Six Nations: Calcutta cup head to heads

Published on Saturday 12 March 2011 20:59

Dan Cole v Allan Jacobsen

Goodness only knows how Leicester can leave Cole on the bench because the England prop is the real deal. In contrast Jacobsen is a long way short of the form and fitness he showed against the Springboks last autumn when he buzzed about the field like a flanker and held up the world in the set piece. Jacobsen needs to unearth his best form or England will have a field day at the set scrum.

Mike Tindall v Joe Ansbro

The Scots have finally found someone with a cutting edge to fill the 13 shirt but just how much ball he will get when playing outside Sean Lamont must be in some doubt. Ansbro has the jump on Tindall for sheer pace but so far Scotland haven't found much space out wide and the English skipper is a wily one who rarely gets caught out of position. He will enjoy testing the Scot's head-on tackling.

Tom Palmer v Richie Gray

If things had turned out differently they could have been playing together rather than against each other. After a late blossoming, Palmer is playing as well as he has ever done, the man England have been looking for ever since Martin Johnson retired, but he has his work cut out for him today. Gray showed up well in Paris and he single-handedly ruined the Irish lineout at Murrayfield. He needs to do something similar today if the Scots are to have any hope of victory.