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Watch: Barclay labels England 'massive favourites' for Calcutta Cup
By Peter Thompson
Scotland captain John Barclay feels England are "massive favourites" for Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield.
Holders England have won their first two Six Nations matches as they aim to become the first team to win the tournament outright three years in a row.
Scotland have not beaten the 'auld enemy' for a decade and Barclay knows they will have their work cut out in Edinburgh this weekend.
"They've obviously won their first two games [against Italy and Wales], two quite different games, won in different fashions," said the back-row forward.
"They are one of the best teams in the world, their record is fantastic. They come here as massive favourites.
"They are a quality side with the quality players throughout. It's a big challenge for us to stop them."
England beat Wales last time out and Barclay was given a debrief by some of his Scarlets team-mates during the break between international matches.
He added: "I went into the club on the week off and just had a little chat with some of them [Scarlets' Wales contingent] but the footage is there for you to see their strategies.
"They [Wales] gave away two penalties in the whole game - I don't know if that's ever been done before, that disciplined.
"They had a very clear strategy, a few calls here or there and the game could have gone the other way."
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Latest Comments
Yet Ethan Blackadder was one of our best against the World Champion Springbok. When he came back to the Crusaders later in the season , he made a huge difference, ( a long with others like Codie Taylor), we nearly made the Play Off's. Ethan has plenty of rugby left in him. His family , Dad Todd Blackadder must be very [proud of him. Todd Blackadder was a 3 time champion captain of the Crusaders, '98, '99 and 2000.An icon in this area. Also twice captain of Canterbury , '97 and 2001 when we won the NPC and Ranfurly Shield winning captain in 2000.
Go to commentsIt's the same criticism of Dmac and Mo'unga as well. Sadly the way the game has been heading recently it's the only way to break down a defence, and a player of Lawrences nature would have a very limited chance at doing that because he's too one dimensional.
Noah Lolesio is your sort of player and that worked OK, but only because his team is far more creative than Englands for example. The highly organized Irish attack was also another that didn't require much from the 10, but that is now changing with Prendergast who is in that league mold like the most new age 10's.
So it is in fact your two which would require even more change to make the most of than Marcus Smith.
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