It should be clear by now that the Calcutta Cup defies logic, reason, and form. A remarkable Scotland dominated much of this encounter at Murrayfield, excelled in aerial contests, and had the captivating Finn Russell orchestrating play to end England’s winning streak.
England made the journey north aiming to follow up last weekend’s comfortable victory over Wales with their first win on Scottish territory since 2020. Despite discussing a wounded Scotland after their loss to Italy last weekend, alongside head coach Gregor Townsend facing pressure, the visitors were considered the clear favorites.
However, the Calcutta Cup delivered its usual twist, and Scotland relished the chance to triumph over their oldest rivals. In this context, Scotland convincingly defeated England 31-20, securing a try bonus point in the process, alleviating pressure on Townsend while England’s quest for a significant away win in the championship under Steve Borthwick continues. England had to contend with 30 minutes of play with 14 men after Henry Arundell received a yellow card, followed by a second yellow later in the first half, resulting in a 20-minute red card. This numerical disadvantage proved detrimental for England.
Yet, there is a sense of celebratory frustration regarding Scotland’s performance: how can they display such precision, aggression, and dominance against England just days after their lackluster defeat to Italy, and previous capitulations against the All Blacks and Argentina in November? These contrasting performances are perplexing when compared to what transpired on Saturday in Edinburgh. Scotland was exceptional, and their display leaves one yearning for more.
Scotland entered this match with pressure mounting. Patience in the region was dwindling regarding a talented group of players who had not been meeting their collective potential. However, the Calcutta Cup has a unique ability to inspire them—regardless of form.
Even in the absence of Duhan van der Merwe, and with players like Blair Kinghorn sidelined, Scotland asserted their dominance. Kyle Steyn excelled in the air, Matt Fagerson made a significant impact off the bench, Rory Darge was formidable at openside, and Russell was nearly flawless at fly-half. He played a crucial role in each of their first-half tries, while Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones excelled in the centers. This was achieved despite a struggling scrum.
All three first-half tries by Scotland showcased elements of impressive construction. Jones scored the first as Russell’s flicked pass created space on the flanks—an area Scotland clearly targeted from the outset. Their second try came as Scotland spread England wide, then switched direction, with Russell orchestrating play as he found Tuipulotu, who delivered a precise pass to Jamie Ritchie on the flank to score unopposed.
For their third try, Russell maneuvered past the typically formidable Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill to execute a kick behind England’s defensive line. Ellis Genge failed to gather the ball, allowing Ben White to seize the opportunity, and the crowd at Murrayfield erupted. For their fourth try, England appeared to be gaining traction early in the second half, applying pressure on Scotland’s line, but then came a charge-down.
Scotland anticipated George Ford attempting a drop-goal at some point, and when he lined up in the 53rd minute, Fagerson charged him down, collected the ball, and passed it to Jones, effectively sealing the match. England’s momentum was halted as Scotland maintained a high level of intensity to finish strong. Fagerson’s influence from the bench—having come on at halftime for Ritchie—was pivotal, but Steyn, Dodge, and Russell laid the groundwork.
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This was not the England we have witnessed winning 12 consecutive matches, dispelling any doubts raised against them. Instead, they appeared vulnerable defensively, second-best in aerial duels, lost the kicking battle, and while their scrum was dominant—and should have been rewarded further—discipline also let them down.
They averaged just 1.1 points from nine entries into Scotland’s 22—four times they knocked the ball on just meters from the line. At times, England appeared one-dimensional, delivering a performance that was uncharacteristic, frustrating, and overwhelmingly poor.
This will be a source of deep disappointment for England. They were barely present in the opening 20 minutes of the match, caught off guard. Ben Earl played exceptionally well—hardly a surprise—but England simply never found their rhythm.
The poor start left them on the back foot, and Murrayfield is an incredibly challenging venue to regain rhythm and form. The charge-down was the moment Scotland secured their victory, but England did have opportunities deep in Scotland’s 22, only for handling errors to undermine them. Their only try came from Arundell, but his match will be remembered for the two yellow cards that left England contesting 30 minutes a man short.
For England, this was intended to be a Six Nations campaign where they entered the fifth round away at France still in contention for a Grand Slam. Following their impressive form throughout much of last year, this was expected to be the championship where they advanced and established themselves as title contenders.
Instead, they were sent back to the drawing board by a revitalized Scottish side. England will be frustrated and wounded but still have a chance at the title, needing to regroup with Ireland visiting Twickenham next weekend.
As for Scotland, Edinburgh will be alive with excitement. They were exceptional and thoroughly outplayed their historic rivals. However, they must convert this performance into consistency. Their inability to follow up strong performances with similarly intense displays has been their Achilles’ heel, hindering their momentum over recent years.
If they can bottle this intensity and replicate it, Scotland will finally take the long-awaited step forward. Townsend faced immense pressure heading into this match, and as Russell aptly noted post-match, that expectation will not lessen anytime soon with a trip to Wales on the horizon next Saturday. This was Townsend’s 100th match in charge of Scotland, and it provides him with an opportunity for the 101st, essentially establishing a foundation for Scotland to build upon.
