England vs Scotland LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations as hosts cling on in thrilling Calcutta Cup climax
England 16-15 Scotland: The hosts clung on as Finn Russell’s missed touchline conversion ended Scotland’s dominance in this fixture
England edged Scotland 16-15 in a thrilling Calcutta Cup climax to win back the prize for the first time since 2020.
Scotland had established a run of dominance over the Auld Enemy and had the chance to continue their hoodoo here, with Duhan van der Merwe sliding in for a scintillating score just moments from time to grant Finn Russell a kick for victory. But the fly half’s conversion slid by, allowing England to hold on for a first win in the fixture in five years.
In doing so, Steve Borthwick’s side backed up another tight win over France, giving them real momentum ahead of meetings with Wales and Italy to come. An early try from Tommy Freeman set them on their way while they scrambled superbly against some sparkling Scottish interplay. Both Marcus and Fin Smith struck from the tee to leave the hosts - just about - on the winning side.
Re-live all of the action from Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in our live blog below:
Calcutta Cup talking points: Fin vs Finn
With Finn Russell passing his concussion tests, a fascinating duel between two British and Irish Lions contenders looms at fly-half. Fin Smith, still only 22, marked his full Test debut against France with a man of the match performance despite making a shaky start and on the evidence of his commanding finish at Allianz Stadium, he will occupy England’s 10 jersey for some time to come. Opposite him will be the favourite to fill the position on this summer’s Lions tour with Russell a playmaker capable of unpicking defences at any moment, even if he has yet to fire in this Six Nations.
Calcutta Cup talking points: England on the rise
England enter a tricky fixture with spring in their step after edging France in dramatic circumstances in round two. After almost a year of near-misses against top tier opposition, they finally got over the line to relieve the pressure that had built on head coach Steve Borthwick. The challenge now is to back it up knowing that ending their four-Test losing run against Scotland would propel them back into Six Nations title contention with two rounds remaining.
Calcutta Cup talking points: Advantage Scotland
When England reeled off eight consecutive victories over the ‘Auld Enemy’ from 2009 to 2017, the obituary for rugby’s oldest international rivalry was being written. But Scotland have turned that dismal streak on its head, losing just once in seven matches including a first win at Twickenham for 38 years. Now it is England who carry the baggage of past failures and they must cast their minds back to 2017 for the last time they prevailed on home soil against Saturday’s visitors.
Finn Russell passed fit for Calcutta Cup clash but Darcy Graham misses out for Scotland against England
Scotland have been given a huge Calcutta Cup fitness boost with Finn Russell cleared to start against England.
The fly half had been a doubt for the trip to Allianz Stadium, Twickenham as he progressed through return to play protocols after a nasty clash of heads with teammate Darcy Graham against Ireland in round two.
But while Graham is absent from the matchday 23, Russell is passed fit to feature and starts again at fly half, with Tom Jordan again at inside centre to offer extra playmaking potential.
Finn Russell passed fit for Calcutta Cup clash in huge Scotland boost
England turn to ‘Superman’ in hour of need after late injury blow ahead of Calcutta Cup
England captain Maro Itoje has compared Ted Hill to Superman after the Bath forward was whisked into the matchday squad to face Scotland.
Hill has been called in to the 23 after an injury set-back for George Martin, covering the second row from the bench with the Leicester lock forced to withdraw having been dealing with a couple of niggles since the win over France.
While ordinarily deployed on the blindside by Bath, Hill started at lock against Gloucester in the Premiership earlier this season and England have full faith that he can cover the position at Test level.
An outstanding athlete, the 25-year-old made his debut as a teenager in 2018 before earning his second cap against the United States in the summer of 2021.
England turn to ‘Superman’ in hour of need after late injury blow before Calcutta Cup
Gregor Brown living the dream playing for Scotland with cousin Blair Kinghorn
Gregor Brown says playing for Scotland alongside cousin Blair Kinghorn “was always a dream” ahead of the Calcutta Cup showdown with England at the Allianz Stadium.
The pair – related by virtue of their mothers being sisters – played together for the first time in the Scots’ Guinness Six Nations opener at home to Italy earlier this month, when versatile Glasgow forward Brown, 23, came off the bench in the second half.
After doing likewise against Ireland last time out, Brown hopes he and 28-year-old Toulouse player Kinghorn can play their part in a fifth consecutive victory over the Auld Enemy.
Gregor Brown living the dream playing for Scotland with cousin Blair Kinghorn
England turn to Ollie Chessum to solve lineout woes against Scotland
England have made a single change to their side to face Scotland with Ollie Chessum starting in the second row.
The lock is named as partner to captain Maro Itoje, replacing Leicester colleague George Martin, who has been managing a grumbly knee and drops to the bench.
Otherwise, the starting team is the same as the one that beat France 10 days ago to revive England’s Six Nations title hopes. Steve Borthwick resists the urge to promote Jamie George off the bench despite an impactful cameo in that fixture, while the Fin Smith/Marcus Smith playmaking axis remains.
This is Chessum’s first start since the trip to Lyon at the end of last year’s Six Nations. The 24-year-old has struggled with injuries since then and came into this tournament still getting up to speed after recovering from a freak knee issue sustained just before the Autumn Nations Series.
His inclusion offers intriguing tactical hints, even in an otherwise familiar line-up.
England turn to Ollie Chessum to solve lineout woes against Scotland
England promise ‘nastiness’ in Six Nations grudge match with Scotland
England have vowed to bring "nastiness" to Saturday's crunch Six Nations showdown with Scotland.
Gregor Townsend's team, who are seeking a fifth consecutive Calcutta Cup success, were criticised for a perceived lack of physicality during a comprehensive 32-18 round-two loss to Ireland.
Steve Borthwick's hosts are braced for a backlash when the Scots take to the field at Twickenham.
England promise ‘nastiness’ in Six Nations grudge match with Scotland
Cohesion, connections and cutting edge: Why England are building around a Northampton Saints spine
Of all the buzzwords upon which Steve Borthwick likes to lean, the concept of “cohesion” is one that the England head coach returns to more than just about any other. The idea of close connections and well-grooved combinations has been a theme of his tenure on and off the field, encouraging his squad to build links away from the pitch while placing great emphasis on continuity in squad selection.
The England boss looks enviously at a nation like Ireland, who can draw much of their 23 from a single side in Leinster. “There’s no doubt when you’re trying to build a team, building relationships and how often people play together is important,” Borthwick said after the opening round Six Nations defeat in Dublin. “You contrast us with Ireland and how often they play together. With Leinster, you see the model they’ve gone with, that consistency. It’s certainly beneficial in the international environment to have players who’ve played together a number of times.”
Why England are building around a Northampton Saints spine
Fin Smith: ‘Both my parents are Scottish - but I always wanted to play for England’
The London Scottish clubhouse may seem a peculiar place to embark on the life and times of England’s new fly-half star, but the rickety Richmond hangout is where Fin Smith’s story really begins. It was here, two miles or so from Twickenham, where Smith’s mother Judith first set eyes on his father, Andrew: two Scots not then knowing they would one day produce a player who will have spent much of this week plotting their own nation’s sporting demise.
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