How 'Almost Perfect' Scotland Overcame 'Disjointed' England
England's impressive 12-match winning streak concluded decisively at Murrayfield on Saturday, as Scotland reclaimed the Calcutta Cup with a commanding 31-20 victory.
Following a period of consistency with largely unchanged starting XV during England's autumn successes and a dominant win over Wales, the underwhelming performance in Edinburgh raises questions about potential changes.
Head coach Steve Borthwick now faces several selection dilemmas as he prepares the squad for Saturday's crucial Six Nations encounter against Ireland at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (14:10 GMT).
Wings Up for Grabs?
Henry Arundell's red card at Murrayfield and the likelihood of a subsequent suspension may create an opening on the left wing.
The 23-year-old was shown two yellow cards on Saturday, the second for dangerously tackling a player in the air, which could rule him out of the Ireland match.
Ollie Lawrence, who has recovered from a knee injury sustained prior to the campaign, initially prompted Tommy Freeman's shift from wing to outside centre.
Freeman, typically a right winger, has also featured on the left wing, including starting there in England's last victory over Ireland in 2024.
Given England's aerial difficulties against Scotland, reverting Freeman to the wing appears logical due to his strength in the air.
However, the England coaching staff have clearly aimed to establish Northampton Saints' Lawrence at 13.
Would a direct replacement with Elliot Daly better support Freeman's development as a centre? Alternatively, with Lawrence fit, should he resume centre duties, allowing Freeman to return to wing?
Tom Roebuck struggled to assert himself aerially against Scotland—a rare occurrence in his England appearances—potentially opening a place for Daly, even if Lawrence plays centre and Freeman shifts out.
Wingers Cadan Murley and Ollie Hassell-Collins, who would require squad inclusion, have demonstrated sharp finishing skills, scoring in England A's recent victory over an Ireland XV.
"I stand by what I said last week. I wanted to see Ollie Lawrence at 13 and Fraser Dingwall at 12, with a back three of Tom Roebuck, Tommy Freeman and Freddie Steward," former England wing Ugo Monye told BBC's Rugby Union Weekly. "If you want to play so heavily on this kicking game, then select your best wingers for it."
Murley had a challenging debut against Ireland during last year's Six Nations, while Hassell-Collins was dropped after the initial two rounds of the 2023 tournament.
Back-Row Changes
On the flanks, the Bath duo of Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill provided a balanced and effective combination during the autumn, allowing number eight Ben Earl to operate with freedom and explosiveness.
Despite Earl's continued strong performance in Edinburgh, Pepper and Underhill, who have started the last four Tests together, did not match their recent standards.
"Underhill is one of the best tacklers in the game in terms of being both offensive and destructive," former Scotland captain John Barclay told BBC Rugby Union Weekly. "He fell off two tackles in the move that led to the Ben White try - it was very uncharacteristic of him.
"Pepper was also pretty quiet, but Ben Earl carried really well."
Borthwick selects his back row as a cohesive unit, which has resulted in British and Irish Lions Tom Curry and Henry Pollock being introduced in the final quarter of matches.
The effectiveness of a strong bench was evident until Saturday, when the replacements faced an overwhelming task.
Pollock, 21, who has yet to start a Test, still contributed with powerful ball carrying and work rate on the ground.
Curry, who started all three Lions Tests and was a standout performer, may have been managed due to injury concerns, explaining his six-game run on the bench.
Whether Underhill and Pepper can fulfill impact roles to the same extent may influence Borthwick's selection, but Curry's experience could justify starting him alongside Pollock and Earl.
Smith v Smith
One year ago, Marcus and Fin Smith were competing for England's starting fly-half position. Currently, both are vying for the backup role behind George Ford.
Ford's missed drop goal was a pivotal moment on Saturday, but his autumn performances and display against Wales make his retention likely.
Fin Smith arrived at camp injured, simplifying Marcus Smith's selection on the bench against Wales in the opening round.
He returned to the replacements against Scotland, replacing Fin and leaving the Harlequins playmaker out of the matchday squad despite his capability to cover full-back.
"The big one is Marcus and not having him on the bench. The guy is a game-changer. He can also play full-back," former England wing Chris Ashton told BBC Rugby Union Weekly. "If the game is not going the way you want it to, then Marcus can change it."
Marcus's versatility helped him secure bench roles during the Lions Tests in the summer and England's final two autumn internationals, edging out Northampton's Fin.
Fin started four games at fly-half during last year's Six Nations, with Ashton suggesting he is better suited to starting matches.
"Borthwick thought about getting Fin Smith some game time [against Scotland]," Ashton added. "You have to back Fin to play from the start."
The composition of the bench will significantly influence selection, and with Ireland's front-row struggles against France and Italy, a 6-2 forwards-to-backs split may favor Marcus Smith's utility role.
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