Rugby betting: Six Nations - Scotland vs England

Those with their heads in the clouds will be lumping on England at 1/4 to come up trumps against their oldest rivals Scotland at Murrayfield even though wonder-kid Danny Cipriani has been dropped as full-back after 'inappropriate behaviour'.

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Cipriani saw his chance of a first England start disappear after being spotted coming out of a nightclub on Wednesday night after midnight and coach Brian Ashton acted to discipline the 20-year-old by replacing him with Iain Balshaw. While England fans will be disappointed at missing out on seeing Cipriani, his actions give Balshaw another crack against a side that have been less than impressive during this Six Nations.

Scotland coach Frank Hadden has had problems with his engine room all week and the journos were out in force expecting a recall for 87-cap hero Scott Murray. There had been rumours all week that Perpignan lock Nathan Hines and fellow second-row Scott MacLeod would miss out, and with big Jim Hamilton also an absentee, the whole of Scotland was half expecting Doddie Weir to come out of retirement and partner Murray. Instead, Hadden has named Hines and Macleod in the front-five, and as a reward for his excellent display last time out in difficult circumstances, flanker Alasdair Strokosch gets the nod at the expense of regular skipper Jason White.

Scotland will be heaving a sigh of relief as their second-most talented player, Simon Taylor, has recovered from a hand injury to make his first start since the World Cup. With him in the side, they feel, anything is possible.

Taylor is a magnificent athlete, but the problem for Hadden unfortunately is that England's pack is also their greatest strength. Scotland cannot rely on their forwards to boss and biff England around Murrayfield, especially with the power the visitors can boast of in the hulking shapes of Andrew Sheridan, Phil Vickery, Simon Shaw and Steve Borthwick.

The home side are sure to come off second best in the struggle for supremacy up front and with England finally realising the potential of Lesley Vainikolo coming off his wing, it could really be curtains for the Scots. A nine-point handicap is certainly not too much to ask of Brian Ashton's squad to cover, and with Scotland finding tries a real problem at the moment, Jonny Wilkinson and Co can stroll to an easy victory.

Verdict: 2pt England -8.5 @ 1.7 (Betfair) 

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