Eddie Jones’ side enter the lion’s den – Scotland v England talking points

Scotland and England clash in the Guinness Six Nations at Murrayfield on Saturday with a lively build-up lighting the fuse for the latest instalment of the Calcutta Cup.

Here the PA news agency examines five talking points leading into the match.

Eddie Jones was returning to his occasional role as match promoter when he installed Scotland as “red hot favourites” for the 140th meeting between the old foes in contravention to the view of bookmakers, who have England narrowly in front. It is a well trodden path for the England head coach after similarly talking up Scottish expectations in 2016 and 2021 and the mind games were given short shrift by opposite number Gregor Townsend.

But despite the well rehearsed backs-to-the-wall routine, this Calcutta Cup clash is genuinely fraught with danger for England. Aside from the terrible weather conditions forecast, Scotland are in the midst of a revival as their wins at Twickenham and the Stade de France last year attest. Meanwhile, Jones’ men head north with seven starters possessing 10 caps or less and scrum-half Ben Youngs supplying a quarter of their caps total. It is a journey into the lion’s den made all the harder by the hostile Murrayfield crowd and having triumphed only once in their last four meetings, England know their foes must not be underestimated.

At the heart of the contest will be the duel between two supremely gifted playmakers. United by their feel for the game but separated by a chasm in experience, Finn Russell and Marcus Smith will direct operations at Murrayfield in the hope that the conditions will not entirely blunt their attacking instincts. Russell is the most dangerous fly-half on the international stage, able to dip into a large box of tricks, while