Scotland’s hopes of another historic Calcutta Cup victory were dashed as England emerged victorious in a closely contested match, with two controversial officiating decisions playing a crucial role. Head coach Gregor Townsend expressed frustration over a decisive second-half penalty awarded against his team and raised doubts about England’s only try, scored by Tommy Freeman.
The turning point of the match came when Scotland conceded a penalty that allowed England’s Fin Smith to extend their lead. The decision, given against Rory Darge and Tom Jordan for lifting Ben Curry out of a ruck, left Townsend perplexed. “I just don’t know how that’s a penalty,” he said. “We moved someone off the ruck, and they were two feet off the ground, but there was no movement above the horizontal.”
Despite their frustration, Townsend acknowledged that such decisions are part of the game. He emphasized that his team must focus on their own performance, particularly in capitalizing on scoring opportunities. “We need to look at how we could have got more penalties out of England and how we could have scored more tries,” he admitted.
Scotland’s management also questioned the legitimacy of England’s early try, which Freeman was adjudged to have grounded beneath a pile of bodies. Although some Scottish coaches believed the ball had not been properly touched down, the try stood. Freeman himself remained diplomatic, saying, “The referee awarded it therefore I grounded it. That’s the end of it, really.”
Despite these contentious moments, Townsend praised the overall quality of the match and the role of French referee Pierre Brousset in maintaining a fluid contest. “It was a very good game to watch, which means the referee had a big part to play in that,” he acknowledged.
England, meanwhile, showed resilience in the second half, overturning a 10-7 deficit at halftime. Head coach Steve Borthwick commended his team’s ability to grind out a result, even if their performance was not flawless. “It wasn’t pretty, and there were things we’d want to do differently and better,” he admitted. “But ultimately, they found a way to win the game.”
For Scotland, the defeat was another case of coming close but failing to deliver a statement victory. They produced moments of thrilling attacking rugby but lacked the clinical edge needed to convert their opportunities into points. Townsend remains determined to address these issues, ensuring his side can turn promising performances into meaningful results in the future.
