England finally ended their Calcutta Cup struggles with a dramatic 16-15 victory over Scotland, narrowly avoiding a fifth consecutive defeat in the historic rivalry. The match reached its climax in the dying moments when Finn Russell’s conversion attempt, following Duhan van der Merwe’s late try, drifted just wide of the left upright. The miss left England clinging to a hard-fought win, keeping their Six Nations title hopes alive.
Despite scoring three tries to one, Scotland’s inability to convert from the tee proved costly. England, though far from their best, showcased resilience and tactical discipline. A crucial long-range penalty from Fin Smith in the final quarter ultimately proved decisive, sealing England’s second consecutive home win in the championship.
The contest underscored Scotland’s attacking prowess, with their backline constantly threatening England’s defense. Their incisive play suggested several of their stars could feature prominently in the British & Irish Lions squad later in the year. However, England’s scrambling defense and superior goal-kicking edged them over the line. Russell, usually a composed playmaker, missed all three of his conversion attempts, his preparation for the match disrupted by the head injury sustained against Ireland. On another day, Scotland might have capitalized on their dominance in possession and territory.
The opening exchanges set the tone for an enthralling battle. Scotland struck first when Van der Merwe burst through England’s defensive line, offloading to Tom Jordan, whose long inside pass found Ben White for an easy finish. England responded swiftly, with Tommy Freeman crashing through two defenders to touch down, Marcus Smith’s conversion nudging them ahead.
Scotland continued to attack with flair, crafting another stunning try. Kyle Rowe’s intelligent running line created space for Blair Kinghorn, who released Van der Merwe down the left. The winger’s inside pass allowed Huw Jones to power through and reclaim the lead for the visitors.
Despite their attacking quality, Scotland’s errors at key moments prevented them from fully capitalizing on England’s vulnerability. As halftime approached, England mounted a threatening attack, only for Ollie Lawrence’s attempted offload to sail into touch, wasting a golden opportunity.
The second half began with further setbacks for England, as injuries to Tom Willis and Tom Curry disrupted their forward pack. Frustration grew among the home crowd as England persisted with a kick-heavy strategy, handing Scotland’s backline plenty of opportunities to counter. However, their defensive resilience held firm, exemplified by Fin Smith’s try-saving tackle on Jordan.
A penalty from Marcus Smith in the 56th minute leveled the scores at 10-10 heading into the final quarter. England’s ability to grind out results had been evident against France, but this time they faced a far sharper opponent. When Smith’s late penalty nudged them into a 16-10 lead, they appeared to have done just enough to secure victory.
Scotland, though, had other ideas. With minutes remaining, Van der Merwe struck again, finishing brilliantly out wide to bring his side within a single point. The stage was set for Russell, one of the most influential fly-halves in the game, to deliver the decisive kick. As the ball sailed through the air, it initially looked destined to split the uprights, only to veer agonizingly wide.
England celebrated a tense victory, while Scotland were left to reflect on what might have been. Their performance had showcased their attacking brilliance, but without precision from the tee, they left the door open for England to escape with the win.
