Vern Cotter has named a settled Scotland side to take on England at Murrayfield in the opening round of the 2016 Six Nations, with just two changes from the side that lost excruciatingly to Australia in the World Cup quarter-final.
Matt Scott takes Peter Horne’s 12 shirt, while John Barclay makes his long-awaited return to the back-row, in place of Blair Cowan who drops to the bench. Greig Laidlaw leads the side that includes the Gray brothers in the engine room, and the dangerous back three of Hogg, Maitland and Seymour.
Mark Bennett has recovered from a shoulder injury to take his place in the centres, with Saracens’ Duncan Taylor consequently having to settle for a spot on the bench. Highly rated young prop Zander Fagerson also takes a seat on the timber, and will win his first cap at the tender age of 20 if brought on.
SCOTLAND TEAM TO PLAY ENGLAND
15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 38 caps
14. Sean Maitland (London Irish) – 20 caps
13. Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps
12. Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby) – 33 caps
11. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 22 caps
10. Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps
9. Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester) CAPTAIN – 46 caps
1. Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 52 caps
2. Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 95 caps
3. Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) – 8 caps
4. Richie Gray (Castres) – 52 caps
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps
6. John Barclay (Scarlets) – 45 caps
7. John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps
8. David Denton (Bath) – 32 caps
Replacements:
16. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 2 caps
17. Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 15 caps
18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – uncapped
19. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps
20. Blair Cowan (London Irish) – 15 caps
21. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby) – 8 caps
22. Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) – 21 caps
23. Duncan Taylor (Saracens) – 12 caps
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
4 replies on “Six Nations 2016: Scotland team to play England”
Really like the look of this team. Only change would maybe be to put Duncan Taylor into 12 as he’s been really strong for Saracens this year but there’s not a lot in it.
Looks like Scotland are really targeting the breakdown with Hardie and Barclay against Robshaw and Haskell. If they can get quick ball for the Scottish backs and deny England quick ball, they’re in with a real chance.
I think Scotland have a chance.Breakdown I think they have edge and maybe up front as well.if we get enough good,go forward ball then we can do it!
I like the starting 15 but there is still a lack of strenght in depth in the bench.
I’m ok with Cowan, SHC and Taylor. I think the replacment front 3 are not international quality (at the moment). I like Weir a lot but I think he is a solid club player not an international stand off. Would rather have seen Jackson as the stand of cover. Also not sure who covers the back three off the bench, Taylor?
All the very best Scotland and here’s hoping for a repeat of 2008.
One of my best 6n weekends. Lovely sunny day …as warm as summer that late March afternoon,
1st game was Wales winning in Dublin to take the Triple Crown (thanks to a Shane Williams try and a masterclass from him as stand -in scrum half after that idiot Philips got yellow carded).
Wales later wen to win the GS v France in Cardiff.
2nd game of the day was Scotland beating England in Murrayfield. They made the ‘latest newest best English winger from the SH’ Vainikolo like a sack of spuds and Rubber Johnny was subbed in the 70th as he totally ran out of ideas.
We’ll be cheering for you throughout Wales all afternoon that’s for certain!