THE most fanatical supporters may disagree but there is no denying the task at hand when Scotland take on England at Murrayfield in the third round of the competition on Saturday afternoon (kickoff KL 12.45am Sunday).
There has been much improvement in the quality of rugby by Scotland beginning with the last World Cup in the northern autumn of 2015 but of the five home unions, the credit has been heavily in favour of England in the last five years, with the side showing so much depth and composure on the field.
England is hoping for a record three consecutive titles in either the Five or Six Nations and must win this weekend to be on course but Scotland wants to spoil the party and win four matches in the tournament for the first time since it became the Six Nations in 2000. Its best have been three wins but only twice in all of 18 editions -- 2006 and last year.
Scotland and Italy are also the only teams not to have won the title.
By comparison, of the six teams England has won the title the most – six times, two of these Grand Slams.
But Scotland did manage to deny England another Grand Slam with a 15-9 win at Murrayfield in 2008. That was quite a feat because it was the only Scottish success in that year’s competition. The next best result for the boys in navy blue was 15-15 in 2010, also at home.
Both teams though don’t need much for motivation, with the talk north of the border being about the “Auld Enemy” while those in the south remind their opponents of how big a task this is for them despite playing in front of full house of 67,000 mainly home supporters.
Eddie Jones has won 24 of his 25 games in charge so far with England and it was against Scotland at Murrayfield in 2016 that he tasted his first Six Nations success, the scoreline being 15-9.
Over in Dublin in an earlier game (kickoff 10.15pm KL Saturday), Ireland coach Joe Schmidt knows that his boys too will have to be at their best against a Wales that still aspires to win the title despite the 12-6 setback against England two weekends ago.
The visitors should be much stronger with the availability of senior players Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Biggar and Liam Williams while injuries have weakened the Irish, at least on paper. Those taking over from the injured have only made limited appearances in the green of Ireland.
Prop Andrew Porter has only one cap, centre Chris Farrell who is replacing Rob Henshaw has two while Bundee Aki, the New Zealand-born regular midfielder since his debut in November, has four.
Number 8 Taulupe Faletau was originally cleared to play but has since been released back to his club Bath but the three returning Wales’s first-choices of Halfpenny, Biggar and Liam Williams have a combined 165 caps.
Results-wise there has been very little to separate the two but after the 16-16 draw in 2016, Wales won at home last year 22-9.
Today’s (Friday) New Zealand conference Super Rugby opening round was a cracker, with the lead going back and forth between home team the Highlanders and the Blues.
Nine tries, five to the home team, were scored and the Blues led by seven points into the last quarter before a sinbinning allowed the 2015 champions to score two converted tries to triumph 41-34.
This meant the poor record the Blues have against the Highlanders continues but there was enough in their game to show that the Blues may well achieve their target of making the playoffs after the regular season.
The second game Friday in Melbourne had the Rebels winning comfortably 45-19 against the Reds.