England secured a dramatic 16-15 victory over Scotland in the Six Nations, reclaiming the Calcutta Cup in a tense battle at Twickenham. The match saw standout performances on both sides, with Maro Itoje leading England’s defensive resilience and Jamie Ritchie delivering an all-action display for Scotland.
Marcus Smith had a challenging start, tested under the high ball by Duhan van der Merwe and struggling with his kicking early on, but he recovered to slot crucial points. Tommy Freeman showed his finishing ability with a strong try and competed well aerially, though Van der Merwe kept him busy defensively. Ollie Lawrence was quiet for much of the game but had a strong break up the middle, albeit marred by an unnecessary offload attempt. Henry Slade’s leadership in defence was vital, with several crucial tackles keeping England in the game.
Ollie Sleightholme found it tough to impose himself, struggling due to Scotland’s dominance in possession. Fin Smith kicked frequently, sometimes frustrating the crowd, but his defensive efforts including a thumping tackle on Tom Jordan helped swing the match. Alex Mitchell, outstanding against France, was less effective this time and was replaced after an hour.
Ellis Genge relished the physical contest, charging into the Scottish defence and dominating in the scrum. Luke Cowan-Dickie made his presence felt with an aggressive display, including a brutal chop tackle on Pierre Schoeman. Will Stuart quietly put in another solid shift and is proving to be a key figure in the pack.
Itoje, leading from the front, was a constant menace at the lineout and produced an acrobatic turnover to stifle Scotland’s attack. Ollie Chessum, making his first start in nearly a year, put in a big shift with strong tackles and clearouts, though his discipline was shaky. Tom Curry battled through a hip injury to put in a heroic display before limping off, while Ben Earl’s enthusiasm was clear, though he conceded a couple of unnecessary penalties. Tom Willis had a short-lived outing due to injury but was solid before going off.
The replacements made a big impact, with Jamie George, Fin Baxter, and Chandler Cunningham-South all contributing effectively. Ben Curry played with relentless energy, while Elliot Daly provided an attacking spark off the bench.
For Scotland, Blair Kinghorn showed promise with his rangy running but couldn’t find a decisive moment. Kyle Rowe made some good meters but was guilty of a costly high tackle. Huw Jones, always a danger against England, added another Six Nations try to his tally. Tom Jordan had flashes of brilliance, including a lovely pass to set up the opening try, but lacked a killer moment.
Van der Merwe was relentless, bulldozing his way through England’s defence and playing a key role in Scotland’s two first-half tries before finally crossing for his own. Finn Russell had time on the ball and was a constant threat, but his three missed conversions, including the crucial final one, proved costly. Ben White provided quick service and grabbed a try but couldn’t dictate the game as he would have liked.
Up front, Pierre Schoeman struggled against Will Stuart in the scrum but carried well in tight spaces. Dave Cherry worked tirelessly in the front row, while Zander Fagerson had a tough time against Genge. Jonny Gray played his role in Scotland’s impressive lineout, while Grant Gilchrist was effective on both sides of the ball.
Ritchie was Scotland’s standout performer, excelling in every aspect of the game winning turnovers, defending mauls, and making an impact in the lineout. Rory Darge had a quieter game, with England’s back-row duo of Curry and Earl keeping him in check. Jack Dempsey started strongly and remained a physical presence before being replaced.
Among the substitutes, Ewan Ashman, Sam Skinner, and Matt Fagerson put in solid shifts, while Stafford McDowall provided an electric break late on. Ultimately, England edged it in a nail-biting contest, thanks in part to their superior game management and a crucial missed kick from Russell.
