Scotland could unleash English qualified fly half against England this Saturday in the Six Nations

There is plenty of excitement around the highly rated Saracens fly half, who has been tearing up the Premiership and Champions Cup with Saracens this season. The New Zealand born playmaker arrived in North London from Super Rugby's Crusaders, ahead of the 2024/25 Premiership season, and he promptly took over the reins as Owen Farrell's replacement at the club.

Burke qualified for a Scotland call-up through his Glaswegian Grandfather, but the fly half was also eligible to play for England upon arriving in the country. Burke's mother is from the Kent seaside town of Dover, with the halfback being eyed as one that got away for Steve Borthwick and his England team selectors. Scotland head coach Townsend recalled when Burke first came onto his radar, and how he had initial plans in place to award the halfback a Scotland debut during the 2024 Autumn Nations Series.

"We watched him play for the Crusaders. We had spoken to him before he came over to England when he was looking to sign for Saracens." Townsend explained. "So the connection was there, but it was really there once he got playing in those regular games and seeing what he was learning from playing over in the northern hemisphere, and more and more influencing the game.

"Especially since November, I think we did consider him in November (2024 Autumn Nations Series), but we felt he was still finding his feet. He'd been out injured for a while, too, and the 10s we had available with Adam Hastings, Tom Jordan and Finn Russell, it was a strong group. But since then, I think he's getting his running game into play, defensively he's been strong all season, and he's learning more about attacks and what defenses might bring to you, to change your attack.

"So, he's someone we're really excited to be working with. He'll be training today, when I'm out there, I think he'll add to a group with a rugby intelligence. Another 10, that's coming up with solutions. But he also adds what he can bring individually onto the field."

There are definite comparisons to be made, between the England and Scotland fly half ranks for the 2025 Six Nations, with both squads blessed with a trio of talented fly halves to chose from. Whilst Steve Borthwick has Marcus Smith, Fin Smith and George Ford at his disposal, Townsend has the trio of Burke, Tom Jordan and (match fitness permitting) Finn Russell to chose from for the Calcutta Cup clash.

The added element of pivoting a fly half to fullback is also shared across both camps, as England have at times utilised Marcus Smith in the 15 shirt, with Scotland possibly set to follow suit on Saturday. Since his initial call-up into the Scotland squad for the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations, Burke has been jostling for the 10 jersey against the duo of Russell and Jordan, with the trio currently running through the plays at their training camp in Barcelona.

Townsend has been impressed by how the 25-year-old has taken to life in the Scotland camp, and spoke about how Burke and Jordan both provide exciting options to run the back-field at fullback.

"Well, I think we'll meet a lot as 10s and also the nines. So the collaboration of how we put a game plan in place, that's what I'm looking forward to. But also I'm looking forward to (see) them competing, competing and learning off each other. So there'll be certain things that Fergus does well, that Finn and Tom will look at, and vice versa.

"Fergus will be picking up from those two, that competition brings out a level of training performance, and the players are very competitive. They're proud of it, and they're motivated to get selected ahead of their opponents. So to have three 10s, and we might have to get one of them to be running at 15 every now and again, both Tom and Fergus have done that, but it will be good to see them go up against each other."