Jack Wilkinson
Finn Russell misses all three attempts at the conversion, including one on death, as England earns a dramatic first win of Calcut Cup over Scotland in five years; Penalties from Marcus Smith (2) and Fin Smith get England across the line in the second half
Last update: 22/02/25 19:58
England for the first time since 2020. Win Calcuta Cup
Finn Russell missed the last conversion as England pulled Calcutta Cup out of the understanding of Scotland after four years of misery with a dramatic victory of 16-15 on a cheerful Allianz Stadium.
The English Nemesis tobacco Van der Merwe looked that he led Scotland to an unprecedented fifth consecutive Calcutt Cup triumph with his late attempt.
But there were more dramas, with the otherwise exemplary Russell missed the third conversion as history went through the fingers of Gregor Townsend player at death.
Russell’s decisive failure put a seal on the awful, if it was a bit unconvincing, a victory for England because they finally prevailed their fierce rivals to regain Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2020.
England – trying: Freeman (9). Conversions: M. Smith (9). Penalties: M. Smith (56, 67), F. Smith (71)
Scotland – trying: White (4), Jones (20), Van der Merwe (80).
The first half tries to do Ben White and Huwa Jones, both sides of Tommy Freeman’s response, in the break they saw a dominant Scotland that led three, but they were rejected by three second half penalties from Marcus and Fin Smith, while England claimed that only their second claimed a victory over Scotland in eight attempts.
The defeat effectively ends with the hopes of Scotland that they will win six countries for the first time, while England, after recorded in successive victories, remained in the money ahead of the matches against Italy and Wales, although they need France to do them a favor against Ireland in the district car.
England ends five years of Calcutta Cup
Tobacco van der Merwe has tortured England in the dominant performance of the first half of Scotland
Scotland has never won three consecutive twickenham games, but their reward for it would be an unprecedented fifth Calcutta Cup in a row – and they have caught history on mercilessly fashion.
Van der Merwe, fresh from his hat-trick Murrayfield in 2024, continued his role as the main torture of England, creating the first attempt at Scotland with a bulldozing line that Tom Jordan let go down the left wing before entering Scrum- Mal White to apply the final touch.
- Ollie Chessum replaced George Martin in the second row in the only change of England from a 26-25 victory over France two weeks ago.
- Kyle Rowe replaced the injured Darcy Graham, while Pierre Schoeman and Jamie Ritchie were drawn into the package while Scotland in Ireland in Ireland made three changes in the team.
The leadership of Scotland would only last five minutes. England mounted the phase after a stage on the Scottish attempt and were eventually awarded for patience when Freeman collapsed, and the conversion of Marcus Smith put the hosts in front of Russell’s first miss.
Russell missed three conversions as the victory went through Scotland at the Allianz Stadium
But a mesmerne performance with a ball in hand from Russell would see that Scotland returns control over the back, with a threat to Van der Merwe used for a devastating effect in 19 minutes when he lured Marcus Smith and Ollie Lawrence on the ball and inserted into Jones to crash to attempt to redirect lead.
At the end of the first half, Scotland distorted the rush of Marcus Smith inspired by England to reach the interval of three points ahead, but served as a reminder that their leadership may have been too slender considering their dominance.
Marcus Smith kicked England into the Calcutt Cup win with two penalties of the second half
England lost Thomas Willis and Tom Curry due to an injury to any side of the interval, but remained unwavering in her defensive efforts, refusing everything Scotland threw at them before the first sentence of Marcus Smith equaled the result in 56 minutes.
Scotland acknowledged two penalties in a central four -minute magic, and both of them were punished by Marcus and Fin Smith boots, because England entered the last nine minutes with six points, not even a sixth attempt Van der Merwe in three games in three games opposite them, Russell’s third missed ahead proved decisive.
Late attempt tobacco van der Merwe looked that he inspired Scotland to a dramatic victory at death
‘England stayed in the fight’
English Chief Coach Steve Borthwick: “Each game is important for England and you have to give Scottish merit because they have played a real smart game. They put pressure on you and as soon as they get the opportunity to move the ball quickly.
“This young group remained in the fight, and they kept running constantly. They eventually found a way to win.
“Although there were pieces that were not beautiful in that game, that is the edge of the seat final. At the end of the game you saw a very happy Allianz stadium.”
‘Better performance than recent victories’ – Townsend
Main coach of Scotland Gregor Townsend: “I am proud of how we played today. In the first half, our execution was very good – our contact was extraordinary.
“We created opportunities. We scored three attempts and we will look back and think we could have achieved more. In many ways, it was a better performance than we had down here when we won.
“With that amount of possession, we are usually good at turning into points. We didn’t work so often today. England defended itself very well. They are very good at the age of 22. Their loan goes.
“Finn was a large part of us who got three attempts. In the past, he threw out a lot of very important points.
“The reality is that we have not won and we probably won’t win the championship now. It’s a performance on which we can build in the next two rounds.”
What is next?
Six nations are advocating for another Fallow week, after which Scotland hosts Wales in Murrayfield on March 8 (16.45), and England hosted Italy at the Allianz Stadium on March 9 (15:00).
