And so it comes now to the great battle of our times.
Or alternatively, really just another rugby game, but one that will undoubtedly select the course of the 2018 Six Nations for Scotland. Win, and amazing things could still happen. Lose, and the Wooden Spoon becomes an unlooked-for reality once again even with Italy still to play.
Oh, and we haven’t beaten England in 10 years, home or away.
So, no pressure then.
Gregor Townsend has opted against the full-on Tombola for what could be the most important game of our season, with no changes to the starting lineup that defeated France. There was a threat of a Siberian snowstorm but the forecast is looking clear and dry. A great day for running rugby, you might say.
That means Pete Horne continues at centre, and Ryan Wilson at 8 which were the only positions with any great debate after Greig Laidlaw proved so useful two weeks ago. Come on, he wasn’t going to drop Finn.
It was announced today that Matt Scott is coming back to his old club on a 2 year deal. (There are also rumours from Big Jim on the Rugby Pod that Luke Hamilton has been targeted for a move north with both Glasgow and Edinburgh interested. Anyway, back to the business in hand). Despite being called up to the squad last weekend, the soon to be Edinburgh-centre has missed out, with in-form Glasgow centre Nick Grigg given a chance to fill the centre spot on the bench instead of Chris Harris, unused last time.
Blair Kinghorn and Ali Price are the other backs on the bench while Tim Swinson is called up ahead of Ben Toolis after a strong showing for Glasgow at the weekend. It is perhaps harsh on Toolis, but Swinson and Gilchrist are more of the type that suit this sort of game, which is likely to represent a further step up in physicality and aggression.
WP Nel (now Willem, it seems) is the other new face on the bench but by and large, this consistent selection represents a chance for the team to build on the France result and put a marker down against England. Gordon Reid said earlier in the week that Scotland were guilty of believing their own hype before the Wales game.
No-one is hyping us much now, which is maybe the best place for Scotland to be.
Scotland: 15. Stuart Hogg, 14. Tommy Seymour, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Pete Horne, 11. Sean Maitland, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Greig Laidlaw; 1. Gordon Reid, 2. Stuart McInally, 3. Simon Berghan, 4. Grant Gilchrist, 5. Jonny Gray, 6. John Barclay (capt), 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Ryan Wilson.
Replacements: 16. Scott Lawson, 17. Jamie Bhatti, 18. Willem Nel, 19. Tim Swinson, 20. David Denton, 21. Ali Price, 22. Nick Grigg, 23. Blair Kinghorn.
England: Mike Brown; Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Jonny May; George Ford, Danny Care; Mako Vunipola, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Chris Robshaw, Nathan Hughes.
Replacements: Jamie George, Joe Marler, Harry Williams, George Kruis, Sam Underhill, Richard Wigglesworth, Ben Te’o, Jack Nowell.
BT Murrayfield, Saturday k.o 4.45pm