Rugby Union Six Nations Betting

England Scotland Review

In this England Scotland review points could be the important factor come next weekend. The biggest total England have notched up at Murrayfield of late was 35, in a 2004 Six Nations slaughter. On that day Scotland replied with 15, and England are 8/1 to repeat the feat and win by a margin of 16 to 20 points. But should Ashton's side secure supremacy and open up the game, they may need to push on for more: a 21 – 25 point victory margin is 10/1, while 26-30 is 12/1.

Not that winning at Murrayfield is itself a forgone conclusion. The white-shirted warriors have only lost twice to their northern neighbours since 1990, but their last trip to Murrayfield – in Six Nations 2006 – resulted in one of these defeats, by 18 points to 12. A similar Scotland victory, by a 6 – 10 point margin, is a 12/1 possibility, and could definitively end England's Six Nations campaign.

Scotland have lost all three matches so far in this tournament, losing by at least 15 points on each occasion - and have only scored one try to England's five. But with the Murrayfield atmosphere at full intensity, the Scots could raise their game and upset the favourites in the bookmakers betting odds, especially given England's proneness to unpredictable performances.

Ashton said: "I've been up there twice with England teams that were predicted to cakewalk the game and lost. This could be the toughest test for us and that's the mentality we need to approach this game with."

Reliable Ian Balshaw will fall in for him, but newboys Lee Mears and Tom Croft will also start – and will look to rejuvenate the pack with pace and verve to complement the power-play of front-rowers Phil Vickery and Andrew Sheridan. The strength of the pack may be the key at Murrayfield, like in the Stade de France.

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