England edged out Scotland 16-15 to secure the Calcutta Cup, ending Scotland's impressive four-year hold on the prestigious trophy and breathing new life back to their Six Nations hopes.
The match, held at Twickenham Stadium, was filled with thrill and tension, with Finn Russell's missed late conversion proving to be decisive. Having been the architect of many Scotland wins, Russell was handed the chance to snatch victory, only to miss wide of the left post as the clock ticked down.
Scotland started strong, showcasing their attacking prowess with early tries from Ben White and Huw Jones. Tommy Freeman managed to equalize for England with his own touchdown. The pace of the match and its back-and-forth nature had spectators on the edge of their seats.
Despite their strong start, Scotland could not extend their advantage beyond 10-7 at halftime, thanks to missed conversions by Russell. England responded after the break with Marcus Smith leveling the match, and Fin Smith, showing poise under pressure, kicked from halfway to give England the lead.
The narrative of Scotland’s tenacity was echoed with Duhan Van der Merwe scoring late, giving Russell another last-ditch opportunity. After so many chances, Russell's failure to add the extras brought England survival, allowing them to claim their first home victory against Scotland since 2017.
Overall, the atmosphere at Twickenham was electric, with both sets of fans rallying for their teams, but it was England who celebrated at full time, keeping their hopes of claiming the Six Nations title alive.
Reflecting on the match, the Shropshire Star noted, "Finn Russell squandered a last-gasp conversion for victory as Scotland’s four-year stranglehold on the Calcutta Cup ended...". The intensity and excitement were also captured by VAVEL, stating, "The match was incredible, very even in parts, but the English took advantage of the Scots' mistakes and won the match."
Looking setup for their next encounter, England will face Italy and Wales, and they know every match is now pivotal. Meanwhile, Scotland will have to regroup and learn from their mistakes, or they can find themselves missing out on yet another chance to break their long title drought.