Scotland v England: Visitors to convince in Calcutta Cup win

England performed well in defeat to France last time out and will put that loss to rest with an emphatic win over Scotland at Murrayfield.

The hosts will take heart from their recent home performances against the Auld Enemy, having lost just one of the last four Calcutta Cup clashes to have taken place north of the border.

However, this record and the Scots’ well documented ability to get up or this tie should sway only the most wistful of gamblers with a closer inspection of the stats pointing to a heavy defeat for the hosts.

Scott Johnson’s men may have won two and drawn one of the last four clashes in their own back yard but having failed to score a try in 320 minutes of rugby during those meetings a win – priced at 4/1 here – looks extremely unlikely.

Scotland have won just three of the last 25 Calcutta Cup meetings overall and just two of their last 11 Six Nations fixtures.

England – 1/4 favourites for the win – will be under a degree pressure, having lost their opener, but the manner of the defeat left Stuart Lancaster with plenty of positives to draw from.

England trailed 16-3 after conceding a try in the first minute but battled back valiantly to lose by just two points in a 26-24 reverse.

The visitors have not lost their opening two Six Nations ties since 1988 and with the win looking assured and Ladbrokes offering best prices on all first tryscorers attention should be turned to a trio of England stars.

With Scotland having not crossed the line in three games it is the England players who should be backed to break the deadlock at Murrayfield and Jonny May, Jack Nowell and Mike Brown are heading the betting.

Gloucester’s May – priced at 9/1 to score the first try – has bagged 10 points in six domestic outings this term and is favourite for the match, while Exeter’s energetic 20-year-old Nowell is available at 12/1.

Harlequins back Brown though, crossed over first for England last time out and with 15 points from his six Aviva Premiership appearances this term is seen as the value bet here also at 12/1.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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