Scotland team to play England: Six Nations opening line-up revealed by Gregor Townsend

By Graham Bean

Published 3rd Feb 2022, 13:32 GMT

Updated 3rd Feb 2022, 14:17 GMT

Gregor Townsend has picked a tried and tested side to face England in Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash at BT Murrayfield.

There is no place in the match-day squad for inside centre Cam Redpath and No 8 Magnus Bradbury has to be content with a place on the bench as the Scotland head coach sticks with Sam Johnson and Matt Fagerson, respectively.

Loosehead prop Rory Sutherland returns to the side for the Guinness Six Nations opener after missing the autumn Tests with an oblique muscle injury.

Jonny Gray is also back in the starting line up, for the first time since March 2021, and there is a potential debutant, with the uncapped London Irish scrum-half Ben White named among the replacements.

There is a 5:3 forwards/backs split on the bench, with Sione Tuipulotu and Blair Kinghorn joining White as backline cover.

. The Scotland squad prepare for Saturday's big match against England at their Oriam training base

The Scotland squad prepare for Saturday's big match against England at their Oriam training base. Photo: Ross MacDonald - SNS Group / SRU

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. Rory Sutherland

Sutherland returns after missing the Autumn Nations Series with an oblique muscle injury. The powerful loosehead has become a Test Lion and swapped Edinburgh for Worcester since winning his last Scotland cap. Photo: Craig Williamson - SNS Group / SRU