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Can Scotland end their 34 year Twickenham drought?

You'd have to go back quite a while for the last time the Calcutta Cup was as highly anticipated. Fo...
TodayFM
TodayFM

8:21 PM - 10 Mar 2017



Can Scotland end their 34 year...

Sport

Can Scotland end their 34 year Twickenham drought?

TodayFM
TodayFM

8:21 PM - 10 Mar 2017



You'd have to go back quite a while for the last time the Calcutta Cup was as highly anticipated.

For the first time in an age, Scotland come into the business end of the tournament having had a major say in the first three rounds, and with potentially even more to say in the next week. 

Eddie Jones says the Scots are talking a big game after their wins against Ireland and Wales, but those two wins dwarf in comparison to the challenge ahead of them tomorrow. Not only are they trying to send a well-oiled English chariot off into the ditch, but also end a 34 year wait for victory against England at Twickenham. Even in those 34 years they've only beaten their neighbours five times, the last coming in 2008.

If Scotland are to cause a shock and end England's 17-game winning run, the back three of Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour and Tim Visser will be crucial. Vern Cotter's side have thrived from deep counter-attacking, with Hogg in particular underlining his Lions credentials with some stunning displays against both Ireland and Wales.

But while the Scots have been lethal out wide, they've struggled up front. The loss of WP Nel and Alasdair Dickinson to their front row has left their scrum struggling in all three games so far, and with England able to unleash Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler from the substitutes' bench - or "finishers' bench as the RFU are now calling it - Scotland will be hoping for as few scrums as possible if they're to stand a chance. They also have to face the prospect of a fit-again Billy Vunipola making a second half cameo.

England's biggest worry is whether or not Owen Farrell will be fit to tog out at Twickenham. The centre sat out today's captain's run after suffering a leg injury yesterday in training.

Eddie Jones has done his best to laugh it off, suggesting his vice-captain hurt himself after running into his dog, but his curt responses to reporters when quizzed about the incident gave us a glimpse of some nerves starting to build.

We'll know by 3pm tomorrow whether it'll be Farrell or Ben Te'o wearing the 12 shirt at Twickenham, with England expected to leave it until the very last minute to make their decision. 



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