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:
FT: England 16-15 Scotland
For the first time in five years, an England captain will clutch the Calcutta Cup! What drama in a fixture that just always seems to deliver! It looked like Scotland might snatch it again with their scintillating backs to the fore, but Finn Russell’s miss from the touchline, his third failure from the tee on the day, means that their hopes of an historic fifth straight victory over the Auld Enemy disappeared into the Twickenham night.
England 16-15 Scotland, 84 minutes
NO THEY CANNOT! ELLIOT DALY AND HENRY SLADE HOLD KYLE ROWE UP IN THE AIR AND THEIR MATES HAUL THE SCOTLAND WING OVER THE TOUCHLINE!
The hosts cling on! Heartbreak for Scotland but the Calcutta Cup is back in English hands!
England 16-15 Scotland, 84 minutes
Claimed at the back. A meaty maul - five metres, ten metres, onwards still.
Jamie Dobie throws into midfield. Can Scotland’s backs produce another spectacular?
England 16-15 Scotland, 82 minutes
Scotland make little ground but Maro Itoje’s deliberate knock-on earns them a penalty. There is a high tackle, too.
Finn Russell punts for touch. Ewan Ashman’s lineout to throw on the England ten-metre line.
TRY! England 16-15 SCOTLAND (Duhan van der Merwe, 80 minutes)
It’s Duhan van der Merwe in the Calcutta Cup again! A simply scintillating Scottish score, and Finn Russell will have the chance to win it from the touchline...
MISSED! Dragged wide of the left-hand upright! A yard or so away, but that may prove the difference.
It was a sensational score, Stafford McDowall searing up the centre after a delicious move in midfield before Russell set the rest of the backs free. There will be time for a restart but Scotland will have to score again.
England 16-10 Scotland, 79 minutes
Scotland’s lineout is messy but they escape with the ball. They’ll have to go from inside their own half...
England 16-10 Scotland, 78 minutes
England find touch safely. Banker ball, Maro Itoje in the middle...but there’s obstruction from the lifters! Scotland have a penalty and another opportunity!
England 16-10 Scotland, 77 minutes
Flung wildly into touch! Phase after phase the exhausting passage continues before Ewan Ashman throws a heroically misjudged backdoor offload forward into touch.
It’s not even Ashman’s worst involvement in the movement - a contact off the ball would have prompted a penalty regardless! Is that the extinguishing of Scotland’s hopes?
England 16-10 Scotland, 76 minutes
Good initial work from England defensively, firm on the fringes and adjusting effectively as Scotland go wider through Tom Jorddan and Finn Russell. Duhan van der Merwe is bashed back by Henry Slade - quite the statement from the centre!
Onwards Scotland go, though. A rainbow from Russell finds Blair Kinghorn, but England are across in good number.
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