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:
PENALTY! SCOTLAND 10-6 England (Finn Russell penalty, 41 minutes)
Russell steadies himself and bisects the uprights. Scotland have had little territory or ball but lead by a useful four points as the players depart for half-time.
Scotland 7-6 England, 39 minutes
Scotland have done so much good stuff defensively in this first half and again nick breakdown ball as England try to attack. The last chance of the half will be the hosts’, then, and they might just extend their lead after Kyle Sinckler is ruled not to have offered a sufficiently clear release before competing at a ruck.
Finn Russell will indeed go for goal.
Scotland 7-6 England, 37 minutes
Brilliant defence from England. Duhan van der Merwe comes stomping off his wing, bristling as he is fed a pass and asked to charge into the English inside backs. Elliot Daly goes low, snaring an angry bear in his trap and pulling him down swiftly, allowing his captain Tom Curry to latch over the top and draw the referee’s whistle for van der Merwe’s failure to release.
Ben White had a dream start to his Scotland career, scoring just minutes after coming on to the field
PENALTY! Scotland 7-6 ENGLAND (Marcus Smith penalty, 34 minutes)
Another simple one for the England fly-half and much more confidently struck.
Scotland 7-3 England, 33 minutes
There’s a bit of zing to the England attack, but Scotland’s structures are thus far holding firm. Kyle Sinckler is dragged down by Rory Sutherland, who ends up draped over the top, forming a ruck - an arriving Jamie Ritchie is therefore penalised when he is caught with chocolate-covered fingers after a dig through the cookie jar. Marcus Smith will look to narrow the margin to one from bang in front...
Scotland 7-3 England, 31 minutes
England catch and drive and begin to get a rumble on, Scottish bodies falling away as it advances with ominous intent. Five metres short, four metres, two metres, and over, but there are just enough Scottish limbs surrounding the ball to prevent it getting to ground. Goalline dropout. Scotland survive, but their clearance is short, and England will attack again.
Scotland 7-3 England, 29 minutes
But here come England! Luke Cowan-Dickie swats a tackler aside and then Ben O’Keeffe announces that they have the advantage. Scotland broaden in preparation for something adventurous but that leaves space closer in, Ben Youngs sniping effectively but unable to dodge backfield tacklers.
Marcus Smith loves a crossfield kick...over-cooked! Henry Slade claps his hands in frustration as his fly-half puts it over the leaping centre’s head out on the right without a Scottish defender in particularly close attendance. Back they will go for the penalty, which is pushed for the opposite corner by Smith.
Scotland 7-3 England, 28 minutes
George Turner flings it over the top into the midfield and a meaty charge affords Scotland the space required to clear in reasonable comfort.
Scotland 7-3 England, 27 minutes
England are tending to kick when they get to soft edges outside the Scotland defence, but are tending to put too much on their through grubbers, with Stuart Hogg the latest to switch into reverse gear and ground in-goal.
That’s a much better example from Marcus Smith, finding an inviting angle as he flips his hips and driving right into the corner to force Scotland to throw a pressure lineout.
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