Calcutta Cup capturing the imagination

The Calcutta Cup is always a special way to start the Championship and with Scotland looking to defend the trophy that they captured with their historic victory over England at Twickenham 12 months ago, skipper Stuart Hogg is relishing the Round 1 rematch at BT Murrayfield.

“It’s the best opportunity to kick off the Six Nations by playing England at home,” he said. “We love that game.

“As a proud Scotsman, and I think I speak on behalf of all of us, playing England in Edinburgh is the game we always look forward to. Then we’re off to Cardiff the week after, so it doesn’t get any easier.”

England enjoyed a perfect Autumn Nations Series with three wins from three and back-rower Tom Curry has promised their new style of play will continue.

“We are a different team from what we were a year ago – not just players but the way we play,” he said.

“We’re probably a bit more attacking, we’re more at teams which is big for us and that’s when we play our best rugby. That’s the big difference, especially what we showed in the Autumn.”