Ireland produced a record-breaking performance to demolish England 42-21 at Allianz Stadium, scoring five tries in a devastating display that ended the hosts’ nine-match home winning run and reignited Andy Farrell’s side’s Six Nations campaign. What was supposed to be a celebration of Maro Itoje’s 100th cap became a nightmarish afternoon for Steve Borthwick, whose side have now lost back-to-back matches to leave their championship hopes in tatters with away trips to Rome and Paris still to come.

Key moments:

8′ – PENALTY IRELAND: Jack Crowley opens the scoring after Joe McCarthy produces a superb turnover at an England maul, ripping the ball from the drive. Jamison Gibson-Park’s snipe up the middle draws an offside penalty and Crowley slots a composed kick from directly in front of the posts (England 0-3 Ireland)
18′ – LOWE INJURY: James Lowe pulls up clutching his knee while chasing a loose English pass and is unable to continue. Tommy O’Brien replaces the Leinster wing and makes an immediate impact, running a brilliant support line within moments of entering the fray (England 0-3 Ireland)
19′ – TRY IRELAND: Jamison Gibson-Park catches England napping with a moment of pure opportunism. Robert Baloucoune finds space on the right wing and offloads inside to the arriving Tommy O’Brien, before Tom Curry is penalised for coming in from the side. Gibson-Park taps the penalty quickly and sprints past Joe Heyes into the left corner, exploiting every white shirt standing offside. Jack Crowley lands an excellent touchline conversion (England 0-10 Ireland)
23′ – MITCHELL INJURY: England lose scrum-half Alex Mitchell to what Steve Borthwick later confirms as a soft-tissue injury. Jack van Poortvliet replaces him, though the substitute’s afternoon is later marred by a needless backchat penalty that concedes 10 metres (England 0-10 Ireland)
27′ – TRY IRELAND: Stuart McCloskey produces the break of the match, picking a devastating crash-ball line through the English 12-13 channel and bursting through Ollie Lawrence’s attempted tackle for a full 20 metres before Freddie Steward hauls him down. Gibson-Park scoops the ball and moves it swiftly wide for Robert Baloucoune to canter into the right corner. Crowley’s conversion drifts wide of the right post (England 0-15 Ireland)
27′ – YELLOW CARD ENGLAND: Freddie Steward is sin-binned for cynically playing Jamison Gibson-Park at the back of the ruck in the build-up to Baloucoune’s try. The fullback’s card deepens England’s crisis with Ireland already 15 points ahead (England 0-15 Ireland)
29′ – REFEREE INJURY: An extraordinary moment as referee Andrea Piardi collapses clutching his leg while sprinting to keep up with a Josh van der Flier break. “I’m done. My quad is gone. Best of luck for the rest of the game, guys,” the Italian tells both captains before being clapped off by the capacity crowd. Pierre Brousset takes charge, with Craig Maxwell-Keys called to run the line. Jamie George simultaneously replaces Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker (England 0-15 Ireland)
30′ – TRY IRELAND: Ireland strike again barely a minute after the referee change. Robert Baloucoune comes off his wing to create an extra man near halfway and skips out of Ollie Lawrence’s tackle before popping an offload to Tommy O’Brien, who has the gas to beat Tommy Freeman and stroll in under minimal resistance. Jack Crowley converts and “Fields of Athenry” rings around Twickenham (England 0-22 Ireland)
39′ – TACTICAL SUBSTITUTION: Steve Borthwick throws on Marcus Smith for Freddie Steward in a desperate gamble to inject creativity, having already made three changes with the score at 22-0. England’s attack immediately looks sharper (England 0-22 Ireland)
40′ – TRY ENGLAND: England finally breach the Irish defence on the stroke of half-time. Playing through a penalty advantage after James Ryan uses his hands illegally in a ruck, Marcus Smith delays his pass to create the space for Fraser Dingwall to power between Josh van der Flier and Baloucoune. George Ford converts to give the hosts a sliver of hope heading into the interval (England 7-22 Ireland)
Half-time: England 7-22 Ireland
England statistics: 57% possession, 70% territory. Ireland: 43% possession, 30% territory, 3 handling errors to England’s 11, 4 turnovers conceded to England’s 15. Ireland’s three first-half tries all originated from their own half.
42′ – YELLOW CARD ENGLAND: Henry Pollock is sin-binned within two minutes of the restart after failing to release near his own line. Caelan Doris had burst through a gap in midfield and powered into the 22 before Ireland’s momentum was halted just short. The number eight’s cynical play on his first international start draws a stern rebuke from Pierre Brousset (England 7-22 Ireland)
43′ – TRY IRELAND: Ireland capitalise immediately on Pollock’s yellow card to secure the bonus point. Dan Sheehan taps the penalty and Ireland go through the phases close to the line, with Stuart McCloskey and Caelan Doris battering the gainline. Sheehan spots space, darts left and burrows over from close range. Jack Crowley’s conversion stretches the lead to 22 points as a strange hush descends across the stadium (England 7-29 Ireland)
53′ – TRY ENGLAND: Henry Pollock makes amends on his return from the sin bin, immediately handing off defenders and flicking a pass out the back of the hand to Tommy Freeman, who drives to within metres of the line. The ball is recycled quickly and Ollie Lawrence bursts through a gap to score under the posts. George Ford converts, but any hope of a comeback is tempered by the 15-point deficit (England 14-29 Ireland)
54′ – YELLOW CARD IRELAND: Jamie Osborne is sin-binned for playing the ball on the ground in the aftermath of Lawrence’s try. A debatable call — Bevan Rodd appeared to be over the tryline when Irish players failed to release — but Pierre Brousset is consistent with his earlier decision on Pollock (England 14-29 Ireland)
58′ – PENALTY IRELAND: Jack Crowley extends Ireland’s lead despite playing with 14 men. Bevan Rodd shoves early at the scrum to concede a free kick that quickly leads to a penalty. Crowley dispatches it with no fuss, his composure in stark contrast to England’s growing desperation (England 14-32 Ireland)
65′ – PENALTY IRELAND: Crowley makes history, taking Ireland past their previous highest points tally at Twickenham. The Munster fly-half slots another composed penalty after Guy Pepper is penalised for going off his feet at the breakdown. The lead is 21 points and England fans begin heading for the exits (England 14-35 Ireland)
69′ – TRY IRELAND: Jamie Osborne caps a remarkable return from the sin bin by powering over for Ireland’s fifth try. Gibson-Park’s relentless kick-chase forces a penalty and Ireland secure the lineout before going through the phases. Osborne spots a gap, glides through and powers over Guy Pepper to stretch out and ground the ball. Jack Crowley adds the conversion to take Ireland to 42 points (England 14-42 Ireland)
73′ – McCLOSKEY CHASE-DOWN: The moment that defines Ireland’s ferocity. Marcus Smith intercepts a Jack Crowley pass on his own 22 and hares away down the left wing, apparently clear for a certain try. Stuart McCloskey, the 33-year-old Ulster centre, somehow chases Smith down from behind with astonishing pace and clatters him into touch. The Twickenham crowd falls silent (England 14-42 Ireland)
75′ – TRY ENGLAND: Sam Underhill barrels his way over from close range off a pop pass from Jack van Poortvliet, spinning through one defender and backing through Robert Baloucoune for a consolation score. George Ford adds the conversion but, in truth, it means little (England 21-42 Ireland)
Full-time: England 21-42 Ireland

For a second successive weekend, England were blown away in the first half, conceding 22 unanswered points before Fraser Dingwall crossed on the stroke of half-time to offer the faintest flicker of hope. But where Scotland had at least allowed England back into the contest seven days earlier, Ireland showed no such mercy, extending their lead remorselessly after the break to secure their biggest ever away win over England, surpassing the 32-15 victory here in 2022. Not since they dismantled France in Marseille at the start of the 2024 championship had Ireland hit these heights.

The occasion had promised so much for the 81,953 inside Allianz Stadium on an overcast but still afternoon in south-west London. Itoje walked out alone to a thunderous reception to mark his century of caps, just the ninth Englishman to reach the milestone, a look to the heavens perhaps in memory of his late mother. The Princess of Wales was in attendance. Yet the emotion appeared to weigh on England rather than inspire them, as a series of basic errors in the opening quarter gifted Ireland the platform for a devastating counter-punch.

Farrell had warned his players about the dangers of a wounded England. “We got told we needed to dampen them down and rightly so because we were here two years ago when England lost to Scotland and they played outstandingly well,” the Ireland head coach explained afterwards. His squad heeded the message with a performance built on ferocious defensive intensity, clinical counter-attacking and an unerring willingness to hunt in packs.

England’s struggles were evident from the very first set-piece. An early lineout was overthrown by Luke Cowan-Dickie, with none of the jumpers even leaving the ground. A scrum collapsed. George Ford, usually so reliable with the boot, kicked dead from a penalty — then did so again minutes later, drawing ironic cheers from the crowd. The nervousness was palpable, and Ireland — sharper, hungrier and more composed — were quick to capitalise.

Jack Crowley, restored to the starting fly-half berth with Sam Prendergast dropped from the matchday squad entirely, settled Irish nerves with an early penalty after Joe McCarthy had produced a superb turnover at an England maul. The young Munster man’s selection was handsomely vindicated as he orchestrated Ireland’s attack with a tempo and precision that had been sorely missing in their opening two fixtures, finishing with 17 points from the boot.

Ireland suffered an early setback when James Lowe appeared to damage his knee while chasing a loose English pass in the 18th minute. “It didn’t look too good,” Farrell would later concede. His replacement, the Leinster wing Tommy O’Brien, wasted no time making an impact, running a brilliant support line within moments of entering the fray.

The game’s first try was a masterclass in opportunism from Jamison Gibson-Park. After Baloucoune had found space on Ireland’s right wing and O’Brien ran inside him, Ireland won a penalty when Tom Curry came in from the side. While England’s defenders stood flat-footed, Gibson-Park tapped quickly and sprinted past Joe Heyes to the corner from 15 metres, exploiting the fact that every white shirt was standing offside and unable to legally make a tackle. Crowley’s excellent conversion from wide on the left made it 10-0 and the visiting contingent — an estimated 15,000 of the capacity crowd — erupted.

England were further disrupted when scrum-half Alex Mitchell limped off with what Borthwick later described as a soft-tissue injury, bringing on Jack van Poortvliet. The replacement’s afternoon would be marked by a needless backchat penalty that conceded 10 metres, symptomatic of England’s collective loss of composure.

If the first try was born of instinct, Ireland’s second was pure destruction through the midfield. Stuart McCloskey, who had been a revelation throughout the 2026 championship, picked a devastating crash-ball line through the English 12-13 channel and burst through Ollie Lawrence’s attempted tackle for a full 20 metres before Steward hauled him down. Gibson-Park scooped up the ball and moved it swiftly to Baloucoune, who cantered into the right corner with consummate ease. Steward’s afternoon deteriorated further when he was yellow-carded for cynically playing Gibson-Park at the back of the preceding ruck, a decision that drew groans from a Twickenham crowd already stunned into near-silence.

The match was briefly interrupted by an extraordinary incident in the 29th minute when referee Andrea Piardi collapsed clutching his leg while sprinting to keep up with a Josh van der Flier break. “I’m done. My quad is gone. Best of luck for the rest of the game, guys,” the Italian told both captains before being clapped off by the capacity crowd. Pierre Brousset jogged on from the touchline to take charge, with Craig Maxwell-Keys called to run the line. It was only the sixth time in history that a referee had been replaced during an England match due to injury.

The disruption did nothing to halt Ireland’s momentum. With England now down to 14 men, Baloucoune came off his wing to create an extra man near halfway and skipped out of Lawrence’s tackle before popping an offload to O’Brien, who had the gas to beat Tommy Freeman and stroll in for Ireland’s third try. Crowley’s conversion made it 22-0 and “Fields of Athenry” was ringing around Twickenham before the half-hour mark.

Borthwick, who had already been forced into changes when Mitchell departed and Cowan-Dickie was replaced by Jamie George, threw Marcus Smith on for the returning Steward with half-time approaching. Explaining his tactical substitutions afterwards, the head coach cited George’s experience and leadership qualities alongside Smith’s explosive ability to chase the game. “When you are points down on the scoreboard, you need to score,” Borthwick said. “That’s where someone like Marcus Smith can add a different element.”

The move paid an immediate dividend. England’s most sustained pressure of the half finally yielded a try on the stroke of half-time when Smith delayed his pass to create the space for Dingwall to power between Josh van der Flier and Baloucoune. Ford’s conversion trimmed the deficit to 15 points, though even this required playing through a penalty advantage after James Ryan had used his hands illegally in a ruck.

Whatever optimism that try generated evaporated within three minutes of the restart. Caelan Doris burst through a gap in midfield and powered into the 22, before Ireland’s momentum was halted just short of the line. Henry Pollock, making his first international start and struggling to contain the occasion, failed to release quickly enough and was dispatched to the sin bin for cynical play. Ireland tapped the resulting penalty and, after McCloskey and Doris had battered the gainline, Sheehan spotted space, darted left and burrowed over for the bonus-point try. Crowley’s conversion stretched the lead to 22 points. A strange hush descended across the stadium.

To their credit, England responded with their best passage of the match. Pollock, returning from the sin bin, was immediately involved, handing off defenders and flicking a pass out the back of the hand to Freeman, who drove to within metres of the line. The ball was recycled quickly and Lawrence burst through a gap to score under the posts. Ford’s conversion made it 29-14 with 24 minutes remaining, while Osborne was sin-binned for playing the ball on the ground in the build-up.

But Ireland’s defensive resolve during the Osborne sin-bin period was extraordinary, conceding just six points despite being reduced to 14 men. Tadhg Beirne was immense throughout, producing a choke tackle on Ford that forced a turnover, while his earlier lineout steal and jackal penalties had been pivotal in disrupting England’s set-piece platform. Gibson-Park’s relentless kick-chasing kept England pinned in their own half. Two Crowley penalties — one after Bevan Rodd shoved early at the scrum, the other when Guy Pepper was penalised at the breakdown — extended Ireland’s advantage to 21 points and snuffed out any lingering English hope.

The most remarkable individual moment came in the 73rd minute when Smith intercepted a Crowley pass on his own 22 and hared away down the left wing, apparently clear for a certain try. McCloskey, the 33-year-old Ulster centre who had already dominated the midfield collisions, somehow chased Smith down from behind and clattered him into touch — an astonishing piece of athleticism that encapsulated Ireland’s collective ferocity on the day.

Indeed, minutes earlier Baloucoune had produced a similarly superb covering tackle to deny Freeman what appeared a certain try in the corner, bundling the Northampton wing into touch with a last-ditch effort. These moments drew particular praise from Farrell. “The telling parts of Stu McCloskey chasing back Marcus and being able to put him in touch just shows the fight,” the head coach said. “And also the Rob Baloucoune one on the far side shows the fight and the spirit that these lads have got for one another. It looked like we were hunting people down throughout the game.”

Osborne’s return from the sin bin was marked by Ireland’s fifth score, the fullback powering over Guy Pepper after sustained phase play to cap a remarkable turnaround from his own card. Crowley’s conversion took Ireland to 42 points — their highest ever tally at Twickenham. Sam Underhill burrowed over for a late consolation with five minutes remaining, but the final whistle could not come soon enough for a shell-shocked England, with supporters streaming for the exits long before the end.

Gibson-Park, named player of the match after a performance of the highest calibre, reflected on a display that harked back to Ireland’s golden era: “I think it was a bit of the Ireland of old. We’re brave, and we love to put the ball in space and let the guys on the edge do special things. I count myself very lucky to be part of this team, and it was unbelievable to be out there today with the lads.”

Ireland captain Doris spoke of the belief that had been building beneath the surface: “It’s a special feeling. I’ve been saying to you that there’s been belief at the core of what we’ve been doing. We’ve seen some of it in training, but it hasn’t fully come through for the games. We saw more of that today. Paris was a reference point from where we needed to see a steep incline in performances, and hopefully this will be a reference point we look back on.”

A beaming Farrell, whose squad welcomed Taoiseach Micheál Martin into the dressing room after the match, refused to rank the victory but left no doubt about what it meant. “It’s a special day, 100 per cent, to come here and perform like that,” he said. “I said it to the lads, I didn’t care whether we won or lost, just whether we grew as a group because we know where we want to go to. It just so happens that to the people of Ireland winning does matter and it brings a bit of joy on everyone’s face.”

Borthwick, by contrast, cut a forlorn figure. “It was bitterly disappointing,” the England head coach conceded. “This team has been very, very good for quite a long time in games that are tight, even if we go a score or two down, being very strong in the second half and always finding a way to win. Unfortunately for two weeks now we have given ourselves a mountain to climb, given the opposition too many points and we have not got scoreboard presence. We will be looking closely at that and how I set the team up to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”

The statistics laid bare England’s failings: 15 turnovers conceded to Ireland’s four, and 11 handling errors compared to just three from the visitors. Ireland achieved their dominance with only 43 per cent possession and 30 per cent territory, a testament to their devastating efficiency when presented with opportunities. England’s sole area of superiority was the scrum, where Ellis Genge was dominant against his opposite number, but even that advantage was rendered meaningless by their inability to capitalise on the set-piece platform it provided.

For Borthwick, the questions are now pressing. Back-to-back defeats, both characterised by catastrophic first-half performances, have removed England from title contention as early as the third round. The decision to start Pollock, whose sin-bin proved costly on his maiden start, will be scrutinised, while Ford’s uncharacteristic struggles with the boot compounded the sense that England’s senior players were overwhelmed. Mitchell’s injury is a further concern, with Borthwick confirming a soft-tissue problem that may sideline the scrum-half for the trip to Rome.

Ireland, by contrast, look a team transformed. The half-back partnership of Gibson-Park and Crowley provided the tempo and direction that had been missing against France and Italy, while McCloskey’s thunderous presence in midfield gave the backline a focal point around which everything else clicked. Baloucoune and O’Brien were devastating on the wings, while Beirne’s mischief at the breakdown and McCarthy’s physical dominance in the tight five provided the platform from which Ireland’s backs could operate. Crowley’s performance should put the number 10 debate to bed for the foreseeable future.

The result moves Ireland from fifth to second in the Six Nations table, temporarily drawing within a point of leaders France, and lifts them above both England and France to third in the world rankings. They end the championship with back-to-back home fixtures against Wales and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium, and while their title hopes may ultimately depend on France slipping up, this performance has ensured they will be there to capitalise if the opportunity arises.

For England, whose 12-match winning run now feels like a distant memory, the priority is salvaging pride and momentum from a campaign unravelling at alarming speed. With Italy smelling blood in Rome and a daunting trip to Paris to close the championship, Borthwick faces the biggest test of his coaching tenure.

Teams

England: Freddie Steward; Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joe Heyes; Maro Itoje (capt), Ollie Chessum; Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Henry Pollock.
Replacements: Jamie George (for Cowan-Dickie, 29), Bevan Rodd (for Genge, 52), Trevor Davison (for Heyes, 72), Alex Coles (for Itoje, 55), Guy Pepper (for Curry, 52), Sam Underhill (for Earl, 70), Jack van Poortvliet (for Mitchell, 23), Marcus Smith (for Steward, 39).

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher (for Sheehan, 56), Tom O’Toole (for Loughman, 47), Finlay Bealham (for Furlong, 47), Nick Timoney (for van der Flier, 50), Cian Prendergast (for McCarthy, 63), Craig Casey (for Gibson-Park, 71), Ciarán Frawley (for Ringrose, 55), Tommy O’Brien (for Lowe, 18).

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR) — replaced by Pierre Brousset (FFR, 29 mins)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR) / Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR); Craig Maxwell-Keys (RFU, from 29 mins)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
Attendance: 81,953

There are Six Nations weekends where the stakes feel manageable, where a loss can be absorbed and repackaged as a learning experience. This is emphatically not one of them. When England and Ireland meet at Allianz Stadium on Saturday afternoon, both teams will know that defeat all but extinguishes their championship hopes for another year, leaving France — imperious and ten points clear at the summit — to stroll towards their title defence with barely a backward glance.

Key talking points at a glance:

• Henry Pollock handed first England start at No.8 as Borthwick reshapes back row
• Jack Crowley recalled at fly-half; Sam Prendergast dropped from Ireland’s matchday 23 entirely
• Maro Itoje set to win his 100th cap for England in an emotional afternoon following the death of his mother
• Both sides have one win and one loss after two rounds — the loser is effectively out of the title race
• England seek to extend a nine-match home winning run; Ireland have won four of their last five meetings between the sides
• Millennium Trophy and championship survival on the line

Both sides arrive in southwest London nursing wounds. England’s 12-match winning streak was emphatically ended by Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend, a 31-20 defeat that exposed alarming vulnerabilities in their kicking game and aerial contest. Ireland, meanwhile, have been in a slow bleed since their chastening 36-14 dismantling by France on the tournament’s historic Thursday night opener in Paris, and were unconvincing in squeezing past Italy 20-13 in Dublin a week later.

It all makes for a fixture crackling with tension, desperation, and no small amount of intrigue.

A rivalry renewed

One of the oldest and most storied rivalries in international rugby, England and Ireland first met at The Oval in 1875. Since then, 143 Test matches have been contested, with England winning 81, Ireland 54, and eight ending in draws. The Millennium Trophy — a Viking helmet-shaped award introduced during Dublin’s millennial celebrations in 1988 — currently resides in Irish hands after last year’s 27-22 victory in Dublin.

Yet the modern balance of power in this fixture has shifted perceptibly. Ireland have won four of the last five Six Nations meetings, a run that includes comprehensive victories in Dublin in 2022, 2023 and 2025. The sole English triumph in that sequence came on this ground two years ago, when Marcus Smith’s nerveless drop goal in the dying moments snatched a 23-22 victory that ended Ireland’s pursuit of back-to-back Grand Slams.

That 2024 encounter remains instructive. England, stung by a defeat to Scotland the previous weekend, produced a furious defensive display fuelled by perceived slights from Irish pundits. The parallels with this weekend are unmistakable — Borthwick’s side again arrive wounded by Scotland, again facing an Ireland team expected to prevail. England’s players will need no reminding of how that narrative ended.

Since rugby turned professional in 1995, the rivalry has tightened considerably. In 35 meetings, England have won 19, Ireland 16 — a near-even split that reflects the competitive parity of the modern era. At Twickenham, however, England’s record is formidable: 48 wins from 71 matches on home soil, a statistic that provides cold comfort to visiting sides however favourable their recent head-to-head record may be.

Borthwick’s gamble: unleashing Pollock

Steve Borthwick’s response to the Edinburgh debacle has been characteristically measured yet pointed. Three changes to the starting XV — the promotion of Henry Pollock to his first Test start, the return of Tom Curry at blindside flanker, and Ollie Lawrence’s reinstatement at outside centre — are designed to inject dynamism and physicality into a side that looked sluggish and directionless against Scotland.

Pollock’s selection is the headline act. The 21-year-old Northampton Saints back-rower has earned all seven of his previous caps from the bench, deployed as an impact weapon in the final quarter. Now Borthwick is betting that the young man’s extraordinary energy, pace, and try-scoring instinct can be harnessed from the opening whistle rather than reserved for the closing salvos.

“He’s larger than life,” Borthwick said of England’s most talked-about player. “Each new level you challenge him with, he seems to thrive. He gets people excited, he gets people jumping up and down with joy. He can bring a euphoria to people that not many players can.”

It is not hyperbole. Children at grassroots rugby clubs across England already run around wearing black head tape in imitation of Pollock’s distinctive look, performing his “pulse check” try celebration. Former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll came home from covering last weekend’s game to find his son dressed as the man. Bordeaux players targeted him relentlessly in last season’s Champions Cup campaigns — and Pollock responded by scoring wonder tries and stealing the ball from Damian Penaud’s hands.

His deployment at No.8 pushes Ben Earl — arguably England’s most consistent performer this championship with a tournament-leading 39 carries after two rounds — to openside flanker, creating an all-Lions back row alongside Tom Curry. The trio brings searing pace and breakdown menace, though questions remain about their collective lineout contribution against Ireland’s formidable set-piece operators.

The other significant tactical shift sees Tommy Freeman moved back to the right wing, his primary position, after the experiment of deploying him at outside centre. Freeman’s aerial prowess was sorely missed against Scotland, where England lost the kicking battle comprehensively. With Lawrence providing the midfield muscle that Freeman could not, and Freeman’s leap and pace unleashed out wide, England’s attacking shape should look more balanced.

Henry Arundell retains his place on the left wing after escaping further sanction for his two yellow cards — and subsequent red — at Murrayfield. The Bath wing remains the tournament’s top try-scorer with four from two rounds, including a hat-trick against Wales, and Borthwick’s faith in his match-winning ability is unwavering. “I want the ball in his hands,” the coach insisted. “Every England supporter will want the ball in his hands in a bit of space.”

Then there is the emotional dimension. Maro Itoje will lead England out for his 100th cap, becoming only the ninth man to reach the milestone for his country. The occasion is tinged with profound sadness — Itoje recently attended his mother Florence’s funeral in Nigeria, and her absence from the stands will weigh heavily. “I know she would have loved the occasion,” the 31-year-old said quietly this week. “She’s not physically there but I know she will be spiritually there, cheering on from heaven.”

Itoje’s consistency has been remarkable: 95 of his 99 previous caps have been starts, and he has won more than twice as many turnovers as any England player since 2023. His side will need every ounce of that towering presence on Saturday.

Farrell rolls out the old guard

If Borthwick’s selection reflects a desire to energise, Andy Farrell’s five changes to the Ireland starting XV speak to a different impulse: a retreat to the familiar, a reliance on the battle-hardened veterans who have delivered in these cauldrons before.

The starting XV features eight thirtysomethings — Jeremy Loughman, Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Jamison Gibson-Park, James Lowe, Stuart McCloskey and Garry Ringrose. Three more — Finlay Bealham, Nick Timoney and Jack Conan — wait on the bench. Farrell has essentially reassembled Ireland’s greatest hits compilation and challenged them to produce one more classic performance.

“It’s similar to a couple of years ago,” Farrell reasoned. “This game coming on the back of Scotland beating England, and England being told they had to have a reaction. Having lads in the group that have been there and felt that — and how they can convey that feeling to lads like Robert Baloucoune — is pretty important.”

The most significant selection call is at fly-half, where Jack Crowley replaces Sam Prendergast — who has been dropped not merely to the bench but from the matchday 23 entirely. Prendergast’s struggles against both France and Italy, including missed conversions and a failure to find his flow, prompted Farrell to act decisively. Ciaran Frawley, versatile enough to cover fly-half, centre and full-back, provides bench cover in a 5-3 split that signals Ireland’s intention to stretch England in the second half with fresh legs in the backline.

Crowley’s recall represents a chance to remind everyone why he was anointed as Johnny Sexton’s successor after steering Ireland to the 2024 title. Defensively more assured than Prendergast and with a kicking game that can engage the aerial contest, the 26-year-old Munster man injected visible tempo and accuracy when introduced against Italy last weekend.

The return of Lions trio Furlong, Beirne and van der Flier hardens the pack considerably. Furlong’s recall is particularly pointed: Ireland’s scrum has been under siege this championship, with the veteran tighthead enduring the indignity of being lifted off his feet by Italy’s Mirco Spagnolo in Dublin. England will target the Irish scrum mercilessly — they are one of only three teams yet to lose a scrum on their own feed in this year’s championship — and Furlong’s experience from the first whistle is essential.

Van der Flier’s omission from last week’s matchday squad raised eyebrows; now the 2022 World Rugby Player of the Year returns with a point to prove against a back row containing several of the Lions teammates who were preferred to him on last summer’s tour of Australia.

Key players to watch

England: Henry Pollock

England’s Henry Pollock dejected after the 2026 Guinness Six Nations Championship Round 2 game between Scotland and England in Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland, Saturday, February 14, 2026 (Photo by James Crombie / Inpho)

The man of the moment. In his last five starts for Northampton Saints at No.8, Pollock has scored six tries — a ratio that speaks to his extraordinary finishing instinct for a forward. His searing pace in the wide channels, where he operates more like a winger than a traditional back-rower, could prove devastating if England can get him into space on Freeman’s shoulder. Ireland’s back row must find ways to cut off his supply lines and limit his time on the ball. As Doris acknowledged: “He’s got the ability to make something happen from not a whole lot.”

Ireland: Stuart McCloskey

The Ulster centre’s late-career renaissance has been one of the feel-good stories of this championship. At 33, McCloskey tops Ireland’s statistics for try assists (three), offloads (four) and turnovers won (four) after two rounds. His basketball-style passing created Baloucoune’s try against Italy, and his ability to punch holes in the gainline and offload in contact gives Ireland a point of difference in midfield that they desperately need against England’s physical defensive line. He faces a stern examination from Lawrence, but McCloskey’s form suggests he is ready for it.

Where the battle will be won

The contest will likely be decided in three key areas.

The aerial battle: Scotland exposed England’s vulnerability under the high ball last weekend, running back kicks with devastating effect. Ireland will have studied that blueprint closely, particularly with Baloucoune — whose footwork and speed on his Six Nations debut against Italy caught the eye — and Lowe capable of causing chaos from deep. Conversely, Freeman’s return to the wing should significantly improve England’s contestable kick game, with George Ford’s tactical kicking and Alex Mitchell’s precise box-kicks designed to put Ireland’s back three under constant examination. Mitchell is often England’s last defender on the left edge — Scotland targeted him brilliantly through Finn Russell last weekend, and Ireland will look to exploit the same channel.

The scrum: Ireland’s creaking set-piece has been a recurring theme this championship. England, whose scrum has been effective and aggressive — one of only three teams yet to lose a scrum on their own feed — will smell blood. As former Ireland international Lindsay Peat noted this week, the Irish front row’s inconsistent body heights and alignment have been “a horrific sight” at times. Furlong’s recall from the start is designed to shore up this area, but if England’s pack can generate a penalty stream from the scrum, it will fuel their territorial game and starve Ireland of possession. Farrell has switched to a 5-3 bench partly to accommodate Finlay Bealham as tighthead cover — a measure of how seriously Ireland are taking this threat.

The breakdown: All six back-row forwards were Lions last summer, and the battle for supremacy over the ball on the ground will be ferocious. Ireland lead the championship with 13 turnovers from two rounds, including seven jackals — the best rate of any team. Van der Flier and Beirne are elite operators in this area. But England’s trio of Curry, Earl and Pollock bring relentless energy, and Pollock in particular has a poacher’s instinct that makes him dangerous whenever the ball is loose. Whoever wins this private war will dictate the tempo of the match.

The wider picture

The championship standings tell the story of why this fixture carries such weight. France sit imperiously atop the table on ten points after bonus-point victories over Ireland and Wales. Scotland are second on six, with England third on five, Italy fourth on five, and Ireland fifth on four. Wales prop up the table without a point.

For the loser on Saturday, the mathematics become brutal. Even with three rounds remaining, falling further behind France — who face Italy in Paris on Sunday — would leave the vanquished side relying on an improbable sequence of results to have any hope of the title.

England have the comfort of home advantage and a nine-match winning run at Allianz Stadium stretching back to November 2024. Ireland, however, have won four of the last five Six Nations meetings between the sides, the exception being Marcus Smith’s dramatic late drop goal that sealed a 23-22 victory for England on this ground two years ago. Smith, intriguingly, is named on the bench and could yet have a decisive late cameo again.

What they said

Maro Itoje (England captain): “My message to my team-mates is to seize the opportunity against Ireland. We have to learn our lesson following our disappointing defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield and move forward. We need to address what went wrong and get off to a strong start.”

Caelan Doris (Ireland captain): “There’s always enough motivation playing against England. There’s an eagerness to hunt them down, to get after them, to show what we’re about. Over here as well is an added element. As a young fella watching the Six Nations, it was always the key game that you get excited for. You look at some of the events like 2009 playing in Croke Park, and some of the moments from that game that become kind of iconic in Irish history.”

Steve Borthwick (England head coach): “They have most of the Lions coaching team, half of the Lions Test team. They play together so often with so many players at Leinster. This squad has been together for a long period of time. It’s an exciting Test match.”

Andy Farrell (Ireland head coach): “Games between the two sides have been nip and tuck over recent times and there’s great familiarity and respect across both camps. We know their strengths and our aim is to deliver the best version of ourselves.”

Team news

England: 15 Freddie Steward; 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Henry Arundell; 10 George Ford (vc), 9 Alex Mitchell; 1 Ellis Genge (vc), 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 Ollie Chessum, 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Henry Pollock.
Replacements: 16 Jamie George (vc), 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Guy Pepper, 21 Sam Underhill, 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Marcus Smith.

Ireland: 15 Jamie Osborne; 14 Robert Baloucoune, 13 Garry Ringrose, 12 Stuart McCloskey, 11 James Lowe; 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park; 1 Jeremy Loughman, 2 Dan Sheehan, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 4 Joe McCarthy, 5 James Ryan, 6 Tadhg Beirne, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (c).
Replacements: 16 Rónan Kelleher, 17 Tom O’Toole, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Nick Timoney, 20 Jack Conan, 21 Craig Casey, 22 Ciaran Frawley, 23 Tommy O’Brien.

Did you know?

• Ireland have won four of their last five Six Nations meetings with England, their best run in the fixture since a five-match streak between 2015 and 2019
• England have won their last nine home matches, their longest such run since winning 15 in a row between 2015 and 2018 — a sequence that was ended by Ireland
• Maro Itoje will become the ninth England man to win 100 caps, joining Jason Leonard, Lawrence Dallaglio, Ben Youngs, Joe Marler, Jamie George, George Ford, Dan Cole and Jonny Wilkinson
• Henry Pollock’s seven caps from the bench before his first start is the most by any England back-rower since the professional era began
• Stuart McCloskey has assisted 60 per cent of Ireland’s tries in this year’s Six Nations (three of five)
• Gibson-Park was named player of the match in Ireland’s 2022 and 2025 victories over England
• Marcus Smith’s drop goal secured a 23-22 win for England on this ground in 2024 — his last appearance in this fixture

The verdict

Home advantage, the emotional fuel of Itoje’s milestone, and the injection of Pollock’s electricity should give England the edge in what promises to be a fiercely contested arm-wrestle. But Ireland’s experienced campaigners have been in these positions before — written off, underestimated, and dangerous.
This is a fixture that neither side can afford to lose. For England, a second consecutive defeat would shatter the momentum painstakingly built over a 12-match winning run and leave their championship aspirations in ruins before the halfway point. For Ireland, the arithmetic is even starker: fifth in the table and already 36-14 down to France on points difference, another setback would confirm the darkest fears of those who believe this squad has peaked and is now in irreversible decline.

If Crowley can control the tempo, Gibson-Park can provide the quick ball that was absent in Paris, and Ireland’s pack can hold firm at scrum time, the visitors are more than capable of springing a surprise. McCloskey’s midfield dynamism and Baloucoune’s raw pace offer genuine attacking threats, while the return of Beirne, van der Flier and Furlong hardens the Irish pack considerably.

Yet England’s home record, the energy of a reshuffled back row, and the potency of their wide attackers in Arundell, Freeman and Pollock suggest they have more ways to hurt Ireland than vice versa. Borthwick’s men were poor at Murrayfield, but the core of this squad has proven itself capable of responding to adversity. The Twickenham crowd, fired up by Itoje’s centurion moment and Pollock’s box-office appeal, will be a ferocious 16th man.

Expect a tight, tense, territorial affair decided by fine margins — and possibly by a late moment of individual brilliance.

Match Officials

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)
Assistant Referees: Pierre Brousset (FFR), Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)
FPRO: Mike Adamson (SRU)

Kick-off: Saturday, 21st February 2026, 2.10pm GMT | Allianz Stadium, Twickenham

There are Six Nations fixtures where form guides become irrelevant, where the history embedded in the turf and the noise echoing off a closed roof can conspire to rewrite the most confident of predictions. Whether this is one of them remains to be seen. When Wales host Scotland at the Principality Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the visitors will arrive as overwhelming favourites — and yet the subplot of a former coach returning to face his old charges, a wounded Welsh side desperate to restore pride, and Scotland’s maddening inability to follow up big victories means this Celtic clash may be less straightforward than the bookmakers suggest.

Key talking points at a glance:

• Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn recalled from Scotland’s Six Nations wilderness as Townsend makes five changes
• Gabriel Hamer-Webb handed Wales debut on the wing; Sam Costelow returns at fly-half as four changes made
• Steve Tandy faces his former Scotland employers for the first time since leaving his role as their defence coach
• Scotland seek a fourth consecutive victory over Wales — their best run since 1923–27
• Wales have lost 13 straight Six Nations matches and conceded 102 points in two rounds
• Both teams compete for the Doddie Weir Cup, honouring the late Scottish and Lions legend
• Scotland target first back-to-back wins in the same Six Nations campaign since 2023

The tale of two campaigns

The contrast between these sides could hardly be more pronounced. Scotland arrive in Cardiff buoyed by one of the defining performances of Gregor Townsend’s tenure — a magnificent 31-20 bonus-point dismantling of England at Murrayfield that ended the visitors’ 12-match winning run and reclaimed the Calcutta Cup. Huw Jones scored twice, Jamie Ritchie and Ben White also crossed, and Finn Russell orchestrated proceedings with a masterclass that silenced those who had called for Townsend’s head following a dismal 18-15 defeat to Italy in Rome the week before.

Wales, by contrast, are mired in a crisis that shows no signs of abating. Steve Tandy’s side have been demolished in their opening two fixtures — 48-7 by England at Twickenham and 54-12 by France at the Principality Stadium — shipping 102 points and 15 tries in the process. Their Six Nations losing streak now stands at 13, and they have lost 23 of their last 25 Tests overall, with only two narrow victories over Japan providing any relief. The off-field turmoil surrounding Welsh rugby has seeped onto the pitch, with last weekend’s crowd of 57,744 against France the lowest Six Nations attendance at the Principality Stadium since it was built in 1999.

Yet the championship has a habit of confounding expectations, and this fixture in particular carries a health warning. Scotland have won just twice at the Principality Stadium in the professional era — in 2002 and 2024 — and on both of their last two visits to Cardiff, they have built commanding leads only to see Wales fight back ferociously. In 2024, Scotland nearly surrendered a 27-0 advantage before scraping home 27-26. Last year’s encounter followed an eerily similar pattern, with Scotland racing to 28-8 at half-time before being hauled back to 35-29, with a disallowed Taulupe Faletau try the only thing preventing an even more dramatic denouement.

More troublingly for Scotland, their record of following up Calcutta Cup victories makes for sobering reading. Of their last nine wins over England in this fixture, they have lost the very next match on six occasions. The only time they have backed up a Calcutta Cup triumph with another Six Nations victory in the same campaign was in 2023, when they beat England and then Wales in consecutive weeks. That inconsistency — the maddening gap between their ceiling and their floor — has been the defining characteristic of this Scotland generation.

A rivalry with a personal edge

The subplot that elevates this fixture beyond a routine mismatch is the presence of Steve Tandy in the Wales coaching box. The former Ospreys flanker spent more than five years as Townsend’s defence coach, widely credited as a key architect of Scotland’s defensive improvement and a central figure in their resurgence over that period. His departure last summer to take charge of his home nation was amicable but significant, and this afternoon represents his first opportunity to pit his wits against the system he helped build.

“If there is a man who knows how to stop Gregor Townsend and his approach, it’s Steve,” observed former Scotland number eight Johnnie Beattie this week. That knowledge cuts both ways, of course. Scotland’s players know Tandy’s defensive principles intimately, having drilled them daily for five years. The question is whether Tandy has had sufficient time to implement anything resembling a coherent defensive structure in Wales, given that his side have conceded 302 points and 42 tries in just six matches under his stewardship.

Townsend was characteristically diplomatic about facing his former lieutenant. “We think very fondly of Steve,” the Scotland head coach said. “He spent a long time with us, so he’s been a big influence on our players. I’m sure after the game, whatever the result, we can have a few beers in the changing room.” The warmth is genuine — the pair were spotted sitting metres apart at the Arms Park watching the Under-20s match earlier this week — but once the whistle blows, sentiment will be set aside.

Townsend brings back the big guns

Scotland’s selection reflects both opportunity and necessity. The headline news is the return of British & Irish Lions duo Van der Merwe and Kinghorn, neither of whom has been involved in the campaign until now. Their omission from the opening two matches raised eyebrows — Van der Merwe is Scotland’s all-time leading try-scorer with 35 in 52 Tests, while Kinghorn’s class at full-back is well established — but both paid the price for indifferent form.

Van der Merwe’s recall is partly enforced, with the impressive Jamie Dobie ruled out through a shoulder injury sustained against England. But the Edinburgh wing’s record against Wales is formidable: he scored twice in Scotland’s 2024 Cardiff victory and has historically been a nightmare for Welsh defences to contain. As Tom English wrote in the BBC this week, Van der Merwe “is a different beast when Russell is calling the shots,” and the prospect of Russell’s vision combining with Van der Merwe’s power and pace should have Wales defenders losing sleep.

Kinghorn replaces Tom Jordan at full-back, the Bristol player dropping to the bench after a solid if unspectacular opening two rounds. The Toulouse man played for his club against Stade Français last Sunday night and has recovered quickly from the six-day turnaround. His selection signals Townsend’s desire for greater counter-attacking threat from deep — something Wales’ defensive frailties may well provide.

The pack changes are largely injury-driven. Jamie Ritchie (knee) and Jack Dempsey (bicep), two of Scotland’s most influential performers against England, have been ruled out for the remainder of the championship. Their absence is significant: Ritchie’s breakdown intensity and leadership are difficult to replace, while Dempsey’s carrying threat has been a feature of Scotland’s best performances. Matt Fagerson moves to number eight after an impactful cameo off the bench at Murrayfield, with Gregor Brown shifting from lock to blindside flanker and Max Williamson earning a start in the second row. Dave Cherry replaces George Turner at hooker.

The result is a starting XV boasting six British & Irish Lions in the backline alone — Kinghorn, Van der Merwe, Jones, Tuipulotu, Russell and White — providing an embarrassment of attacking riches that Wales will struggle to contain if Scotland fire.

Tandy searches for answers

For Wales, the team selection tells the story of a coach still searching for the right combination while building on foundations of sand. Four changes to the starting XV include a debut for Leicester wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb, whose journey to a Wales cap has taken him via the Bath academy, a stint in New Zealand with Southland, and age-grade honours for England Under-20s. The 25-year-old qualifies through his Cardiff-born mother and has impressed at Welford Road since joining from Cardiff last summer.

“Gabe has really impressed me in the way he’s attacked training, the way he’s adapted and the way he’s settled into the squad,” said Tandy. “When you dig into his background at Leicester, even when he wasn’t in the team, everyone said he was an amazing team player. He kept pushing, he never gave up.”

The more significant selection call is at fly-half, where Sam Costelow replaces Dan Edwards for his first Wales start since the defeat to Japan in Kitakyushu last July. Edwards has started the last seven matches in the number ten shirt but pays the price for an inconsistent kicking game and defensive vulnerabilities exposed by France. Costelow brings a different skillset — defensively sturdier, with a more varied kicking game — but his own confidence at Test level has been fragile, with nine of his 11 Wales starts featuring different centre combinations outside him.

In the pack, Dragons lock Ben Carter earns his first Six Nations start in place of Adam Beard, whose miscued kick led directly to a French try last weekend. Taine Plumtree comes in at blindside flanker, though his record of six yellow cards in 14 appearances this season will concern Welsh supporters. Aaron Wainwright, arguably Wales’ best performer in the opening two rounds, reverts to his favoured number eight position.

Key players to watch

Scotland: Duhan van der Merwe

The man with a point to prove. Scotland’s record try-scorer has endured the toughest period of his career — dropped from the matchday squad for the marquee autumn Test against the All Blacks, omitted entirely from the opening two rounds of this Six Nations, and watching rivals Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie surge past him in the selection pecking order. Yet his record speaks for itself: 35 tries in 52 Tests, a try-scoring rate of 0.67 per match that borders on the extraordinary. He scored twice on Scotland’s last visit to Cardiff, and against a Welsh defence with the championship’s worst tackle success rate of 83.9 per cent, the 6ft 5in wrecking ball may be licking his lips. As one observer noted, give him a yard of grass and the opposition had best start saying their prayers.

Wales: Aaron Wainwright

In a side that has been haemorrhaging points, Wainwright has been Wales’ one consistent performer. The Dragons number eight leads all forwards in the championship for defenders beaten and has carried with genuine venom in both fixtures. His move back to number eight, his preferred position, should allow him to make an even greater impact. If Wales are to have any chance of staying in this contest, Wainwright’s ability to get over the gainline and slow Scottish ball at the breakdown will be essential. He faces a Scotland back row shorn of Ritchie and Dempsey but still containing the formidable Rory Darge, who leads the championship in turnovers won with six.

Where the battle will be won

Three areas will likely determine the outcome.

The aerial contest and kicking game: Wales were punished ruthlessly for inaccurate kicking against France, and Tandy acknowledged the need for improvement. “We weren’t as accurate as we were against England, where we felt there was more of a competition,” he said. Costelow’s kicking game should represent an upgrade, but Wales must also contend with Kinghorn’s prowess under the high ball and Russell’s ability to manipulate field position with his varied boot. Scotland’s back three of Kinghorn, Van der Merwe and Steyn is physically imposing and capable of turning kicks into counter-attacking opportunities — something that should terrify a Welsh defence still finding its feet.

Wales’ slow starts: The pattern has been alarming. Wales trailed 29-0 at half-time against England and conceded 19 points in the opening 15 minutes against France. In their last two encounters with Scotland, they have fallen behind 27-0 and 28-8 before mounting comebacks that ultimately fell short. Captain Dewi Lake addressed the issue directly: “We don’t want to give ourselves that mountain to climb and start chasing things, so that first 20 minutes will be vital.” Scotland, who have scored first in three of their last five matches, will look to exploit Wales’ vulnerability in the opening exchanges and take the Principality Stadium crowd out of the game early.

Scotland’s second-half consistency: For all their attacking brilliance, Scotland’s inability to maintain intensity for 80 minutes has been a recurring theme. Against Italy, they dominated possession but couldn’t convert it into points. Against England, they were magnificent throughout but that was the exception rather than the rule. Their last two Cardiff encounters saw them build enormous leads before retreating into their shells. Townsend’s decision to replace Russell with Stafford McDowall in the 61st minute of last year’s Edinburgh encounter against Wales coincided with the hosts losing their attacking shape — a lesson the coach will have noted. “If we want to go to France and win there, we need an 80-minute performance,” Russell said after last year’s Cardiff scare.

The wider picture

The championship standings after two rounds tell a clear story. France lead on ten points after bonus-point victories over Ireland and Wales. Scotland sit second on six, with England third on five, Italy fourth on five, and Ireland fifth on four. Wales prop up the table without a point.

For Scotland, a bonus-point victory would take them to 11 points and temporarily above France — who do not play until Sunday when they host Italy in Lille — and into pole position for what would be their first championship since the Five Nations era in 1999. It would also represent a first step towards the Triple Crown, with Ireland and France still to come. This is uncharted territory for a side that has never won the Six Nations, and the opportunity to build genuine momentum against a struggling Welsh side is one they cannot afford to squander.

For Wales, the ambitions are painfully modest. A competitive performance — and specifically a strong start that engages the Principality Stadium crowd — would represent progress from the wreckage of the first two rounds. A victory, however improbable, would send shockwaves through the tournament and end a Six Nations losing streak stretching back to March 2023. The return of Costelow, the debut of Hamer-Webb, and the closed roof — which Lake described as turning the stadium into “the heartbeat of the nation” — provide at least the faintest flicker of hope.

What they said

Dewi Lake (Wales captain): “You speak about people being a 16th man, especially in the Principality Stadium with the roof closed. When it erupts, I think it is the heartbeat of the nation. It’s our job to get people rocking, to get people enjoying the game and putting smiles on faces. All we ask for in return is the support and noise, and people feeding us that energy.”

Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland captain): “I stand by what I said during the week and I’m happy we got behind our coach and put in a performance we can be proud of [against England]. I want to enjoy tonight with my teammates but make no mistake we’ll be all hands on deck. We’ll prepare to the best of our abilities to back up this performance.”

Steve Tandy (Wales head coach): “Looking at last year’s game against Scotland it was a high score at half-time. It’s something for us to focus on to be more disciplined at the start and to be more accurate. Hopefully that will get us to a place where the game is tight.”

Gregor Townsend (Scotland head coach): “I’m sure last week a lot of people thought England were clear favourites, so the game is not about predictions and previous form. It’s a lot about what you do in those 80 minutes, and we’ve got to make sure that we get our game out.”

Team news

Wales: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears); 14 Gabriel Hamer-Webb (Leicester Tigers), 13 Eddie James (Scarlets), 12 Joe Hawkins (Scarlets), 11 Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby); 10 Sam Costelow (Scarlets), 9 Tomos Williams (Gloucester Rugby); 1 Rhys Carre (Saracens), 2 Dewi Lake (Ospreys, capt), 3 Tomas Francis (Provence Rugby), 4 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs), 5 Ben Carter (Dragons), 6 Taine Plumtree (Scarlets), 7 Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby), 8 Aaron Wainwright (Dragons).
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias (Scarlets), 17 Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers), 18 Archie Griffin (Bath Rugby), 19 Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby), 20 James Botham (Cardiff Rugby), 21 Kieran Hardy (Ospreys), 22 Jarrod Evans (Harlequins), 23 Blair Murray (Scarlets).

Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse); 14 Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), 13 Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), 12 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors, capt), 11 Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby); 10 Finn Russell (Bath Rugby, vice-capt), 9 Ben White (Toulon); 1 Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors), 2 Dave Cherry (Vannes), 3 Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), 4 Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors), 5 Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), 6 Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), 7 Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors, vice-capt), 8 Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: 16 George Turner (Harlequins), 17 Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), 18 Elliot Millar Mills (Northampton Saints), 19 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), 20 Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), 21 George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), 22 Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears), 23 Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby).

Did you know?

• Scotland have won three consecutive Six Nations matches against Wales for the first time since winning five in a row between 1923 and 1927
• Wales’ Louis Rees-Zammit leads the Six Nations this year in metres made (238) and defenders beaten (11), while Scotland’s Kyle Steyn has beaten 10 defenders
• Scotland have won just twice at the Principality Stadium/Millennium Stadium in the professional era — in 2002 and 2024
• Wales have not won a Six Nations home match since beating Scotland 20-17 in February 2022 — some 1,470 days ago
• Duhan van der Merwe’s 35 tries in 52 Tests give him a scoring rate of 0.67 per match — the highest of any Scottish international
• Half of Scotland’s tries this championship have originated from lineouts, while all three of Wales’ tries have come from tap penalties
• Rory Darge leads the 2026 Six Nations in turnovers won (six), while Aaron Wainwright leads all forwards for defenders beaten (seven)
• Scotland have failed to win their next match after six of their last nine Calcutta Cup victories

The verdict

Scotland’s superiority in talent, depth and recent form makes them clear favourites, and the return of Van der Merwe and Kinghorn only widens the gap on paper. If Russell is afforded time and space — and Wales’ tackle success rate suggests he will be — Scotland’s backline has the firepower to inflict serious damage.

Yet this fixture has a habit of defying logic, and several factors counsel caution. The closed Principality Stadium roof eliminates the kicking lottery that rain can bring and creates an atmosphere that has historically inspired Welsh sides to performances beyond their standing. Tandy’s intimate knowledge of Scotland’s defensive structures and attacking patterns could prove significant if Wales can generate enough possession to exploit it. And Scotland’s well-documented tendency to switch off after building leads — allied to the emotional comedown from a Calcutta Cup triumph — means the visitors must guard against complacency.

The key for Wales is avoiding another catastrophic start. If they can remain competitive through the opening quarter, engage the crowd, and take the game deep into the second half, the Principality Stadium can do the rest. If they concede early, as they have in every match this campaign, the stadium will empty and Scotland will have the freedom to play the expansive rugby at which they excel.

Expect Scotland’s quality to tell eventually, but do not be surprised if Wales make them work considerably harder for this victory than the odds suggest. Townsend’s side should have enough to prevail with a bonus point, but the margin may be tighter than anyone in a dark blue jersey would like — as it always seems to be when Scotland visit Cardiff.

Match Officials

Referee: Matthew Carley (RFU)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (RFU), Adam Leal (RFU)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
FPRO: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Kick-off: Saturday, 21st February 2026, 4.40pm GMT | Principality Stadium, Cardiff