Greig Laidlaw: Scotland can ruin England’s Six Nations Grand Slam bid

Greig Laidlaw claims Scotland can ruin England’s Grand Slam bid despite the potential return of Nathan Hughes, Joe Marler, Kyle Sinckler and Elliot Daly for the Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield on February 24.

England head into the third leg of a potential Slam with the Scots already sounding bullish after coming from behind on Sunday to beat France 32-26.

Laidlaw, who kicked 22 points, said: “Our performance is going to have to go up a notch to beat England. They’re on a big run, so it’ll be a tough game, but if we turn up and play the right rugby I believe we’re going to be in it. We can beat anyone.”

While Wales could justly claim to have had a Gareth Anscombe try ruled out by a poor TMO call, there was no hiding the fact that England won the aerial battle, thanks to the superb kicking of Owen Farrell and George Ford and the chasing of wings Anthony Watson, Jonny May and replacement Jack Nowell.

Farrell said: “They chased every kick properly. They didn’t hang back and wait to see what happened. They went from the off, got up in the air and caused problems. I am not talking about getting up and catching the ball clean, I’m on about causing chaos.”