Scottish Rugby

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Captain Michele Lamaro ended Italy's post-match news conference with an unprompted tribute to Hollie Davidson after the Scottish official became the first woman to referee a men's Six Nations game.

"I just want to congratulate her," said Lamaro following the Italians' 20-13 defeat by Ireland in Dublin.

"She has been doing so much for world rugby and our game and I think it's an important thing to say.

"I appreciated the work we did together today on the pitch.

"Whatever the decision was, I was backing her and making sure everything was going the right way so I just want to congratulate her and thank her for the effort on the field."

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After a rejuvenated Scotland swept England aside at Murrayfield, the pundits had their say. Here's a taste...

Ex-Scotland prop Peter Wright: "I thought in the second half they made England look pretty mediocre.

"What frustrates me about Scotland is they can give you a performance like this, but they can also give you a performance like they did in Italy.

"The players deserve all the plaudits."

Former Scotland flanker Johnnie Beattie: "What a game. Scotland were humbled last week and England have been humbled today.

"An incredibly deserved win for Scotland, they were worthy winners.

"I think the two boys that have stood up today are the two wingers [Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie]. They have fought for everything and bossed that aerial contest."

Scotland's all-time top point-scorer Chris Paterson: "Reward for one of the bravest performances I've seen from a Scotland side for a long time."

Ex-England scrum-half Matt Dawson: "England will bounce back but sometimes you don't get what you think you should get.

"You have to go out there and understand what the opposition could bring.

"This is Scotland's sweet spot. This is a really good Scotland squad with great coaching staff, who have the capability to humble the form team in the world. They need to embrace it.

"We talked all the way through about the accumulation of errors against teams like Scotland, everyone wrote them off but they are a really good side.

"They were better than an 11-point lead."

Former Scotland captain John Barclay: "They need to back it up.

"Sione [Tuipulotu] and Gregor [Townsend] have spoken about that, so we know that's what their focus will be. The very best sides, the drop-off isn't as big.

"You could tell 20 minutes in, the bravery, the aggression, the intent. There's something about this fixture in this stadium. Against the other nations, it doesn't stack up."

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Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend tells ITV: "I think I was just so proud of the way we played tonight.

"After 20 minutes I thought that was some of the best rugby we've every played. It's all you want as a coach and then to see the effort in the second half, we became a team that would fight for each other and the supporters.

"A special mention to our supporters. We've given them something to shout about for the next 12 months.

"We know that rugby brings out the best in us, being very aggressive and playing at speed. I thought that was one of Finn Russell's best games for Scotland and the work rate of our forwards was superb.

"There's so many games that you play well but the opposition paly well too and they can get narrow wins or come back and win. We know we're up there with the teams we come up against, sometimes you can't get the win but we're really pleased we got it today.

"The players can share the joy with their families, they can enjoy having the trophy in the changing room but we're back on it next week and we go to Cardiff to build on what we did today."

Rampant Scotland bounced back from Six Nations defeat by Italy a week ago to blow England away in a bonus-point win in a pulsating Calcutta Cup at a riotous Murrayfield.

Read the full match report here.

Let us know your thoughts here.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu has hit back at media criticism directed at his team and head coach Gregor Townsend in the wake of last weekend's Six Nations defeat to Italy in Rome.

The loss in the tournament opener increased the pressure on Townsend, with many pundits and fans believing, after nine years in the job, it's time for a new voice in the dressing room.

Tuipulotu says he remains firmly behind Townsend and took aim at those in the media who have questioned the head coach.

Speaking on the eve of Scotland's Calcutta Cup match with England, Tuipulotu said: "Everyone's got a phone and we know about the things that are getting said about our coach, but we understand it as well.

"At the end of the day, Test rugby is about winning and fans and people get frustrated when you don't do that.

"It's not that we're delusional to the fact that we need to get results in order to avoid that type of stuff.

"But it's also a kind of thing where, you know, we open up our phones and see the media and everything like that... and it's easy to sit in that chair that you [the media] are sitting in right now.

"That's the main thing us players have to realise. It's easy to write those stories. And because you're not the man in the arena and have to go out there where the loss is, where the win is, it's easy to sit where you are.

"It's hard to sit where we're sitting at the moment when we haven't got the results that we've wanted.

"But we have to pull it together because it's our only option. And we understand the heat our coach is under, but I'm not going to get up here and say we should get rid of our coach or maybe give you guys the headlines, because that's not how I feel at all."

We asked for your views after Gregor Townsend named his Scotland XV to face England at Murrayfield.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Paul: I can see Townsend's thinking but I can't help but feel the make-up and balance of the 23 is off. Still, what do I know? If we see Finn Russell subbed off at the hour mark for Adam Hastings, with a record victory in sight, no one will be more delighted than me. I won't be putting any money on it, however.

Tommy: The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Why oh why Gregor have you gone with the same again? Time to ride off into the sunset. Can't shake the feeling Vern Cotter would've gotten far more out of the players Gregor has had available to him. If I had the money I'd pay for Joe Schmidt out of my own pocket.

Ewan: Delusional. Abject failure, no threat, picked because they can catch but didn't and no consequences. Steve Borthwick supporting Toonie is like Kris Boyd supporting Wilfried Nancy. Blind loyalty does not mean it is a happy ship.

David: I think selection of Jamie Dobie (more a nine than a wing) is a strange one. We need the experience of Blair Kinghorn and could use Duhan van der Merwe as a wrecking ball off the bench. Kinghorn could also cover full-back. Tom Jordan is class and proven in England and normally plays 10 so why do we need Hastings? I would have had Kinghorn on the wing and an extra forward like Andy Onyeama-Christie, used to playing the English, on the bench. I hope we win this otherwise my English neighbours are going to be unbearable.

Arran: No Kinghorn? Really? Can see the continued absence of Duhan, despite his previous record against England, but Kinghorn is tall, good in the air and electric in attack. Even if he's not playing his best, he's a better fit for the modern kick-based strategy and better than Tom Jordan at full-back. I like the inclusion of Jamie Ritchie in the forwards to combat the English jackal threat and I'm happy for Gregor Brown to get the start, but 5-3 on the bench with Hastings in is just a bit baffling.

J Oliver: Townsend is now such a joyless manager. Emotionless and robotic. He inspires nothing and reeks of the corporation. And like the corporate or political class he never sees his own faults and thus won't go until pushed.

Your unmissable Calcutta Cup preview episode has landed.

Has Kyle Rowe been overlooked? Why can't Blair Kinghorn get into the Scotland 23? Will Adam Hastings actually come off the bench?

And what does it say about Scottish rugby when the starting XV doesn't have an Edinburgh player?

Tom English and Andy Burke discuss all these burning questions and more - listen and subscribe on BBC Sounds.

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has been speaking to the media after naming his side to face England in Saturday's Six Nations clash at Murrayfield.

Here are the main points:

• Townsend says he "still believed the team would come back and win" after conceding two quick tries against Italy, but "the rain made it a very different game".

• He admits "we obviously did something wrong because we didn't get the win" but he doesn't think the side "unravelled" against the Italians.

• On the backlash from defeat in Rome, Townsend says "the feeling of losing is worse than the distraction of people giving their opinions to the group or me as a coach".

• He insists "lessons have been learned" from the Autumn Tests, adding the team "showed they were together and connected" in Italy last weekend.

• On the "huge" visit of England: "It's our biggest game of the season, it always has been and it's even more important on the back of a disappointing defeat. We know our supporters are behind us, as they always are, and we'll need their energy at the weekend."

• On his team selection, Townsend says: "Ewan Ashman being injured is a blow for him, he's been one of our best players over the last couple of seasons."

• He adds: "It's a big decision not involving Grant Gilchrist, I can count on one hand the players who have given more in this jersey over the years. But the team we've selected we feel can make a good impact at the start but also going into that final quarter."

• Townsend was asked if beating England can turn the tide, replying: "It's up to you guys you set the narrative. That's not really relevant for our team and I imagine not for our supporters. Our supporters want to see us winning and that's what we're trying to do."

• Explaining why he has stuck with a 5/3 bench split, the Scotland boss says: "Adam [Hastings] covers 10, so it's someone we know can focus on that role during the week and he has been playing very well. There are gambles going 6-2 with limited cover. We think the weather is going to be dry so there is more opportunity for backs coming on to have an influence."

• He adds: "You go into the game with expectations of using the bench but if you don't need to - if players are playing well and there are no injuries - then at times people don't come off the pitch."

• Townsend says it was a difficult call not to involve Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn again, but feels the backs deserve another go: "There are reasons we selected that backline and the bench going into Italy and it's the same reasons going into England," he says.

• Townsend says Scotland will have to "raise our game" to win on Saturday but disagrees that big performances have only come against England.

Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

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No Edinburgh player in the starting line-up against England, which is a desperate indictment of the state of affairs there.

Sean Everitt's contract extension was a mystery when it happened and remains a total puzzler now. The history boffins now searching the vastness of their big brains to find out when, if ever, Scotland have had no representation from the capital club (1998 was the last time).

I can only imagine England will be looking at that Scotland back three and smiling at the absence of Duhan van der Merwe, in particular, but also Blair Kinghorn. Neither make it in the 23 again.

Big Duhan is not in good form, it's true. And the way the game has gone with so much contestable kicking is not in his favour. But the guy scares the life out of England, has X-factor and is a big-game operator.

Kinghorn is on his way back to Toulouse. A penny for his thoughts. From one of Scotland's main men to a no-part player. Again, he's not been playing great, but he's pedigree and offers something different. Very surprised he's not at least on the bench as a utility man.

Ewan Ashman is injured so George Turner gets the nod with Dave Cherry on the bench. Cherry hasn't played a game (in the second tier in France for a month).

Not long after he came on in Rome, Turner got yellow-carded for a ridiculous bout of ill discipline. He seems to have been forgiven quite quickly. Gregor Hiddleston should be in this 23. The Glasgow hooker has been exceptional all season.

Andy Burke
BBC Sport Scotland Senior Reporter

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After that dismal display in Rome, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend was always going to have some tough decisions to make on his team to face England this weekend.

There might have been a temptation to recall Duhan van der Merwe, Scotland's record try scorer who has such a wonderful personal record against England.

Townsend has instead shown faith in the back three of Kyle Steyn, Jamie Dobie and Tom Jordan, who struggled individually and collectively at the Stadio Olimpico.

Pierre Schoeman, Grant Gilchrist and Ewan Ashman all drop out (Ashman has a neck injury but may well have been dropped anyway) to leave no Edinburgh players in the starting 15. None can have any complaints after the displays in Rome.

Jamie Ritchie should bring some edge that was sorely missing in Rome, and his ability in the air will be vital in a match that could be won and lost in that area.

I'm surprised Townsend has stuck with the 5/3 bench. It proved to be a mistake last weekend and seeing the firepower England will be bringing on late in the game, it looks like a gamble yet again.

One of the curious elements of Scotland's defeat to Italy was Adam Hastings not seeing a minute off action off the bench. That begged the question - why was he there in the first place?

Was he simply there as injury cover for Finn Russell? If so, it was merely a wasted spot on the bench.

The modern game is so demanding there is simply no room for players who are not going to feature.

It will be interesting to see what role, if any, Hastings plays against England.

Under-pressure Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made four changes for the Calcutta Cup match with England at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Grant Gilchrist and Pierre Schoeman drop out of the pack and there is again no place in the team for Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe. Kinghorn and Van Der Merwe don't even make the squad.

The changes from the dismal defeat in Italy all come in the forwards. George Turner replaces injured Ewan Ashman at hooker, Jamie Ritchie comes into the back row in place of Matt Fagerson, Nathan McBeth starts at loosehead prop and Glasgow Warriors team-mate Gregor Brown is deployed at lock.

What do you make of the team selection? Can Scotland bounce back in style against the Auld Enemy?

Share your views here.

Scotland: Jordan, Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu (capt), Dobie, Russell, White; McBeth, Turner, Z Fagerson, Brown, Cummings, Ritchie, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Cherry, Schoeman, Millar-Mills, Williamson, M Fagerson, Horne, Hastings, Graham.

BBC Sport Scotland's Andy Burke has been answering some of your Scottish rugby questions as Gregor Townsend's men prepare to host England after losing their Six Nations opener in Italy.

Graeme asked: Do you think the SRU see what we fans see with Gregor Townsend and Sean Everitt? And if they don't, what are they seeing that we aren't?

Andy answered: It's hard to know what those at the top of Scottish Rugby are seeing because they engage very little with the media, either on or off the record.

When chief executive Alex Williamson did a briefing after Scotland's disappointing autumn, he said "nothing has changed" in terms of the plan to have Townsend leading Scotland into the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Performance director David Nucifora is coming to the end of his contract and seems to have little appetite to make significant changes, as was demonstrated by the baffling contract extension for Edinburgh coach Everitt.

If the SRU bosses cannot now see the strength of feeling among the fans for a change then they either are not paying attention, or they do not care.

Perhaps having given Townsend an extension less than six months ago, Williamson and Nucifora are unwilling to admit they made the wrong call.

A win over England on Saturday will take a little sting out of the situation, but a bad defeat and those fans may well make their feelings clear at Murrayfield.

Liam asked: Where do we go from here? After the two losses in the autumn and in Rome, all these teams know we have no stubbornness about us. First time in a while I have no faith in this team. All that talk after November, to produce that? It's shameful.

Andy answered: Where do Scotland go from here? How many times have we asked that question?

Another loss to England and the fear is this could turn into a disastrous Six Nations. A trip to Cardiff follows in round three and while Wales are poor right now, Steve Tandy will have them fired up and I can't help but feel they have one big performance in them in this championship.

Conversely, wins over England and Wales puts them back in the hunt and restores a bit of positivity.

The problem with this Scotland team is even if they do end England's 12-game winning run, would you be confident they will back it up with three strong performances? No.

The team looks a little lost after the capitulation against Argentina and last weekend's poor showing in Rome.

If they can't muster a bit of fire and ferocity against England then it will only confirm that this coaching regime has run its course.