England v Scotland Preview | Guinness Women’s Six Nations 2025

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - APRIL 13: Scotland's Francesca McGhie in action during a Guinness Women's Six Nations match between Scotland and Italy at The Hive Stadium, on April 13, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Mark Scates / SNS Group)

What they said

Head Coach Bryan Easson said: “We were really disappointed with our performance against Italy, so this week is a good opportunity to put that one to bed and show the progress that this group have made over the years. It’s a huge task, but it’s a task that we are certainly up for.

“Obviously when you play the best team in the world you have to look at where their strengths lie and how to nullify that, but we’ve got to try and play our own game as well.

“It’s a great opportunity for our uncapped players (Gemma Bell, Rhea Clarke and Rachel Philipps) to show what they’ve shown us in training. Yes, it’s a big task, but we’re bringing in players who we believe can continue to grow Scotland’s national team.

“We felt that the strength of this team was to be 5-3 (split of forwards and backs on the bench). We’re very well aware of the pack that England have and of their bench, but we’re happy with the 23 that we have.”

How they line up

Last meetings

2024: Scotland 0 – 46 England, Hive Stadium, Edinburgh
2023: England 58 – 7 Scotland Women, Kingston Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
2022: Scotland 5 – 57 England Women, DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh
2021: England 52 – 10 Scotland Women, Castle Park, Doncaster

Statistics

• Francesca McGhie has beaten 24 defenders in the Championship this year, more than any other player, with teammate Chloe Rollie beating the third most (12). Rollie was the last Scot to score a try against the Red Roses.
• Evie Gallagher tops the charts in the 2025 Guinness Women’s Six Nations thus far for breakdown steals, with six.
• Rachel McLachlan, who earns her 50th cap on Saturday, has completed 41 tackles in the tournament thus far, the most of any Scot.
• Should Rhea Clarke be capped from the bench, it would make her and Elliann the sixth set of sisters to be capped for Scotland.