Jon Callard managed an impressive tally of 69 points in just five Test appearances for England, with 15 of them coming the day he won the Calcutta Cup in 1994.
International rugby’s oldest trophy has largely remained in England’s possession since then, save for the odd moment of Scottish glory, and Callard believes it will stay south of the border following Saturday’s clash at Twickenham.
However, the former Bath player believes Scotland will give Eddie Jones’ title favourites, rated at a best-priced 23/20 on the BetFair exchange rugby odds, a real run for their money.
“I don’t think we are going to get the 38-all game that we got two years ago, which is a real shame because that was sensational,” he said.
“I think this game is one for the purists. If England get lineout domination and penalties from that, and kick to the corners and drive, they have proven with Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jamie George that they are a handful to stop near the line.
“Now, if Scotland come out and say, ‘right, our discipline is going to be good, we are not going to give away lineouts, and we’ll keep the ball in play’ and Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson get turnover ball in the loose, and Finn Russell maybe, just maybe, has one of those games, where everything he touches turns to gold, it could be a fascinating game.
“This game is going to be about small margins.”
