Steve Borthwick announces England Six Nations team for Calcutta Cup LIVE

England host Scotland in Calcutta Cup on the opening weekend of the Six Nations and new head coach Steve Borthwick is naming his team for the match this afternoon.

Borthwick takes charge of England for the first time against Gregor Townsend’s team who have won the last two matches in this fixture. The English have beaten the Scots only once in their last five Six Nations meetings, and this time come up against Townsend’s side in confident mood after a promising Autumn Series.

England finished third in last year’s Six Nations while Scotland were fourth, with both nations finishing with two wins and three defeats. Borthwick’s task is to win England’s first Championship since 2020 after replacing Eddie Jones as head coach.

After hosting the Scots at Twickenham on 4 February, Italy then visit a week later before a trip to Cardiff at the end of the month to take on Wales. England’s Six Nations campaign finishes in March with the visit of France and finally a trip to Dublin to take on Ireland on the final weekend.

Follow all the updates as England announce team to face Scotland in Six Nations opener:

England Six Nations team announcement

• Steve Borthwick to name first England team squad at 2.45pm

• England face Scotland in Six Nations opener on Saturday

• England veteran Manu Tuilagi expected to be left out, Joe Marchant in line for a recall

Who is currently in England’s 29-man squad?

14:05 , Michael Jones

Forwards:

Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 95 caps), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 1 cap), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 9 caps), Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby, 3 caps), Ben Earl (Saracens, 13 caps), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 43 caps), Jamie George (Saracens, 72 caps), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 8 caps), Maro Itoje (Saracens, 62 caps), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 14 caps), David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 3 caps), Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 56 caps), Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 74 caps), Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped).

Backs:

Owen Farrell (Saracens, 101 caps), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 3 caps), Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped), Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 7 caps), Max Malins (Saracens, 14 caps), Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 13 caps), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, uncapped), Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 17 caps), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps), Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 50 caps), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps), Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 51 caps), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 121 caps).

When is the England squad being announced?

14:00 , Michael Jones

New England head coach Steve Borthwick is set to reduce his current 29-man squad to the matchday 23 on Thursday afternoon.

The England squad will be released at 2.45pm.

England’s Six Nations team announcement

12:49 , Michael Jones

The new head coach of England men’s rugby, Steve Borthwick, is set to announcement his first team squad for their opening Six Nations match against Scotland on Saturday.

Borthwick has a squad of 29 players that needs whittling down to 23 for the match with the announcement set for 2.45pm this afternoon.

Some early rumours have leaked through the cracks and England veteran Manu Tuilagi is expected to be left out though Joe Marchant could face a recall.

Scotland have won both of the last two matches in this fixture with England only managing one win out of the last five Six Nations clashes.

Can Borthwick’s team turn around that poor form?