England’s Farrell in injury scare ahead of Scotland clash

England have won their last 17 games and victory against Scotland would see Eddie Jones’ side equal the All Blacks’ record for most consecutive Test victories.

Farrell, who was set to start the Calcutta Cup clash at inside centre, limped off during the session at England’s Pennyhill Park training base on Thursday.

Jonathan Joseph and Owen Farrell were the standout performers. “Ben Te’o can play No12, he’s an exceptional player, so there’s no risk for us”.

The first England try came from quick lineout ball as fast hands led to Joseph slicing through from 30 metres out.

But that may change if Owen Farrell succumbs to injury instead of striding onto the Twickenham turf in his straight-backed, steely-eyed, cock-of-the-north pomp, and is replaced by Ben Te’o as the starting inside centre and George Ford as first-choice goal-kicker.

Their hopes of ending that barren run, however, were reeling within three minutes, completely sunk before a quarter of the match was played and looked risible by the time Care soared through the air for England’s spectacular seventh try.

Farrell made it 20-0 with the conversion.

Scotland couldn’t get a foothold in the game.

When England and Scotland do battle, each side will have a Norfolk-born player – and they will be up against each other. Dan Cole 4. Joe Launchbury 5. A penalty at the ruck gave Farrell another look at the posts, and he converted easily, making the score 13-0.

“Our preparation for Scotland has been very good”, said England head coach Jones.

Not since 1990 (during the Five Nations era) have Scotland beaten Ireland, Wales and England in the same championship, and with two of those three vanquished already this year, all roads lead to Twickenham this Saturday.

Scotland, who were a shadow of the side that beat Ireland and Wales, carded tries from Gordon Reid and Huw Jones (2) in a poor display.

It was also the highest points total in a Calcutta Cup game while Joseph’s hat trick was only the fourth in a Calcutta Cup after Cyril Lowe, John Carelton and Jamie Noon in a contest stretching as far back as 1879. The Vunipola brothers will be chomping at the bit to get stuck in as will Anthony Watson.

SCOTLAND: Hogg (Glasgow); Seymour (Glasgow), Jones (Stormers), Dunbar (Glasgow), Visser (Harlequins), Russell (Glasgow), Price (Glasgow); Reid (Glasgow), Brown (Glasgow), Fagerson (Glasgow), R Gray (Toulouse), J Gray (Glasgow), Barclay (Scarlets, capt), Watson (Edinburgh), Wilson (Glasgow).