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  1. Reaction, analysis & interviews after England team announcementpublished at 16:17 GMT

    Scotland v England (Saturday, 16:40 BST)

    George Ford on RUWImage source, Getty Images

    There is plenty more good stuff heading right to the next Rugby Union Weekly podcast episode, including a chat with Saturday's man of the match, the stringpuller-in-chief George Ford.

    That will be out later today so get across the feed if you haven't already.

    But in the meantime you can check out reaction and analysis to England's team to take on Scotland on Saturday below, with a Q&A with rugby union correspondent Chris Jones and interviews with England head coach Steve Borthwick and tighthead history nut Joe Heyes.

    See you on Saturday.

  2. 'Scotland are so talented'published at 16:10 GMT

    Scotland v England (Saturday, 16:40 GMT)

    Steve BorthwickImage source, Getty Images

    England head coach Steve Borthwick on Scotland: "Scotland are a top quality side and as you would expect me to I spoke to our players involved in the summer Lions tour about Scotland's players and coaches who were on that tour and our players speak incredibly highly of them. They are so talented. You look at that backline - it almost a Lions backline from that tour, with Finn Russell, Sione Tuipulotu, Huw Jones, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe. That is an incredible backline - you look at the way they move that ball, it is so dangerous. You look at how Glasgow have been playing.

    "Are they going to play that way? Are they going to go to a kicking game like they did against Italy, which you could understand in that weather? If they bring that phase game, our defence has to be perfect."

  3. 'Marcus has been unreal'published at 16:03 GMT

    Scotland v England (Saturday. 16:40 GMT)

    England head coach Steve Borthwick on Marcus Smith's role in the team: "Marcus was incredible on the training field today, that is the best single thing I could say about Marcus. He is a wonderful rugby player, I thought he did well when he came on on Saturday, but I made a decision to change for this game for this weekend, but the way that Marcus has trained over the past two days has been unreal, that is to his immense credit."

  4. Freeman and Arundell to cover full-back against Scotlandpublished at 15:57 GMT

    Scotland v England (Saturday, 15:40 GMT)

    Tommy Freeman and Henry ArundellImage source, Getty Images

    England head coach Steve Borthwick: "The vast majority of Test matches go down to the final quarter of the game, so having the right players on the pitch at the end of the game is crucial. I look as much at who is going to be on the field and the end of the game as who is on the field at the start of the game."

    On England's cover at full-back and wider tactical flexibility in the backline: "We have a couple of options. With Tommy Freeman playing 13 and Henry Arundell at 11 - both have the ability to play at 15, and both have prepared to step in there if they need to. Fin Smith gives 10 and 12 cover and I am very confident in Ben Earl coming into the backline - as he did against Wales - and Henry Pollock doing the same."

  5. 'The players are hungry'published at 15:51 GMT

    Scotland v England (Saturday, 16:40 GMT)

    Steve BorthwickImage source, Getty Images

    England head coach Steve Borthwick: "It is a credit to the players how coachable they are. I thought Ollie Chessum had a fantastic game at the weekend. But I sat down with him in his one-on-one review and asked him how he thought he went and he listed some things that he did well, but also had things he thought he could improve. Most people would be quite happy to sit on the fact that they played pretty well, but he wanted to do even better.

    On how England's one-to-one review system works: "The coaches split into different positional groups and have a one-on-one with the players in their group. Clearly as head coach I try to have a one-on-one with each and every player and the assistant coaches will do a lot of one-on-ones as well. The players are hungry. They, quite rightly, demand development and detailed attention, because they want to get better."

  6. Borthwick quotes to comepublished at 15:42 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Right, next up with Rugby Union Weekly is England head coach Steve Borthwick, giving a run-down on areas to work on from Wales, his line-up choices and what he expects from Scotland....

  7. 'Everyone is expressing themselves'published at 15:39 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    jOE hEYESImage source, Getty Images

    Joe Heyes on the change in England's team culture: "I think people feel free to be themselves and say what they want. You see these lads like Henry Pollock, they are unapologetically their real selves and showing their real characters and who they are and bringing their best attributes.

    "I think we have grown in quite a large way as a squad in that respect, everyone is expressing themselves and putting it out there. Personally it was the history thing. It all started on the Argentina tour - I would do a little 'back in the day' explainer on the bus and the lads loved it. I don't think a couple of years ago that would have happened."

    You can read more about Joe Heyes' love of history here.

  8. 'It isn't just 'bend over and push'!'published at 15:32 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Joe HeyesImage source, Getty Images

    Joe Heyes on Scotland after their defeat by Italy: "We reviewed the scrums and Scotland would not be happy with that performance against Italy. We can expect them to have a response and a reaction and we will have to be the very best of us."

    What goes on in a scrum review: "It is not so simple as 'bend over and push'. Well, sometimes it is! But we talk about the crouch phase, the bind phase, what we are going to do after the engagement. There is a lot of stuff that goes on. A lot of it is feel when you are in there, but we do have a gameplan and identify personnel and what their strengths and weaknesses are beforehand. They will be doing the same for us."

  9. 'Prop star generation are not waiting for anyone'published at 15:25 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Joe HeyesImage source, Getty Images

    On his development as a prop: "Developing as a young player, with Dan Cole, Will Stuart, Kyle Sinckler in the England set-up, it has always been difficult for me to get my foot in the door, but equally these guys have been setting standards and I have been trying to base my game around the good bits of what they have been doing. It has been a long wait, patience and diligence for me, but I have just been sticking at it and every time I got an opportunity, it wasn't do or die, but I really wanted to do my best.

    "Traditionally, you might think that tight-heads are at their best at 27,28, but you look at this new generation of England props - Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Billy Sela and Afolabi Fasogbon - there is no way they are waiting. If you are that good why wait."

  10. Joe Heyes in the building!published at 15:17 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Joe HeyesImage source, BBC Sport

    First, the bad news. Rugby correspondent Chris Jones has had to close the laptop and stop answering questions.

    Now, the good news. Instead he has picked up his microphone and starting asking questions of England's starting tight-head prop and all-round interesting guy Joe Heyes.

    A sneak preview of his chat with Rugby Union Weekly to come...

    Chris and UgoImage source, Getty
  11. Losing England 10 shirt hurts - Smithpublished at 15:13 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Fin SmithImage source, Getty Images

    Fin Smith spoke about his slip to second-choice in the England pecking order in an interview in December.

    "It was a tough few weeks mentally," Smith told BBC Radio Northampton's Saints Show of England's autumn campaign.

    "You go in with such high expectations, having done well in the Six Nations and gone on the Lions tour, and then getting your head around a few of the selection things - it does sting.

    "It is hard to take. I have absolutely loved how good it feels to wear the England 10 shirt; having that taken away from you does hurt."

  12. 'Perhaps frustrating for Fin Smith'published at 15:10 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent

    Fin SmithImage source, Getty Images

    Question from Eddie: Should Fin Smith be starting more Tests given he is likely to be England's future first-choice 10? Surely benching him won't help him improve as much?

    Hey Eddie. At the back end of the 2025 Six Nations, it looked like it was Fin Smith's shirt for the foreseeable didn't it? But he went on the Lions, Ford got back in the saddle against Argentina, and has been superlative since. It's perhaps frustrating for Fin Smith given he only lost the shirt because he got selected for the Lions! But no-one can argue with Ford's form and experience and the fact he is better than ever at 32. It reminds me of when we asked coach Kevin Sinfield, "How do you keep three quality 10s happy?"

    He replied: "You don't..."

  13. Curry 'still one of the world's best'published at 15:07 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent

    Tom CurryImage source, Getty

    Question from Tim: Why has Tom Curry not been starting? Wasn’t that long ago he was described as the world’s best.

    Hi Tim - I think he still is one of the world's best, as we saw on the Lions. But Guy Pepper was probably England's breakout star last year, and the backrow unit looks well balanced at the moment, especially with Pepper a lineout jumper from number six.

    Curry will no doubt be back in the starting XV before too long, but bear in mind he has had such a tricky injury run, so him playing fewer minutes at the moment might be a godsend for him and England down the track.

  14. Arundell another option for 15?published at 15:03 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Media caption,

    Watch Arundell's 'sensational' solo try for England Under-20s

    Henry Arundell could also be an option at full-back.

    The 23-year-old played much of his early rugby at London Irish there and can pick up pace from depth in backfield with ball in hand.

    This try for England under-20s against their Scottish counterparts in 2022 was evidence of what he can do.

    However, having developed his defence, aerial game and positioning on the wing this season, it might be that Steve Borthwick feels that it would be a lot to shift him to 15.

  15. Where will Fin Smith play?published at 15:01 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent

    Fin SmithImage source, Getty Images

    Question from Tim: Do you think Fin Smith is in the matchday squad to come on at 12 should Arundell struggle under the high ball? Freeman moves out to wing and Dingwall to 13.

    Good question Tim. We will check this with Steve Borthwick shortly but that looks the case. A 6-2 bench always means reshuffling is likely and here it feels like Freeman will cover wing and 15, Dingwall 13, and Fin Smith 10 and 12.

  16. 'Chessum could be an England great'published at 14:58 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent

    Ollie ChessumImage source, Getty

    Question from Peter: Are Itoje and Chessum becoming one of, if the best second-row partnership in world rugby? Chessum really seems to have kicked to another level after the Lions.

    Agreed Peter. Chessum might not get the plaudits outside of England but he has developed into a Test player of genuine class. He could go on to become one of England's greatest locks.

  17. 'Scotland will back themselves to cause Freeman problems'published at 14:54 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent

    Dingwall and FreemanImage source, Getty Images

    Question from Simon: What will Scotland camp think of Freeman playing at 13?

    Hi Simon. Freeman has started a fair few of England's recent Tests at 13 now, so I doubt Gregor Townsend will be too surprised. Yes an experienced combo like Scotland's will back themselves to cause him and England problems in the midfield, but Freeman has played lots of club rugby at centre and is also alongside his clubmate Dingwall - a player who just exudes calm and class.

  18. 'Marcus Smith will always have a role'published at 14:49 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent

    Marcus SmithImage source, Getty Images

    Question from Alec: Chris, Marcus Smith has gone from the coming man, to the man, to third man. Where does he go from here?

    Hi Alec - that's a good question. Even though Marcus was the 10 when England were on a tricky run in 2024, he himself certainly wasn't playing badly. I think it just comes down to game management, something Ford excels at and is one of the strengths of Fin Smith's game too. Marcus will always have a role in this England squad, at the moment it's just not the role he would like.

  19. 'The time will come for Pollock'published at 14:47 GMT

    Scotland v England (Sat, 16:40 GMT)

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent

    Henry PollockImage source, Getty Images

    Question from Arran: Pollock on the bench again? Surely he would be starting for a game like this?

    Hi Arran. The time will come for Pollock to start Test matches, but for now he is perfect for the bench. He is versatile, brings loads of energy, and always gets involved in the action. If the other back row players weren't in good nick then yes he would be pushing to start, but the unit of Pepper, Underhill and Earl has been working so well the past few months. It says a lot when a player of Tom Curry's pedigree also has to bide his time off the bench.

  20. Ioane template for Freeman?published at 14:45 GMT

    Rieko IoaneImage source, Getty Images

    If Tommy Freeman is looking for a template for that wing-outside centre switch, Rieko Ioane would be a good start.

    The All Black began his career on the touchline, scorching in for a couple of tries in the 2017 series against the British and Irish Lions, but has morphed into a high-class physical 13 at Test level.