"I like that versatility"- Steve Borthwick keen to deploy Henry Pollock on the wing for Calcutta Cup showdown

Steve Borthwick has made three alterations, two to the starting XV and one on the bench, as England look to retain the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2017 against a Scotland side that has dominated this fixture in recent years.

Maro Itoje returns to the starting line up at lock, replacing Alex Coles, and will captain the side. Luke Cowan-Dickie comes in at hooker for Jamie George, while Fin Smith takes Marcus Smith’s place among the replacements in a 6-2 bench split that has sparked plenty of debate. On the surface, the changes in the pack look like continuity rather than disruption, with Itoje and Cowan-Dickie offering familiar edge.

Borthwick was clear about the thinking behind the switch at hooker and the value of having impact across the full 80 minutes. "Delighted to have Maro back into the starting line-up and captaining the team. After a couple of weeks’ training, I think he looks really good. I thought Jamie George was outstanding last weekend and I think his leadership and his influence at the end of the campaign is going to be really important.

"As ever, I look as much at who’s finishing the game as who’s starting the game. To have a player like Luke Cowan-Dickie available to start and Jamie George to finish is really positive. I’m also really pleased with the second row and the depth and competition being developed there."

Coles, despite dropping to the bench, remains very much part of that picture. "I thought Alex Coles played really well, led the lineout tremendously well last weekend. Again, having a player of his calibre to finish the game is going to be great for us."

The most intriguing call is Fin Smith’s inclusion on the bench instead of Marcus Smith, leaving England without a specialist fullback replacement should Freddie Steward be forced off. Ollie Lawrence misses out entirely despite returning from injury, with Borthwick again leaning into versatility.

Ben Earl is confirmed as the emergency outside centre, as he was against Wales, while the likes of Tommy Freeman, Henry Arundell and Henry Pollock give cover across the back three, Freeman and Arundell as fullbacks and Pollock as a winger.

"I’m really pleased with what Marcus [Smith] did on the pitch on Saturday and it’s great to welcome Fin [Smith] back in. I thought he played really well against Scotland last year and he brings us 10 coverage and [inside] centre coverage." Borthwick added that England have used their limited preparation time to train players in multiple roles, building flexibility rather than rigid replacements. "I like that versatility."

Pollock’s presence late on against Wales, including time on the wing, underlines that approach. Borthwick sees that adaptability as vital, especially with the World Cup in just over a year. “The World Cup point is a really important point, the 33 players, depending on what split you go... So to have the ability to play multiple positions is really important for us… Having that level of athleticism is really important for us and I will say it again, I love having those back rowers on the grass at the end of games."

Henry Pollock has featured on the wing at club level, most notably scoring a try in the Champions Cup for Northampton Saints from out wide where he chipped and chased over Damian Penaud, outpacing the French winger and dotting down. Talking about his ability as a winger, Borthwick was full of praise.

"He's got incredible pace and super handling skills and you see not just his ability to make breaks, but how he supports breaks. How often do you see him on somebody's shoulder taking an offload and then running on and scoring or potentially giving another offload for somebody else to score? His skill set and the way he plays the game is less within a structure and more within having a freedom to roam to go and find the ball and find where he needs to be. I'm very confident with him in that position."

History inevitably hangs over this fixture. Scotland have won four of the last five meetings and England have not won at Murrayfield since 2020. Borthwick, though, insists the focus is firmly on the occasion rather than the record. "You understand the group you’re coaching and this group absolutely loves big occasions… This is a brilliant place to play rugby, against a very good team."

Scotland arrive wounded after a shock 18-15 defeat to Italy in Rome, and Borthwick is preparing for different looks from Gregor Townsend’s side. "It's going to be interesting how they play. I am really interested. If you look at Scotland - when they move the ball, and they’ve got such incredible players, especially in the backline… What I find interesting is last year against us they brought a heavy kicking game and it turned into an arm-wrestle."

Gregor Townsend is a man under pressure for the hosts after a disappointing autumn campaign and poor start to the Six Nations, amid speculation that he is eyeing up a move to Newcastle Red Bulls. Speaking about his opposing coach, Borthwick insisted that Townsend is still the man for the job.

"Firstly, I think Gregor Townsend is a wonderful coach. I was told recently that he has the best win record of any Scotland coach in the professional era. Sir Ian McGeechan had two spells and I think Gregor sits above that. The way he has coached the attack they have, and the way they move the ball, when they do that, they look terrific.

"I have immense respect for him as a coach and I find it surprising that people are not spending more time talking about Scotland rather than not supporting their coach. I think he's a phenomenal coach and they should spend more time supporting him."