As the rhetoric is ramped up ahead of the latest edition of the world’s oldest international rugby match, there is a narrative from across the border that this is a rivalry that matters far more to one side than the other.

The suggestion is that England, as multiple Six Nations winners, are more concerned with beating whoever they consider to be their main title challengers in any given year, be it France, Ireland or Wales. Scotland, in contrast, want to defeat England far more than they do anyone else, regardless of what is at stake.

There is undoubtedly more than a grain of truth in that given the same logic could be applied to football and just about any other sport. 

The fact that Scotland have beaten England in the last four meetings also adds further weight to the argument.

Jamie Ritchie, the former Scotland captain, doesn’t entirely disagree. Motivation will not be in short supply when Gregor Townsend takes his squad to Twickenham on Saturday, a venue where the Scots haven’t lost since 2017. 

Beating the Auld Enemy to win or retain the Calcutta Cup will always feel special to those involved.

Jamie Ritchie lifts the Calcutta Cup for Scotland at Twickenham in 2023

Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson tackle Sam Underhill at Murrayfield back in 2020

Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson tackle Sam Underhill at Murrayfield back in 2020

Ritchie admits he can’t speak for his English counterparts and how bothered they are, although given the Red Rose lost this fixture only once between 1991 and 2006, it is fair to assume they were sufficiently roused to try even a little bit in a match-up they reportedly have no interest in.

‘I can’t speak on behalf of the English lads, but it certainly means a lot to us,’ said the back-rower. ‘Whether it means more or less, I don’t know. I guess it’s kind of how you want to motivate yourself.

‘We want to beat England just as much as we want to beat any other team in the Six Nations but, yeah, this one has a special place in our hearts. Maybe it does mean more to us. Maybe that’s why we’ve won in the last couple of years.’

History beckons for Townsend’s team, who have never beaten England five times in a row. The bookmakers, though, don’t rate their prospects, with the home team heavy odds-on favourites on the back of their win over France — and Scotland’s defeat to Ireland — last time out.

Ritchie has no issue with that but insists Scotland will never head into this match — or any other — hindered by an inferiority complex.

‘I think with most Six Nations games, the favourites will be the home team,’ he added. ‘They’ve just come off the back of a big win, we’re off the back of a loss. The bookies will make their decisions based on that. But we know the ability that we have and we know how well we’ve performed against England in the past.

Duhan van der Merwe scored a hat-trick of tries in last year's victory over England

Duhan van der Merwe scored a hat-trick of tries in last year’s victory over England

Scotland suffered a 32-18 defeat against Ireland in round two of the Six Nations

Scotland suffered a 32-18 defeat against Ireland in round two of the Six Nations

‘We never talk about being underdogs in games that we’re playing in. We try to focus on the things that we want to get right within the game and how we can impose ourselves. So, it’s not something that we ever speak about and certainly never in my mindset.

‘It’s still all to play for — anything can happen in the rest of the tournament. There are some pretty high-quality teams in there who could potentially beat Ireland if they go on to keep playing well.

‘All we can do is try and win our upcoming games over the next three fixture weekends and that will put us in the best place possible.’

Ritchie has endured a tumultuous time of it on the international scene over the last few years — deposed as captain and in and out of the team — but Scotland’s last visit to Twickenham in 2023 remains a happy memory. 

A double from Duhan van der Merwe sealed a famous win, allowing Ritchie to go on and lift the trophy.

‘I remember it being a really special moment,’ added the 28-year-old who will swap Edinburgh for Perpignan in the summer. ‘The game itself was a real special one to be a part of. There was obviously a bit of toing-and-froing and some big moments which make it really memorable.

‘Obviously, we had Duhan’s try and the great team try we scored at the end to win it, which was also Duhan’s. And then defending our line really well at the end of the game when they had a chance to win it. So, these are things that made it a really special memory. 

‘The icing on the top was getting to lift the Calcutta Cup there, definitely.’

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