Scotland centre Huw Jones says facing England in the Calcutta Cup this Saturday is exactly what his wounded team needs after the gut-wrenching 18-15 defeat to Italy in Rome.
The loss in torrential rain last weekend left Gregor Townsend’s side stunned and under fierce pressure before they have even played at home. Yet Jones insists the oldest rivalry in rugby could be the ideal way to unleash all the frustration that built up in the Italian capital.
“You don’t need extra motivation for England, especially after a defeat when everyone is hurting,” the 32-year-old British and Irish Lions midfielder told reporters on Tuesday.
Rain, Errors and a Historic Italian Win
Scotland arrived in Rome as clear favourites. They had beaten Italy in their last 11 meetings stretching back to 2015.
But relentless rain turned the Stadio Olimpico pitch into a quagmire. Handling errors piled up. Kicks went astray. The Scottish attack never found rhythm.
Italy, coached by Gonzalo Quesada and led superbly by Paolo Garbisi, kept their composure and landed the decisive late penalty through the fly-half to seal only their second ever Six Nations away victory.
The result sent shockwaves through Scottish rugby and immediately turned the spotlight on Townsend, who is already fighting to keep his job after a mixed 2024.
Why England Feels Like the Perfect Opponent
Jones was blunt about the mood in camp.
“We didn’t really get to play rugby last weekend,” he said. “We have all this pent-up energy and frustration. England coming to Murrayfield is the perfect game to let it out.”
Scotland have turned Murrayfield into a fortress against England in recent years. They have won three of the last four Calcutta Cup matches at home, including thrilling back-to-back victories in 2021 and 2023.
Even last year’s 30-21 defeat at Twickenham showed they can live with Steve Borthwick’s side when the pack dominates and the backs click.
Jones believes Saturday can be another famous Scottish day.
“England are a brilliant team right now, no question,” he admitted. “They hammered Wales 48-7 and are on a 12-match winning run. But we know what we can do at Murrayfield. The crowd will be electric. We owe them a performance.”
Recent Calcutta Cup Results at Murrayfield
| Year | Result | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Scotland win | 29-23 |
| 2021 | Scotland win | 11-6 |
| 2019 | Scotland win | 38-38 draw (Scotland retain cup) |
| 2017 | England win | 61-21 |
Scotland have not lost back-to-back home games to England since 2004.
England’s Momentum Meets Scottish Desperation
Steve Borthwick’s England look transformed from the side that limped to third place last year.
New attack coach Felix Jones has brought clear patterns and width. Marcus Smith and Fin Smith are sharing fly-half duties with confidence. The pack, led by Maro Itoje and Jamie George, is brutal.
Their 48-7 demolition of Wales in round one was the biggest Calcutta Cup warm-up win in history.
Yet history shows England often struggle in Edinburgh when Scotland bring intensity and accuracy. The wet-weather woes of Rome could actually help Townsend’s men prepare for another potentially grim February afternoon in the Scottish capital.
Townsend’s Selection Gambles and Team News
The Scotland coach has already made bold calls. Darcy Graham returns on the wing after injury. Jamie Ritchie is back in the back row. Matt Fagerson starts at No.8 ahead of Jack Dempsey.
Finn Russell and Huw Jones reunite in midfield, the same partnership that tore England apart in the 2023 World Cup warm-up win.
Townsend said: “We know what this fixture means to the country. Last week hurt, but it has sharpened our focus. The players are desperate to put it right in front of our own fans.”
Kick-off at Murrayfield is 4.45pm on Saturday. More than 67,000 tickets have been sold. The atmosphere will be ferocious.
For Scotland, this is no ordinary week two match. It is a chance to save their championship before it has really started. It is pride. It is history. It is the Calcutta Cup.
And according to Huw Jones, it is exactly the fire his team needs.
What do you think? Can Scotland channel the pain of Rome into a famous upset, or will England’s momentum prove too strong? Drop your score predictions and thoughts below, and use #CalcuttaCup on X if you’re joining the conversation this weekend.
