Scotland stride into the Calcutta Cup clash as favourites, boasting a triumphant record of three consecutive victories, a draw, and a solitary loss over past last five years in the fixture.
Looking broadly at the two squads, England present a notably altered squad, conspicuously devoid of pivotal figures like Owen Farrell, Courtney Lawes and Tom Curry, to cite a few.
Conversely, Scotland now draw upon the experience of a run of wins against England, a departure from the emotive reliance of bygone eras, and a shift in emphasis towards leveraging the cohesion of the settled and high calibre squad named by Gregor Townsend.
The message out of the England camp this week has been that this game holds equal significance for them as it does for Scotland, and their fans.
They have rallied behind Jamie George during a period of personal challenge following the tragic loss of his mother last Wednesday.
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Throughout his tenure playing for England, it's rare to imagine he will have encountered emotions akin to those I anticipate as he leads his country this afternoon.
Surveying the lineups, the return of Jamie Ritchie comes as no surprise. He has responded precisely as anticipated. A tenacious, resilient and hardworking bloke, his leadership behind the scenes will have been of paramount importance this week.
The relinquishment of the captain’s armband is likely to have lifted a burden from him and allowed him to focus on getting himself back to his best.
The return of Kyle Steyn and Blair Kinghorn is a cause for celebration. However, Harry Paterson warrants significant recognition - he looked to the manor born during his debut against the French yet, with Blair and Kyle’s return, his exclusion appears to be the logical choice. Their reinstatement serves as a substantial morale booster.
Finally on Scotland… Finn. He has not tasted defeat to England since the fateful trip to Twickenham in 2017. He loves playing the Auld Enemy.
Felix Jones, England’s defensive coach, will no doubt have had a magnifying glass on Russell’s recent performances, highlighting perceived weaknesses and the wizardry he has when given time and space to play. Jones was at the helm of the Springbok’s defence that suffocated, squeezed and slayed Scotland’s attack at the World Cup and will have emptied the tank this week identifying areas in which they can find an edge.
As for England, the bold decision to install George Furbank to the side for his first involvement in two years is the headline. His displacement of Freddie Steward is a huge call.
Perhaps it signals a belief that the pivotal long kicking strategy adopted by France in the middle 20 minutes of the second half a fortnight ago is their gateway to frustrating Scotland. Their approach seemed overly conservative, protecting the lead rather than seizing victory.
Steward prowess in aerial duals is globally acclaimed. Furbank, conversely, offers a dynamic counter attacking threat and serves as an additional playmaker. Teamed with Ford, he could catalyse England’s assault through the wider channels.
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At the crux of the contest though, is the battle of the behemoths up front. Set piece, scrum, strength and smash will set the foundations for speed of ball and the sorcery we all hope to see in a match for the ages.
Scotland will be revved up after that French loss and they’ll be channelling that frustration against England. The management of emotion is going to be important for both sides, but with the quality that the Scottish squad possess, I believe they will have the edge and will win by a score.
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