Scotland vs England LIVE: Six Nations rugby score and result from Calcutta Cup today
Follow live reaction as England and Scotland kicked off their Six Nations campaigns in the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield
Finn Russell slotted a penalty eight minutes from time to earn Scotland a narrow 20-17 win over England on Saturday as they took advantage of a penalty try and a yellow card for the visitors to wrestle back control of an intense Six Nations game.
Scotland, 10-6 up at halftime, were 10-17 down when they were awarded a penalty try after England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie batted away a high cross-field pass. He was sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes. It proved the turning-point as with the one-man advantage, Scotland won a late penalty to snatch victory and take the Calcutta Cup for a second successive year.
Ben White scored Scotland’s other try while all England’s points came from young fly-half Marcus Smith, who crossed for a try and was unlucky to end on the losing side.
Follow all the latest reaction in the live blog below:
Scotland 10-14 England, 62 minutes
This is all rather frantic and frenzied. England’s forward begin to exert control, blowing through an under-resourced ruck, allowing Lewis Ludlam to pluck the ball from betwixt the bodies. Scotland are offside in midfield - Marcus Smith will surely extend the visitors’ lead with another simple kick.
Scotland 10-14 England, 60 minutes
England are beginning to get their heavy carries into the game from greater depth. Maro Itoje and Kyle Sinckler carry hard either side of a juggled Ben Youngs box kick that goes backwards from Scottish hands.
Another Youngs hoist is also deemed to have tumbled backwards even as an exasperated Duhan van der Merwe prepares for the referee’s whistle, but the hulking wing resets and charges forth. England eventually haul him down and then force him to hold on, but Marcus Smith misses touch.
Scotland 10-14 England, 59 minutes
This game has simmered throughout but is really bursting into life. Scotland nearly take advantage of some curious spaces in tight confines close to the left touchline but Ali Price can’t quite gather an offload and is given a hefty thump by Ben Youngs for his trouble as he knocks on.
Jamie Ritchie appears to have picked up an injury, and the motorised cart has been called for to help him off. That’s a real blow for Scotland, losing their vice-captain and key back-rower to what appears to be a lower leg issue. Ritchie is able to get to his feet to hop on to the golf buggy as Magnus Bradbury replaces him, departing to consolatory applause from the crowd.
Also joining proceedings will be Sione Tuipulotu. The centre replaces Sam Johnson.
Scotland 10-14 England, 57 minutes
Nearly a disaster for Stuart Hogg! Aware of a long 50:22 attempt from Henry Slade, the Scotland full-back claws the ball back into play near his own line but is not quite aware of Max Malins’ proximity on the chase, a flashing flicker of fear in the eyes as he gauges a quickly closing space.
Hogg gets to the ball first, just about, and gets back to his feet to allow his teammates to recover and clear. Had Malins got there first he’d have slid over.
Scotland 10-14 England, 56 minutes
Dynamite Darcy Graham! The Scotland wing hurries on to a spilled ball and zips hither and thither like a loose electron, leaving desperate English limbs flung after him as he steps left and right. England recover, just about, and eventually win the ball back.
TRY! Scotland 10-14 ENGLAND (Marcus Smith try, 53 minutes)
Marcus Smith scores!
The England forwards munch through Scottish defenders with a meaty maul mastication, chewing up bodies and spitting from the sides. Advantage comes, and Ben Youngs spots an under-resourced blindside.
Youngs dummies, draws, and passes to his half-back partner, who evades the Scottish cover defence to score in the left corner.
His conversion is less effective. England lead.
Scotland 10-9 England, 52 minutes
And Ben O’Keeffe isn’t happy with the newbies, who push early. That’s the second offence of that type for Scotland, which means it will be an England penalty despite the front row changes. Marcus Smith kicks down into the Scotland 22.
Scotland 10-9 England, 51 minutes
Scotland’s maul then collapses under its own weight to give England a scrum feed.
And Scotland will change their chief combatants ahead of it - Stuart McNally, Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel are readied and enter the front row fray in the place of George Turner, Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson.
Scotland 10-9 England, 49 minutes
That isn’t the worst result for Scotland, with the visitors just starting to build momentum during that movement. The home side now have ball inside the England half and a chance to attack. Darcy Graham nearly scythes between English tacklers onto a very flat Finn Russell pass, but is halted.
Russell tries to kick for territory as the English defence resets, but his booted effort is repelled. It spins into touch off an English shin.
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