Before England’s narrow win over France, I had pointed out how important it would be for the team to maintain consistency in their selection.
After that hard-fought victory, it would have been illogical for Steve Borthwick to drastically alter his lineup for the Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland.
Thankfully, he hasn’t done so, and that’s a decision I’m pleased with.
The Power of Continuity in International Rugby
While it may seem like an obvious move, international coaching thrives on stability.
The England team for the upcoming match against Scotland reflects just that.
The only change in the starting XV is Ollie Chessum being promoted to start, with George Martin moving to the bench.
This is primarily due to Martin not being fully fit, and rightly so.
The core of England’s squad remains unchanged, and the team that triumphed over France deserves the chance to compete again in another significant Test match.
And make no mistake, the Scotland game will be another tough challenge.
Scotland’s Recent Success Against England and What It Means for Borthwick
The Calcutta Cup is always a monumental fixture due to the fierce rivalry between the two nations.
Scotland’s recent record in this fixture has been impressive, having won the last four encounters.
From an English perspective, that is disappointing, but I genuinely can’t see England losing this time around.
Borthwick and his team were lucky to come away with the win against France.
It was a game they could have easily lost, but sometimes in international rugby, you create your own luck.
England got theirs, and that confidence boost will carry them into this match.
Scotland’s Underwhelming Performance Against Ireland
Scotland may have had the upper hand in recent meetings, but their performance against Ireland left much to be desired. I was genuinely surprised by how poor they were.
Yes, injuries to key players like Finn Russell and Darcy Graham played a part, but even before their departures, Scotland didn’t look like they were in the game at all.
England’s pack should have no trouble overpowering the Scottish forwards, especially with Chessum coming in to prove himself.
The England substitutes, led by Jamie George, made a noticeable impact against France, which only reinforces the decision to keep the same starting lineup.
England’s Consistency in Selection Pays Off
It was the right call for Borthwick to maintain the selection of Fin Smith and Marcus Smith in their respective positions at No 10 and No 15 after their strong performance against France.
There’s little doubt about their abilities, and sticking with them for the Scotland game was an easy decision.
George Furbank’s Return and the Big Decision Ahead
One player to watch is George Furbank, who is recovering from injury.
If he is available for selection, Borthwick may have to make a tough decision about the full-back spot.
Furbank is the best option available in that position, so it will be intriguing to see how the team takes shape in the final two games against Italy and Wales.
A potential shift at fly-half between the Smith brothers could be the next big call for Borthwick.
Scotland Faces Tough Choices on Russell and Graham’s Availability
The situation for Scotland is a little more complicated, particularly regarding the availability of Russell and Graham, both of whom suffered head knocks against Ireland.
From a player welfare perspective, I was impressed by Scotland’s decision to keep Russell off the field, despite him passing his head injury assessment.
This precautionary approach is commendable, and it would send a stronger message if Russell were to sit out the England game for his well-being.
A Step Forward in Brain Injury Awareness in Rugby
Recently, I attended an enlightening event focused on concussion and head injuries, aptly named Ahead of the Game.
The discussions made me realize that rugby still has a long way to go in terms of effective head injury management.
One key takeaway was the suggestion to stop referring to these injuries as concussions and instead call them “brain impact injuries.”
This term better reflects the reality of the situation.
For Scotland, this weekend offers a chance to make an important statement in the fight for better brain injury management in rugby.
While the Calcutta Cup is significant, it should never outweigh the importance of protecting players’ brains and overall well-being.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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