Scotland 25 England 13: Rampant Scots bring auld rivals crashing down to earth to claim Calcutta Cup

Never mind the Siberian ‘Beast from the East,’ weather that is headed this way, Scotland managed to send a chill deep into the marrow of English rugby with an all-encompassing victory that has put England’s defence of their Six Nations title into cold storage.

The ruins of England's Grand Slam ambitions also lay scattered across the Murrayfield turf. There will be shivers of apprehension on the World Cup front too for this showed that England are fallible, particularly at the breakdown where they were wholly eclipsed, a masterclass from the John Barclay-led Scotland exposing their limitations.

England’s discipline was woeful, conceding 13 penalties, turnovers, too, and having Sam Underhill sin-binned. Homeward go England ‘tae think again. It was a sobering experience.  

It was Scotland’s first Calcutta Cup win in a decade and thoroughly deserved. A Scottish uprising against the English? They quite like those sort of things in these parts. It was no surprise that it was thunderously acclaimed. The Scots, so hapless in Cardiff, were heroes to a man.

They played with the zest and inventiveness that had troubled New Zealand and Australia in November. Scotland went missing at the start of the championship but have rediscovered that bracing identity. This was their sixth championship victory in a row at Murrayfield. They travel to Ireland next.

There are twists and turns to come yet in this 2018 NatWest Six Nations. Scotland are decisive players, rolling back the stone from that dreadful opening day to rise again. For that, much credit, and to their coaching team, too, led by the impressive Gregor Townsend, his team playing in the image of the man – vibrant and assured.

There were stand-out performances from fly-half Finn Russell and centre Huw Jones, the back-row en bloc, warriors in dark blue.  The pack, too, stood its ground.  From the usual annual dirge in this fixture to a delight, a full-bore, full-blooded encounter with thrust and parry as well as no little skill. Passion is a given in this fixture and there were reports of a scuffle in the tunnel after the warm-up with England’s Owen Farrell involved.  

Flaky Finn or Fabulous Finn – which was it to be? The question had been posed throughout the build-up and there was a resounding answer. Russell ruled the roost. It was a seminal performance, replete with daring and perception.

The Paris-bound fly-half had been mercurial in this championship, capable of foul as well as fair deeds, a wonderful impish spirit but inconsistent. There was little point in urging restraint for that is to deny the very thing that makes him a special talent. And that was just as well as events turned out for Russell was a pivotal influence.  He was given licence to thrill and thrill he did.   

It doesn’t pay to take your eyes off the 25 year-old playmaker. There is a sense of possibility in so much of what he does.  It was that way in the 15th minute when Russell, under fierce pressure from Owen Farrell, dinked a kick through into no-man’s land between attack and defence. The ball bobbed and ricocheted. 

Scotland centre Jones, as has been the case this championship, was first to react, grabbing the ball and scooting over the try-line.

The score was greeted uproariously, fittingly enough given it was the first try by Scotland in this fixture in 14 years.

It was no surprise that Scotland played with huge heart but it was the clinical precision of their play that was so marked and so tellingly. And in Jones they had a man at the top of his game. Russell was the prompt, Jones the executioner. The 24 year-old was again on hand in the 31st minute, holding his line out wide to receive an audacious floated pass from Russell on the 22.

Away went Jones, deep into England territory. He was eventually hauled down only for Scotland to recycle quickly. Hooker Stuart McInally took it on with great purpose, England back-pedalled and Scotland took advantage with the ball fired wide to Sean Maitland who dived in at the corner.

If that score rattled the Murrayfield rafters, the noise was seismic when Jones surged between Owen Farrell and Nathan Hughes for his second try two minutes from  half-time. There is no player more finely-tuned to the potency of the angled attack than Jones. Vision and timing and nerve and pace, packaged to perfection. Greig Laidlaw’s conversion took the score to 22-6. Murrayfield was stunned, staggered and delirious.

This was a testing moment for England. They pride themselves on being able to deal with adversity. This was a crisis with knobs-on. England did at least show spunk, indicating very early in the second-half that they were up for the fight. 

Farrell scampering through unchallenged within four minutes of the re-start, Mako Vunipola having dented the defence with a rumble. English hopes flickered and came close to being fully ignited with two possible tries within the next minutes being overruled by Nigel Owens and his officials.

Danny Care was racing away for an interception try only for play to be called back for a penalty against Joe Launchbury and then a breakaway try by Farrell was rendered void for a knock-on in the tackle by Courtney Lawes far up the field. On such margins.

That was England’s chance, and it was gone. Their woes were compounded when replacement flanker, Sam Underhill, was sin-binned in the 67th minute for a shoulder-led, no-arms tackle on prop, Jamie Bhatti. Russell kicked the penalty goal.

England pressed in desperation, Scotland held firm and Murrayfield erupted, warming the cockles, with no sympathy for England’s Big Freeze.    

6:58PM

Dylan Hartley

"We lacked intensity, especially at the breakdown. They got a lead and held it well. Ultimately, we were chasing the game.

"The changing room is a quiet one, but this is a big part of our journey."

6:44PM

Eddie Jones

6:43PM

John Barclay

6:40PM

Full-time! Scotland 25-13 England

Scotland have done it! They've beaten England for the first time in a decade, and they thoroughly deserved it. They out-thought England early on and out-fought them as the game went on with a masterclass of breakdown scrapping.

6:37PM

Scotland 25-13 England, 78 minutes  

Game over. Surely. England mount a wonderful attack, going from their own 22 to the shadow of the Scotland posts but Stuart McInally is over the ball to win Scotland's 13th penalty!

6:32PM

Scotland 25-13 England, 74 minutes 

Scrum muscle a scrum penalty! That is the 12th that England have given away. Russell boots downfield and then tries a grubber but Jack Nowell is across to cover.

6:29PM

Scotland 25-13 England, 72 minutes

England's 14 men cycle through the phases but Scotland stand firm and a Farrell pass goes to the floor. Can Scotland hold on here? They have a scrum in their own territory.

6:25PM

Scotland 25-13 England, 69 minutes

That's the story of the game. Hamish Watson swoops as Courtney Lawes gets isolated from his support. 

6:22PM

Penalty, Finn Russell! Scotland 25-13 England, 65 minutes

Russell lands the penalty. 

6:21PM

Yellow card, Sam Underhill! Scotland 22-13 England, 65 minutes    

That could be that. Underhill charges in and does not wrap his arms in the tackle. Nigel Owens asks for a replay and sin-bins the Bath flanker.

6:19PM

Scotland 22-13 England, 64 minutes   

Two hugely interesting replacements. Blair Kinghorn comes on for his *Test debut* as Tommy Seymour comes off.

Meanwhile, Eddie Jones unleashes Ben Te'o. George Ford comes off, so Owen Farrell will be at fly-half. 

6:16PM

Scotland 22-13 England, 63 minutes  

Ali Price replaces Greig Laidlaw. At the ensuing scrum, England try to spread the ball wide but May drops the ball into touch.

6:14PM

Match action

Scotland hooker Stuart McInally has been exceptional.

6:11PM

Scotland 22-13 England, 58 minutes 

England surrender good field position when Joseph spills...then Jonny May runs into touch...then Joe Launchbury concedes a penalty for taking out a Scotland jumper in the air.

The hosts are into the England 22. Can they kill it off?

6:07PM

Scotland 22-13 England, 55 minutes

Sam Underhill is on for Nathan Hughes, with Chris Robshaw shifting to number eight. Jamie George is on for Dylan Hartley and Jack Nowell has replaced Mike Brown. Anthony Watson is at full-back.  

6:04PM

TMO

Another humongous moment. Lawes fires out of the line and hits John Barclay. Farrell and Watson flood through and Farrell scores...but Owens comes back. Lawes knocked the ball on in his missile-like tackle on Barclay.

6:01PM

Calvary

Sam Underhill is ready to come on. 

6:00PM

Scotland 22-13 England, 51 minutes

Scotland have a chance to kill it off! Peter Horne breaks clear but his pass to Hamish Watson is delayed too long. 

 We are coming back for a Scotland penalty. Stuart Hogg is stepping up to drill to touch. 

5:57PM

Scotland 22-13 England, 47 minutes

Huge moment. Joe Launchbury slows Scotland's ball at the breakdown and Danny Care shoots out to intercept. However, referee Owens brings play back for a penalty.

Hogg takes it on from 48 metres or so...but the attempt skews wide.

5:54PM

Amusing

5:53PM

Told you

5:52PM

Try, Owen Farrell! Scotland 22-13 England, 44 minutes

It's a two-phase strike-move that unlocks Scotland. Mako Vunipola careers into midfield off the lineout and Danny Care bounces back to the blindside. Farrell slices through, pretty much untouched, and converts his own try. Game on.

5:48PM

Second half

We're back underway. If England are to rescue this win, it'll be a phenomenal 40 minutes ahead.

5:44PM

Handbags

 The penalty count is five apiece. 

5:37PM

Half-time | Scotland 22-6 England

Stunning. Scotland have scored three tries. England have scored none. What does Eddie Jones say at the break?

5:31PM

Try, Huw Jones! Scotland 22-6 England, 38 minutes

Wow. It's Jones again. A low pass is sent into midfield but the centre scoops it up and surges 50 metres! Brown and Watson fight to bring him down but they can't before he dots down. 

5:30PM

 Scotland 15-6 England, 36 minutes

Truly, England are rattled. The visitors ship another couple of penalties and Scotland can clear. Hughes and Ryan Wilson are scuffling. Nothing doing. 

5:24PM

Try, Sean Maitland! Scotland 15-6 England, 33 minutes

Russell is running the show. Jones is hauled down by May but McInally punches another hole. Russell is back at first-receiver to loop another fine pass to Maitland, who holds firm amid the challenge of Watson to finish!

Laidlaw misses the conversion but England need a response quickly.

5:21PM

Scotland 10-6 England, 29 minutes    

Ooooosh. Finn Russell almost snaffles an interception from opposite number George Ford. England seemed to be building impetus there. Nathan Hughes galloped through.

George Ford darts from the scrum but John Barclay wins a penalty on the deck. Scotland go quickly! And Russell releases Huw Jones with a wonder pass! 

5:17PM

Scotland 10-6 England, 27 minutes   

More relief for England. Simon Berghan is penalised at a scrum inside the visitors' 22.

5:15PM

Scotland 10-6 England, 27 minutes  

England survive, for now. Hamish Watson attempts to peel away from a messy tackle and knocks on.

5:13PM

Scotland 10-6 England, 24 minutes 

"Russell's coming!" shouts Chris Robshaw as the scrum forms. Huw Jones storms in to take a short ball but spills. It's another Scotland scrum, though. Referee Owens adjudges that taclker George Ford sent the ball forward.

5:11PM

Scotland 10-6 England, 23 minutes

The volume at Murrayfield is deafening as Russell sparks a counter-attack. Anthony Watson does brilliantly to wriggle out of a couple of tacklers following another Huw Jones chip, but Scotland are awarded a scrum on the England 22.

5:07PM

Finn Russell is on song

5:06PM

Penalty, Owen Farrell! Scotland 10-6 England, 18 minutes

Extremely harsh on Scotland, that. Nigel Owens pings grant Gilchrist for obstruction as Laidlaw box-kicks from the restart. Farrell adds an easy three.

5:05PM

Match action

Courtney Lawes gets to grip with Stuart Hogg.

5:03PM

Try, Huw Jones! Scotland 10-3 England, 16 minutes

Scotland are out-witting England in these opening exchanges. The hosts take a quick lineout and catch England offside. Scotland's maul eats up metres, bringing them to the edge of the 22 and Russell grubbers through.

Jones harries after the ball, Watson cannot gather and the outside centre scores. Laidlaw adds the extras.

5:00PM

Penalty, Owen Farrell! Scotland 3-3 England, 14 minutes

Straightforward three points for Farrell. What an opening.

5:00PM

Scotland 3-0 England, 13 minutes 

England's backs have an opportunity to run and Mike Brown sends Jonny May scampering down the left touchline. Farrell runs hard off the next phase and Hamish Watson is penalised. 

4:57PM

Scotland 3-0 England, 10 minutes 

It's frantic, and Scotland are stretching England with their fast-paced, expansive phase-play. Stuart Hogg creates a swell of excitement with a darting kick-return before Russell calms things down with a kick to touch.

Interestingly, Anthony Watson has a chance to take a quick lineout, but opts to hold on.

4:55PM

Match action

Greig Laidlaw bisects the posts to put the hosts ahead.

4:53PM

Scotland 3-0 England, 5 minutes

More encouragement for Scotland. They survive a long defensive set as Hamish Watson wins a turnover. Now they are into the England 22 through bustling hooker Stuart McInally.

Huge relief for England. Chris Robshaw clamps on to win a penalty.

4:49PM

Penalty, Greig Laidlaw! Scotland 3-0 England

Easy kick for Laidlaw and a dream start for Gregor Townsend's men.

4:48PM

Kick-off

We're underway. Finn Russell sends the kick-off into the air, Joe Launchbury gathers and Danny Care goes to the air. Scotland run it back and Peter Horne makes a half-break.

Huw Jones then tries a chip and Scotland flood through to force a penalty! Great start for the hosts. It was Grant Gilchrist who burrowed over Mako Vunipola and survived the clear-out.

4:43PM

Anthems

Mike Brown looks extremely pumped up here.

4:40PM

Scuffle

Apparently Owen Farrell had to be separated from a number of Scotland players in the tunnel as both sides returned to the changing room after the warm-ups. Spicy.

4:37PM

Here they come

 Joe Launchbury leads out England on the occasion of his 50th cap.

4:32PM

Fifteen minutes to go

There's Finn Russell out on the field, going through a few tune-up kicks while listening to his tunes.

 What a day for the Glasgow Warriors playmaker.

4:28PM

Alphonsi on Hughes

Nathan Hughes returns to England's starting line-up on the back of just 90 minutes of rugby in the past three months.

Here's Maggie Alphonsi on why the Wasp is so important on both sides of the ball.

4:22PM

Are we in for a snooze-fest?

Paul Hayward writes that Calcutta Cup fixtures have failed to excite in recent years...

This one might be different. 

4:13PM

Eddie Jones

Half an hour until kick-off here. Eddie Jones says that "unstructured play" is going to be vital against a Scotland side that move the ball into space extremely well.

3:54PM

First blood to Scotland...

3:49PM

England have arrived

3:30PM

Memories

We asked our columnists Austin Healey and Kenny Logan about their memories of the Calcutta Cup -on the field and off it. There are some excellent tales here. 

3:16PM

Conditions...

...are perfect. 

3:08PM

Man in the middle

Nigel Owens is refereeing today's game. He's arrived at Murrayfield.

3:06PM

Analysis

Here is a run-down of Scotland's attacking threats. Centre Huw Jones, now back at outside centre, is such an important figure for Gregor Townsend's men.

2:55PM

One hour and 45 minutes until kick-off

We'll be building slowly to the start of this one in Edinburgh, giving you the best of our preview pieces this week.

1:50PM

Hi there

Good afternoon our live text commentary of the Calcutta Cup as the third round of 2018 NatWest 6 Nations reaches its climax at Murrayfield.  Here's a taster of what lies ahead, courtesy of my colleague Mick Cleary.

Read the full piece here.