England secured a narrow 16-15 victory over Scotland on Saturday at Twickenham, reclaiming the Calcutta Cup after ending their four-match losing streak against their oldest rivals.
The match, which was filled with nail-biting moments, reflected Scotland's ability to outscore England three tries to one. Yet, it was Finn Russell's missed conversions, including one following Duhan van der Merwe's thrilling try late in the game, which proved decisive. The hosts managed to hold on for the win, their second consecutive triumph following their lean performance against France.
Scotland demonstrated their attacking prowess early on, with their first try coming just four minutes after kickoff. The sequence began with England wing Ollie Sleightholme failing to clear the ball effectively, allowing Scotland to gain territory. Duhan van der Merwe showcased his speed and skill, evading tackles and setting up Ben White for a try out wide. Russell, unfortunately, could not convert, leaving Scotland leading 5-0.
England responded effectively, with Tommy Freeman charging through defenders for their first try, followed by Marcus Smith successfully converting, pushing the hosts to 7-5. Scotland’s resilience proved evident when they responded with Huw Jones's try, taking the lead back to 10-7 at halftime. Russell again missed the conversion, foreshadowing the tension to follow.
After the break, England returned determined, with Marcus Smith leveling the score at 10-10 via penalty. The hosts captured the lead shortly after with another field goal, this time from Fin Smith from long ranges, making it 16-10 with less than ten minutes remaining on the clock.
Despite being on the back foot, Scotland pressed forward as van der Merwe capitalized on his team’s flush with momentum, scoring at the 79th minute with just moments to spare. The conversion attempt loomed large, but Russell's kick drifted wide, sealing the nail-biting win for England.
Head coach Steve Borthwick and his side celebrated the outcome as they remain firm competitors for the Six Nations title, staying closely behind unbeaten Ireland, who had also secured victory earlier against Wales.
Post-match, Scotland’s coach Gregor Townsend faced reporters, noting, "A lot went right for us. We scored three tries to one. England kept their discipline inside the 22. It's frustrating because we had more opportunities to score more, but credit goes to England for how they defended."
Townsend maintained faith in Finn Russell's goal-kicking ability. He mentioned, "I know Finn is capable. He missed tough kicks today, but he's our goalkicker. We need to build on this match and continue to grow as we move toward our next challenges."
Duhan van der Merwe, who was named Man of the Match for his overall performance, asserted his disappointment over the missed opportunities earlier in the match, echoing his coach’s sentiments. “We had the chances, but we didn't capitalize at moments when it mattered the most,” he said.
England’s players expressed their relief and joy at finally breaking the streak against Scotland. Maro Itoje highlighted the need to improve and learn from this performance. "It’s been tough, and we need to find ways to maximize our scoring opportunities and sharpen our defense,” he noted.
Overall, the day belonged to England as they hoisted the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2020, marking a remarkable shift under Borthwick's management. Nevertheless, for Scotland, the pain of missed chances will sting as they regroup for their upcoming matches.
The squared series has intensified the rivalry, keeping fans of both nations eagerly anticipating future clashes and the progression of the Six Nations championship.