Sam Warburton risks being disowned by Wales with dangerously pro-English prediction
There are some unspoken rules with rugby, one of which is that if you are Welsh, Irish or Scottish you never back England, regardless of whether they are favourites or not. In fact, you can add the French, South Africans and Australians to that list of ‘anyone but Englanders’.
Well Welsh legend Sam Warburton has proven that he is too much of a consummate professional when it comes to punditry by giving a Calcutta Cup prediction that will leave any Wales fan squirming.
In what he expects is going to be a 50/50 contest, the former Wales captain backed Scotland if the weather in Edinburgh is dry and backed England if it is wet.
https://twitter.com/samwarburton_/status/1489901572343668740?s=20&t=9DuITswEZRBPCTn-4UL-Ow
Given the weather forecast, this is effectively the same as backing England, which is a no go zone in Six Nations rugby. He could find himself in hot water in Wales, and will not prove to be too popular in Scotland either.
Scotland go into the contest as favourites in many people’s eyes given their record over England in recent years. Scott Hastings pointed this out on Twitter recently, although he did provide an update on the weather, which does not bode well for Scotland if Warburton’s prediction is to be believed.
Weather is going to play it’s part in @Scotlandteam v @EnglandRugby #CalcuttaCup @SixNationsRugby Stat: Since 1990 Scotland have only beaten England 6 times. 3 of those wins have been in the last 4 years! Scotland to win by 3pts! pic.twitter.com/uzoEm7si2f
— Scott Hastings (@ScottHastings13) February 5, 2022
Scotland XV
15. Stuart Hogg – Exeter Chiefs – (Captain) – 88 caps
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby – 22 caps
13. Chris Harris – Gloucester Rugby – 31 caps
12. Sam Johnson – Glasgow Warriors – 21 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Worcester Warriors – 13 caps
10. Finn Russell – Racing 92 – (Vice-Captain) – 58 caps
9. Ali Price – Glasgow Warriors – 46 caps
1. Rory Sutherland – Worcester Warriors – 16 caps
2. George Turner – Glasgow Warriors – 20 caps
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 42 caps
4. Jonny Gray – Exeter Chiefs – 64 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby – 48 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby – (Vice-Captain) – 31 caps
7. Hamish Watson – Edinburgh Rugby – 45 caps
8. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 17 caps
Replacements
16. Stuart McInally – Edinburgh Rugby – 43 caps
17. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby – 4 caps
18. WP Nel – Edinburgh Rugby – 43 caps
19. Sam Skinner – Exeter Chiefs – 15 caps
20. Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby – 14 caps
21. Ben White – London Irish – Uncapped
22 Blair Kinghorn – Edinburgh Rugby – 28 caps
23 Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors – 1 cap
ENGLAND XV
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
14. Max Malins (Saracens, 10 caps)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 52 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps)
11. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 7 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 5 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 51 caps)
5. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 3 caps)
6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 36 caps) (C)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)
FINISHERS
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 61 caps)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 74 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)
19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)
20. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 4 caps)
21. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)
22. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 77 caps)
23. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)
