The battle for the Calcutta Cup headlines another weekend of top international rugby

NatWest 6 Nations, continues Friday 23 February, BBC + ITV

If you thought the first two rounds of the 6 Nations had everything, then sit tight, because you ain’t seen nothing yet. On Saturday 24 February, rugby’s most historic foes collide in a titanic tussle that’s guaranteed to produce fireworks.

Scotland haven’t beaten England since 2008, but the good news for coach Gregor Townsend is that they have their best team in recent memory and are brimming with confidence after running New Zealand close and beating the mighty Australia at the end of last year.

“This appears to be a new era for Scottish rugby,” raved BBC analyst Jeremy Guscott after watching those performances. “They mean business and have a big chance in the Six Nations.”

So does this mean England coach Eddie Jones should be wary of a resurgent Tartan Army? If he is, he’s not letting on. “I remember before we played them last year they were being talked up as the best team in Europe, so let’s just wait and see,” he says, referencing England’s record-breaking 61-21 triumph at Twickenham in March 2017. Cheeky.

But this epic encounter from Murrayfield isn’t all you should be looking out for when the tournament resumes. Elsewhere, Dublin won’t know what’s hit it when three-time champions Ireland host three-time champions Wales, while France and Italy are ready for battle in front of a passionate Paris crowd. Batten down the hatches, it’s going to be one heck of a weekend.