Gregor Townsend warns England not to underestimate wounded Scotland

"I would hope they don't fade into irrelevance because our players have evidence that they've won in this fixture, stressed the head coach. If it adds the extra bit of belief and motivation that we've been in this position before and we've won then that can only help. It doesn't always work that that evidence leads to a victory. But we're going to lean into anything that can help us get a win this weekend."

"Scotland have decided, nevertheless, not to recall Duhan van der Merwe, a regular scourge of England in the past, or his fellow British & Irish Lion Blair Kinghorn and have instead kept faith with the back three that started against Italy. There are changes up front, however, where Pierre Schoeman and Grant Gilchrist have been dropped and the injured Ewan Ashman has been replaced at hooker by George Turner."

"The reshuffle means there is a complete absence of representatives from Edinburgh in the starting XV while Scotland's only other pro side, Glasgow Warriors, provide 10 players. It is the first time no Edinburgh squad members have featured in a Scotland XV since 1998, but Townsend is hoping the Murrayfield crowd will be more focused on the primary objective of beating England. It's our biggest game of the season, it always has been, said Townsend."

Gregor Townsend warned England against underestimating Scotland and expects players to draw confidence from previous Calcutta Cup victories at Murrayfield. England have won only once at Murrayfield since 2017, and last weekend's loss to Italy has increased external criticism. Scotland retained the back three from the Italy match while leaving out Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn. Forward changes include Pierre Schoeman and Grant Gilchrist dropped, injured hooker Ewan Ashman replaced by George Turner, and Jamie Ritchie starting with Matt Fagerson on the bench. No Edinburgh players start; Glasgow Warriors supply ten players. Townsend hopes the Murrayfield crowd focuses on beating England in the season's biggest game.

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