Jamie Ritchie back in starting XV as Scotland make three changes for Calcutta Cup clash against England

Gregor Townsend has recalled former captain Jamie Ritchie into the starting XV for Scotland’s Six Nations clash with England at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The old enemies will battle it out for the Calcutta Cup in Edinburgh this weekend, with the Scots looking to retain the trophy for a fourth successive year.

Three changes have been made to the side that lost in controversial fashion to France, with Ritchie returning at blindside flanker in place of Matt Fargerson after being dropped from the squad completely for the second round of fixtures.

Elsewhere, Blair Kinghorn has been selected to start at full-back after missing the first two games through injury and Kyle Steyn returns on the right wing.

Harry Paterson and Kyle Rowe, who both started against France, drop out of the matchday squad, with Ben Healy preferred on the bench as cover for the back three.

Scotland won their opening game of the campaign after surviving a second-half comeback to win 27-26 over Wales and leave Cardiff with a first victory in 22 years.

Townsend’s side then looked like they had made it two wins from two when Sam Skinner went over the line with the clock in the red against France before referee Nic Berry and TMO Brian MacNeice decided there wasn’t conclusive evidence the ball had been grounded.

England come into the game on the back of narrow wins over Italy and Wales and alongside Ireland, are the only other team that can still win the Grand Slam.

Scotland have lifted the Calcutta Cup three times in a row and in five of the last six years but Steve Borthwick’s side came agonisingly close to getting to the final of last year’s Rugby World Cup, while the visitors could be boosted by the return of both Ollie Lawrence and Manu Tuilagi.

Starting XV: Blair Kinghorn, Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell (co-capt), Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge (co-capt), Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Andy Christie, George Horne, Ben Healy, Cameron Redpath.

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