[2025 Six Nations] England vs Scotland - 22/02/25

[Leonormous Boozer]

The referee for this weekend is Pierre Brousset, a bit of an unknown quantity. He's only reffed 4 tier 1 games, incl one six nations (Ire v Ita 2024)

Full lineup:

Referee: Pierre Brousset (FFR)
Assistant Referee 1: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
Assistant Referee 2: Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Tual Trainini (FFR)
FPRO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)

Jesus, he had two of the worst performances I've ever seen in the champions cup.

Leinster v Bristol and Munster v Sarries.

Better in the second though so maybe he's improving. It's also so bad I don't think favouritism could be argued.

My earlier prediction looking even stronger however.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

A win against Fra, a good half v Ire, playing at home, Sco only showing moderate form and without Tuipolotu, Cummings and possibly Russell and or Graham too.

If talk of an Eng resurgence is to have any credibility this is a must win.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

This is a must win game, they need to get this monkey off their back and play as well as we know we can do.

Chessum might come back in at 6 but at the same time having him finish the game works really well with his experience.

 

[Saintjay]

Questions will still be asked if it's another campaign of 2/5 or 3/5 that's assuming we'd win the last two.

Stat of the day from the beeb.
Dvm highest try scorer against England during Six nations era with 6. Next up Hugh Jones with 5.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

This is a must win game, they need to get this monkey off their back and play as well as we know we can do.

Chessum might come back in at 6 but at the same time having him finish the game works really well with his experience.

Chessum's a really important player for us. S'pose it's a bit dependent on whether he's fit enough now to go a full 80, but I'd rather have him on the pitch for 60 than 20. If that means Earl or, less likely, Martin to the bench so be it.

Itoje, Martin, Chessum, Curry and Willis feels like it's got a bit of everything. Earl to bring experience and zip from the bench and CCS a bit of brute power. If you want 6:2 then B Curry too. Slight risk in playing your 3 lock options from the start, but couldn't CCS pack down there in an emergency?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Think you definitely need a lock on the bench, don't think you can run Martin for 80mins at full efficiency, and then shifting Chessum (with not that much game time since injury) from 6 to tighthead lock after an hour isn't going to see our scrum home either

If Coles is in the mix, though, then that makes sense

My guess is a 6:2 with:

Itoje, Martin,
Chessum, T.Curry, Earl

Coles, Willis, B.Curry

 

[spartan32]

Overall England have the better team for this one. Add in the home advantage and steadily improving performances, and the high from the win against France, all things are coming up England. And frankly this is another must win for us. There will be no excuse not to take this one home, unless we get an unfortunate red card, or early injuries in key positions.

Of course Scotland will always save their best for the English. We should be honoured really. I always get the sense that they would rather lose the 6nations as long as they get to beat us.

The Scot's performances have looked frantic and unstructured to me. They seem desperate for broken play and counters, but when it closes in on them they seem to run out of road. If Russell is missing then they really will have problems because so much seems to rely on his deft touches to make something from nothing. All that being said their back 3 always look dangerous and England aren't just going to walk this.

 

[Reiser99]

Jesus, he had two of the worst performances I've ever seen in the champions cup.

Leinster v Bristol and Munster v Sarries.

Better in the second though so maybe he's improving. It's also so bad I don't think favouritism could be argued.

My earlier prediction looking even stronger however.

It's fine. He's got the experienced Andrew Brace on the side. He's never had a crap performance ever.

 

[AlRums]

Questions will still be asked if it's another campaign of 2/5 or 3/5 that's assuming we'd win the last two.

Stat of the day from the beeb.
Dvm highest try scorer against England during Six nations era with 6. Next up Hugh Jones with 5.

Duhans record:

2021 1 try
2022 had a rest, let LCD do the work.
2023 2 tries
2024 3 tries
2025 maybe he'll go for 4

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Think you definitely need a lock on the bench, don't think you can run Martin for 80mins at full efficiency, and then shifting Chessum (with not that much game time since injury) from 6 to tighthead lock after an hour isn't going to see our scrum home either

If Coles is in the mix, though, then that makes sense

My guess is a 6:2 with:

Itoje, Martin,
Chessum, T.Curry, Earl

Coles, Willis, B.Curry

Suspect you're right, although I'd be disappointed if Willis didn't keep the starting 8 shirt. He deserves to and in many respects Earl is the ideal bench player.

 

[Geordie]

Id keep it the same...the only change would possibly be Chessum to the row for Martin.

I havent seen Martins stats from France but he doesnt look like hes firing. But that might be doing him a disservice if the spreadsheets show very differently....

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Martin made 2nd most tackles in the side, made one more carry than Itoje and took the same amount of lineouts

 

[Jimbo]

Martin made 2nd most tackles in the side, made one more carry than Itoje and took the same amount of lineouts

Sage insights?

 

[Geordie]

Martin made 2nd most tackles in the side, made one more carry than Itoje and took the same amount of lineouts

Ok so we drop Itoje...

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

It's time to make your mark Steve.

 

[Geordie]

Wasnt that Austin Healy....

 

[Scotty]

View attachment 22875

It's time to make your mark Steve.

Maybe France should try Dupont at 15 then he would be the ultimate utility back at 9 10 15

Maybe put Freddie Steward at 12 then he is the ultimate utility back at 12 11 14 15.

Maybe put Ben Earl on the wing to be a real utility player as he already covers the full back row and covered 12 once.

I bet article is just well he can play fly half well and FB well so maybe he can play scrum half well and learn a 3rd full specialist position at international, Smith can do anything!!!! Add this to calls to try Smith at 12 and 13...its mad.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Martin made 2nd most tackles in the side, made one more carry than Itoje and took the same amount of lineouts

What were the line out stats?

Looks like we had something like 13 throws? The only one I can genuinely remember going to him was the one that went straight through his hands.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Looks like the only starting change for England might be Chessum starting. Not sure if any changes on the bench but possibly not.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What were the line out stats?

Looks like we had something like 13 throws? The only one I can genuinely remember going to him was the one that went straight through his hands.

Numbers seem low, but also are in line with France's numbers - presumably cause turned over lineouts aren't counted as won