England edged Scotland 16-15 in a thrilling Calcutta Cup climax to win back the prize for the first time since 2020. The match marked England's first victory over Scotland after five years, overcoming recent disappointments against their rivals.
Scotland had established a strong early presence, opening the scoring just four minutes on the clock thanks to Ben White, who finished off vibrant attacking play. Fly-half Finn Russell’s conversion attempt went awry. Scotland continued to demonstrate their offense, with Huw Jones adding their second try from another well-executed move, giving the visitors a 10-7 halftime lead.
England's response came through Tommy Freeman, who crashed over for their only try, converted by Marcus Smith. With the game tightly contested, both teams exchanged penalties, but it was England who took control late on, following two penalties from Marcus Smith and another from Fin Smith, putting them 16-10 up with just minutes to play.
With seconds remaining, Scotland sought to turn the tables. Duhan van der Merwe scored, bringing the score to 16-15. This set up Finn Russell for what could have been the winning conversion. Unfortunately for Scotland, Russell’s kick drifted wide of the uprights, sealing the defeat for his team and returning the Calcutta Cup to England.
England coach Steve Borthwick expressed his delight at the outcome, stating, "I’m delighted… we’re finding ways to win. Though not pretty, it was important to win." His sentiment reflects the narrow margins typical of this historic rivalry, dating back over 140 years.
On the other side, Scotland coach Gregor Townsend noted positives from the match, saying, "To get the amount of yards we did was positive... Credit goes to them, but we know we can be more clinical." His assessment speaks to the frustrations of losing after outscoring England three tries to one.
Scotland held promising periods during the game, especially in the first half where they looked threatening, thanks to strong performances from their forwards and backs alike. The return of Finn Russell from injury brought relief, but his uncharacteristic three missed conversions proved pivotal.
Scotland co-captain Rory Darge elaborated on the missed chances: "We scored more tries but… to be honest there were numerous opportunities we didn't capitalize on. England defended well, but we failed to execute when it mattered." These words reflect the disappointment felt by the Scottish players and fans after such a close shy at victory.
Despite missing numerous chances, Scotland's dynamic play was invigorated by the likes of van der Merwe, who consistently put England under pressure. Yet, moments of winning finesse crumbled under England’s stern defense, leading to eventual disappointment—and another painful chapter for Scottish rugby against their old foes.
Back on England's side, Maro Itoje lifted the Calcutta Cup, marking this victory as more than just the end to their losing run but also as the beginning of renewed hope and competitive spirit within the squad. Itoje commented, "The performance was mixed; we didn’t exit how we wanted, but we fought and scrapped. There’s plenty for us to improve upon moving forward," highlighting the team's desire for growth even after victory.
With this win, England gears up for challenging matches against Wales and Italy, hoping to build on this momentum. Scotland, conversely, must regroup and focus on their next encounters, learning from this heart-wrenching defeat where missed opportunities shaped their fate.
This Calcutta Cup clash, steeped in tradition and rivalry, delivered yet another dramatic narrative as England reclaims their title, leaving Scotland to ponder what could have been. Both teams now look forward, with future matches awaiting to showcase their true potential.