Six Nations 2026: England player Maro Itoje returns to the starting line-up against Scotland

Captain Maro Itoje returns to the England starting XV for Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Scotland in Edinburgh.

Itoi, who was on the bench in the 48-7 win over Wales, starts in the second row as one of two changes up front.

Luke Cowan-Dickie is on board with Jamie George, who captained the team in Itoje’s absence last weekend, among the substitutes.

In another change to England’s opening round squad after their opening win, Finn Smith comes to the bench in place of his namesake Marcus.

After four successive defeats from 2021 to 2024, England regained the Calcutta Cup with a narrow 16-15 victory last year in London.

“Scotland are a high-quality team,” coach Steve Borthwick told BBC Sport.

“I spoke to our players on the Lions summer tour about the Scottish players and coaches who took part on that tour and our players were incredibly appreciative of them. They are extremely talented.

“You look at that backline – it’s almost a black backline from that round, with Finn Russell, Sione Tuipolo, Hugh Jones, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn and Dohan van der Merwe. That’s an unbelievable backline and the way they move that ball is very dangerous.

“Are they going to play like that? Are they going to go to a kicking game like they did against Italy, which you can understand in this weather? If they play that stage game, our defense should be perfect.”