually very confident? And do you England lot have a good feeling about this new team selection? Answer these questions or any others via email or on the X

Gregor Townsend has restored Blair Kinghorn to fullback and Kyle Steyn to the wing. There’s also a return for Jamie Ritchie in the backrow at the expense of Matt Fagerson, which suggests the Scottish coach wants a bit more ability over the ball at the ruck over carrying heft.

For England, George Furbank is a surprising selection ahead of Freddie Steward at 15. The Leicester man was man of the match v Wales, but Borthwick clearly wants a bit more mobility and handling from his fullback this week, and so have given the Northampton player the nod. Ollie Lawrence returns from injury to continue his promising international form of 2023 at inside centre, while Alex Mitchell’s injury brings Danny Care in as starting scrum-half.

SCOTLAND Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell (co-capt), Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge (co-capt), Jack Dempsey.

Replacements 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Andy Christie, 21 George Horne, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Cameron Redpath.

ENGLAND George Furbank; Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Danny Care; Ellis Genge, Jamie George (capt), Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Ethan Roots, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.

Replacements 16 Theo Dan, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 George Martin, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Ben Spencer, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

The world is full of uncertainty and worry., each day presenting further quandaries. Will my energy bill ever stop resembling the GDP of Luxembourg? Why is bubble tea so popular? What exactly is a Love Island All Star? Is Danny Care lying about his age?

In this tumultuous time one thing that should be an absolute banker is that Scotland will beat England. Four wins on the bounce for Gregor Townsend’s side coming in, alloyed to the strength of the squad and England’s huffing and puffing so far this tournament should have Scotland fans relaxed and ready to enjoy their early evening entertainment.

Except that’s not how those fans, or the team they support roll. Scotland should be sitting pretty in second after two comfortable wins, instead they are behind today’s opponents in the table having scraped one and thrown one away. It’s this incomprehensible lack of ability to deliver when expected that will have fans jittery as they wander down Haymarket Terrace.

England arrive with less expectation, with much correct talk of the home side being favourites this may breed a lack of constraint that allows the much-vaunted but as yet unseen freer Borthwick gameplan to emerge into the early spring gloaming.

This should be a cracker. Scotland want to make the point they are presently Europe’s second best team on form; while England will be determined to stop the rot of losses vs the Auld Enemy.

Kick-off: 4.45pm GMT.