Some games are bigger than others and this year’s Calcutta Cup encounter sits firmly in that category. The World Cup may have been and gone but, for reasons both ancient and modern, the 142nd edition of rugby’s oldest international fixture feels more significant than usual. A defining encounter awaits all concerned, in the short and medium terms.
In differing ways Scotland and England have reached a fork in their developmental paths. Get it satisfyingly right and the high road beckons. Stumble and a whole host of thorny old questions will swiftly resurface, particularly for the visitors to Murrayfield. Narrow wins over Italy and Wales are one thing but the acid test of the latest Red Rose incarnation has arrived.
