England fancied to steamroll over Scots

WORLD champions England will march on Murrayfield as arguably the shortest-price favourites in Calcutta Cup history.

England are not so much expected to win, but steamroller Scotland into an unrecognisable pulp.

Never, it would appear, have British rugby’s oldest international rivals been further apart in terms of stature and expectation.

England, World Cup winners and targeting a 24th victory from the last 25 Tests, are 66/1 on favourites to register a fourth successive Calcutta Cup triumph.

It would keep them on course for a back-to-back RBS 6 Nations title and Grand Slam double, with Scotland rated 14/1 outsiders to cause a monumental upset.

“I wouldn’t say that we can cope with everything, but we are a very experienced side now, despite where we play,” said England head coach Clive Woodward.

“We have a saying that we will play anyone, anytime, anywhere. We like playing at Twickenham, and we prefer to play at home. We are looking forward to playing Ireland next month.

“We haven’t played at Twickenham for a long time now in a full international, but we are also looking forward to going up to Scotland. It is always more challenging playing away from home,” Woodward said.

Scotland have not scored a try against England since Duncan Hodge’s Slam-buster at Murrayfield four years ago. And they will pitch up tomorrow on the back of a comprehensive 23-10 defeat in Wales, albeit lifted by flanker Jason White’s recall that should give the Scottish pack a greater physical presence.

For England hooker Steve Thompson it will be a return to the ground where he made a winning Test debut two years ago. “The Scots are always a good competitive pack. They are very mobile, with a great lineout, and they scrummage well. Pound for pound, they are not the heaviest pack, but they are always in there digging in.

“Scotland are playing at Murrayfield, and they are a totally different sort of animal up there,” he said.