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 0-0 England, 12 minutes
That’s a really good clearance from Ali Price, boxing long after Scotland claim their ball well on the throw.
Price is now being called off - Sam Simmonds collided with the scrum-half’s head on a hard charge about two minutes ago and the doctors have decided Price needs an HIA.
That will allow Ben White a debut for Scotland, against the country of his birth and up against former Leicester mentor Ben Youngs. The pair bear striking stylistic similarities. We’ll see if Price passes the concussion checks but that didn’t look a particularly nice bang to the head.
Scotland 0-0 England, 11 minutes
England sweep it out to the right and that is lovely from Elliot Daly, peeling off Marcus Smith’s right hand and unfurling a perfect flat pass across a teammate to Max Malins on the end of the line.
Malins, by his own admission not blessed with “out-and-out speed”, is hauled back and towards touch but hurls an offload infield, which finds Freddie Steward. The full-back has plenty of bulk but cannot counter driving limbs of three Scottish defenders who force him out. Scotland lineout. Luke Cowan-Dickie has some treatment but will be fine to continue.
Scotland 0-0 England, 10 minutes
Again England enter the Scotland 22, this time via the boot as a skimmed stone skips across the surface between Darcy Graham and Stuart Hogg, who does well to gather it and afford Finn Russell the chance to clear.
He fails to find touch and Freddie Steward runs it back with interest.
Scotland 0-0 England, 9 minutes
England throw a lineout on the fringes of the Scottish 22 and Tom Curry breaks from the back of the maul, shipping the ball on to back-row comrade Sam Simmonds, who is well held. A slightly hurried attack is spoiled by a Luke Cowan-Dickie fumble after getting the timing of his hard charge wrong as Ben Youngs delays a pass.
Scotland 0-0 England, 8 minutes
A straight-arm penalty for England. Finally O’Keeffe is happy with the scrum’s assembly and England look to be pleased, too, Ellis Genge getting a nudge on Rory Sutherland who turns in and goes down. Early ascendancy at scrum-time for the visiting pack.
Scotland 0-0 England, 6 minutes
Scotland fancy making an early set-piece statement and pile the pressure on, but that’s all a little impatient - Ben Youngs still has the ball in his hands as Scotland are free-kicked for an early drive.
England opt to pack down for another go, and then once more as Scotland fall foul of the recent alteration on the set-up about the hooker’s brake foot - George Turner is told he must keep his foot in the required place as Ben O’Keeffe awards another free kick.
Scotland 0-0 England, 4 minutes
The first lineout throw for George Turner is accurate enough but England’s maul defence is initially sound, and before the Scottish mass can begin to rumble the ball spills from still warming hands. Scrum, England feed.
Scotland 0-0 England, 3 minutes
A first bit of intricate choreography from Marcus Smith, whose salsa stepping is well monitored by the Scottish defence, who grab a piece of him and force him to offload. Freddie Steward then ties to thump a grubber through, which is blocked into touch.
England play again and this time Smith carries up to the line, a quick tip on for Nick Isiekwe allowing the lock to biff through for a couple of metres. Kyle Sinckler is isolated after spinning out of a tackle in the next phase, though, and Scotland are awarded a holding on penalty.
Scotland 0-0 England, 2 minutes
It is a reasonably brief one stalled by a strong double tackle from Scottish forwards, and Ben Youngs looks to the sky, putting up a high box kick for Duhan van der Merwe to handle. The big wing does, claiming a mark, but rather miscues his own clearance and England run it back to about the Scottish ten-metre line.
Scotland 0-0 England, 1 minute
A solid first clearance from Ali Price, Freddie Steward briefly considering a quick throw but content to hand the ball over to the forwards just inside the Scotland half.
Luke Cowan-Dickie hits his jumper and England will have their first attack.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments