Scotland fans baffled by Gregor Townsend's 'sackworthy' selection vs England

Thursday, 12 February 2026 at 15:43

byRugby Rucker

Scotland fans have turned on Gregor Townsend after his latest team selection for the Calcutta Cup clash with England – with some even branding the call “sackworthy”.

The Scotland head coach has made big calls ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations showdown at Murrayfield, dropping Grant Gilchrist and Pierre Schoeman from the pack. But it’s the continued omission of three British & Irish Lions stars that has really lit the fuse.

There is once again no place in the starting XV for Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham or Duhan van der Merwe – and supporters are furious.

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Fans stunned by van der Merwe omission

Van der Merwe has been England’s tormentor-in-chief in recent years, yet he doesn’t even make the matchday 23.

One baffled supporter posted:

“England wrecker in chief Duhan van de Merwe not even in the match 23 is a surprise. Wow.”

Another added:

“I know VDM hasn’t been in great form but the man always turns up against England. The England team would’ve been terrified to see him on the team sheet but not even seeing him on the bench is surprising.”

The absence of Kinghorn and Graham from the starting side also drew major backlash.

One fan fumed:

“A stubborn manager refusing to change his mind – judging on last week this is so disappointing. Graham, Van Der Merwe and Kinghorn are too good to not be playing. Livid with what I'm seeing.”

And another joked:

“Did Kinghorn steal GT's chips at dinner last month?”

POLL:

Questions over bench split

Townsend has opted for a 5/3 bench split again – five forwards and three backs – and retained last week’s back three, a decision many supporters simply cannot understand.

One comment read:

“Could easily be Townsend's last team selection. Don't get the 5/3 split and keeping the same back three as last week.”

The pressure is firmly on Scotland heading into the Calcutta Cup, and the head coach knows defeat at Murrayfield would only intensify the scrutiny.

Scotland team to face England

Scotland XV:
Jordan; Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu (capt), Dobie; Russell, White; McBeth, Turner, Z Fagerson, Brown, Cummings, Ritchie, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements:
Cherry, Schoeman, Millar-Mills, Williamson, M Fagerson, Horne, Hastings, Graham.

With England looming and Lions stars sidelined, Townsend is gambling big. If it pays off, he’ll be hailed as bold. If not, the noise around his future will only grow louder.