Preview: Scotland v Red Roses

11 Apr 2024 | 6 min |

Everything you need to know ahead of England Women's Six Nations clash with Scotland in Edinburgh.

England opened their 2024 Guinness Women's Six Nations account with a 0-48 victory over Italy in Parma, before hosting Wales at Bristol's Ashton Gate Stadium. Ellie Kildunne scored a brace for the second week running as the Red Roses finished the game 46-10 winners.

When?	Saturday 13 April
Where?	Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
Kick off	14:15 BST
Where can I watch?	BBC 1

John Mitchell's side are back in action this weekend after the tournament's fallow week; they make their way to Edinburgh's Hive Stadium to face Scotland, who are on the search for their second win of the 2024 Championship after defeating Wales 18-20 in round one and falling to a 5-15 loss to France on home soil.

LAST TIME OUT

Marlie Packer’s hat-trick helped England on their way to a 58-7 win over Scotland in last year's Championship opener. All three of the flanker’s tries came within nine second half minutes and the Red Roses crossed 10 times in all at Kingston Park, with Claudia MacDonald and Amy Cokayne each scoring doubles.

Tatyana Heard, Poppy Cleall and Sadia Kabeya also went over to ensure the last match of Sarah Hunter’s illustrious career ended in victory.

VIEWS FROM CAMP

John Mitchell: "We've selected a strong squad. We want to raise our game and we want to raise a level in our performance. We felt we didn't finish the game as well as we could've against Wales so we want to take ownership of that as well and there is obviously lots of competition within the group for positions in the team.

"Cohesion in the back line is important, familiarisation and playing together I think gives them more confidence in each other and it does help with timing. It definitely gives us more flow and you can see more energy and connections."

BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - APRIL 09: England Red Roses Head Coach John Mitchell looks on during a England Red Roses Training Session at Pennyhill Park on April 09, 2024 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Zoe Aldcroft: "Scotland have built some good momentum coming into this game, they had a good run from WXV into the Six Nations and we know a lot of their players because we play week in, week out with them in the league, so we have an idea of how they play and we've got our eyes on a couple players we're looking to target.

"Playing in a sold-out stadium is super exciting. We always want to play to a full crowd and Scotland have that for the first time at the Hive Stadium. It's special for Scotland but also for us to have the travelling England fans there too."

Rosie Galligan: "We're really excited heading into the next round. We're hoping that it's similar to what it was two years ago when the sun was shining and it was fantastic playing conditions. For us, we've had our fallow week and had a reset, so this week has all been about hitting the ground running and getting ready for the big game on Sunday.

BAGSHOT, ENGLAND - APRIL 09: Rosie Galligan wins the ball in the lineout during a England Red Roses Training Session at Pennyhill Park on April 09, 2024 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

"For us, we know Scotland are a fit team, they like to keep the ball in play for long periods of time and that's something that we're working on. We want to be the fittest team in the tournament so counteracting Scotland at the weekend is going to be huge for us."

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

2023: Red Roses 58-7 Red Roses

2022: Scotland 5-57 Red Roses

2021: Red Roses 52-10 Scotland

2020: Scotland 0-53 Red Roses

2019: Red Roses 80-0 Scotland

2018: Scotland 8-43 Red Roses

STATS

England have won each of their last 25 Guinness Women's Six Nations matches against Scotland by an average margin of 46 points and have scored an average of 60 points per game across their last five encounters, while conceding a total of just 22 in return.

⁠England have won each of their last 26 Guinness Women's Six Nations matches, the longest ever winning run by any side in the history of the men's or women's Championships - the Red Roses have scored 40+ points in 10 of their last 12 Championship games.

Scotland (1.65) and England (0.77) are the only two teams to have conceded fewer than two points per defensive 22m entry in the 2024 Guinness Women's Six Nations - England have also scored more points per attacking 22m.

Scotland have won two of their last three Guinness Women's Six Nations home games (L1) after winning just three in 31 previously (D1L27)

Scotland (91.3%) and England (90.8%) have the two highest tackle success rates of any sides in this year's Guinness Women's Six Nations, while England also have the highest tackle evasion rate of any team in the Championship (26.3%).