The Calcutta Cup: Scotland vs. England at Murrayfield

The Calcutta Cup is back on the line, and this time it’s at Murrayfield—where Scotland’s record against England is considerably better than the overall head-to-head suggests. Round 2 of the 2026 Six Nations Championship brings the oldest rivalry in international rugby back to Edinburgh, and after England’s narrow 16-15 victory at Twickenham last year reclaimed the trophy, Scotland will be out for blood. This fixture doesn’t need hype—it delivers drama, physicality, and edge every single time.

Scotland vs. England – Kick-off & Viewing Details

Date: Saturday, February 14th, 2026
Kick-off: 11:40 AM ET (4:40 PM GMT)
Venue: Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)

Murrayfield is a cauldron when England come to town. The crowd doesn’t just support Scotland—they actively will England to fail. The stadium holds over 67,000, and when “Flower of Scotland” echoes before kick-off, it’s one of the most intimidating atmospheres in world rugby. The pitch itself is fast, wide, and suits Scotland’s tempo-based game. England know they’re walking into hostile territory, and historically, they’ve struggled here.

For those of us not in Edinburgh, the 14th Street stand at The Winslow (243 E 14th St, New York) is the next best thing. Doors open at 11:10 AM, and you’ll find a packed room of expats—Scots drowning out the English contingent, dedicated audio for every breakdown penalty, and proper pints flowing. If you’re serious about watching the Calcutta Cup, you know where to be.

The Tape: Team Analysis

Scotland – Home Advantage, High Tempo

Scotland’s game plan is clear: play fast, stretch England wide, and exploit any gaps in their defensive line. Finn Russell at 10 is the conductor—his ability to manipulate space with skip passes, cross-field kicks, and late offloads makes Scotland dangerous from anywhere on the pitch. Russell’s partnership with Ben White at 9 is critical; White’s quick service and decision-making at the base of rucks allows Scotland to play at the tempo that unsettles England’s heavy pack.

Up front, Scotland’s pack is mobile and aggressive at the breakdown. Rory Darge at openside flanker is a jackal specialist—he’ll target England’s ball carriers and look to win turnovers in the wide channels where England’s cleanout support is slower. In the second row, Grant Gilchrist provides lineout leadership and physicality in the tight exchanges. Scotland’s scrum has been solid, but against England’s weight advantage, they’ll need to stay square and avoid giving away cheap penalties.

The back three is where Scotland can hurt England. Duhan van der Merwe on the wing is a wrecking ball—his ability to carry over the gainline and offload in contact creates chaos. If Russell can get Van der Merwe into space early, England’s defense will be scrambling. Scotland’s recent form at Murrayfield has been strong, and they’ll back themselves to control territory and tempo.

The challenge for Scotland is discipline. If they give away penalties in their own half, England’s kicking game will pin them back and grind them down. But if Scotland stay patient, recycle quickly, and force England to defend for long phases, they can crack this English side.

England – Power, Pragmatism, and Pressure

England’s approach is built on forward dominance and territorial control. Their pack is one of the heaviest in the tournament, and they’ll look to impose themselves through the scrum and maul. Ellis Genge at loosehead is a cornerstone—his scrummaging power and ability to carry in tight channels gives England front-foot ball. In the second row, Maro Itoje is England’s enforcer—his work rate, lineout disruption, and ability to slow Scottish ball at the breakdown will be critical.

At 8, Ben Earl is England’s link player—his ability to carry over the gainline and distribute in contact allows England to build phases and suck in Scottish defenders. If England can win the collisions and recycle quickly, they’ll test Scotland’s defensive line speed and look for mismatches out wide.

Marcus Smith at 10 will manage the kicking game. Expect England to play territory-first rugby—box kicks from Jack van Poortvliet at 9, contestable bombs to test Scotland’s back three, and keeping the ball in Scotland’s half. Smith’s distribution is sharp, but England’s game plan won’t rely on him being expansive—it’ll rely on him being clinical.

England’s challenge is adapting to Murrayfield’s pace. If Scotland get quick ball and stretch England’s heavy forwards across the pitch, England’s defense will struggle to realign. England’s recent form has been inconsistent—they scraped past Scotland last year, but they’ve shown vulnerabilities when teams play fast and wide.

The key for England is discipline and set-piece dominance. If they can win penalties, kick for territory, and force Scotland to play from deep, they’ll grind out a result. But if Scotland get momentum and the crowd behind them, this could get ugly for the visitors.

The Verdict

Scotland by 5.

This one comes down to tempo and territory. Scotland will play fast, force England to defend for long stretches, and capitalize on any lapses in discipline. Russell’s ability to manipulate space and Van der Merwe’s carrying power will create scoring opportunities, and Scotland’s crowd will lift them when the game gets tight.

England’s pack will dominate the scrum and win collisions, but their inability to match Scotland’s tempo across 80 minutes will cost them. Expect Scotland to build a lead in the first half, England to claw back through penalties and territorial control in the second half, but Scotland to hold on in the final 10 minutes through smart game management and a crucial breakdown turnover from Darge.

The tactical key is Scotland’s ability to stay disciplined and avoid giving England easy three-pointers. If they can do that, Murrayfield will do the rest.

Full Time

The Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield is one of the great fixtures in rugby—edge, history, and quality colliding in front of a hostile crowd. Scotland are favorites at home, but England have the pack and the pragmatism to make this a dogfight. For the diehards, this is must-watch rugby: breakdown battles, tactical kicking duels, and a trophy that means everything.

Where to watch Guinness Six Nations in NYC: The Winslow. Doors open at 11:10 AM, and by kick-off, it’ll be standing room only. Bring your questions about England’s scrum dominance and whether Russell can unlock their defense—because the room will have answers, and the pints will be flowing.