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:
Officials
Ben O’Keeffe has a little bit of history with England, with the RFU forced to apologise to the New Zealander after their 2020 Six Nations game against Wales ended with some controversial comments from Eddie Jones about the referee. He’ll have the whistle this afternoon, aided by TMO Ben Whitehouse if need be, and Nic Berry and Craig Evans have the flags.
Marcus Smith sweeps back his shock of black hair...
Anthems
We take a moment to recognise rugby against racism, and then it is time for the anthems.
A brass band accompanies the England players for “God Save the Queen”, sang in a slightly disjointed manner.
And then the lone piper leads everyone in to “Flower of Scotland”. Tears in the eyes of Sione Tuipulotu as he looks to the heavens, and a couple of other Scots are overcome with emotion as the piper falls silent for the second verse.
It is a stirring sound, the more than 60,000 Scottish fans inside Murrayfield joining in song. How good it is to have fans back for this great competition.
Scotland arrive
Steely focus on the faces of Stuart Hogg and his cohort as they are roared forth by their spectators.
Scotland vs England
Broad smiles on the faces of many of the spectators, plenty of whom look to be well lubricated after an afternoon in the Edinburgh taverns. It is one of the great days, England’s visit to Edinburgh, a city coming truly too life from the early hours until late of night.
Out of the tunnel Tom Curry jogs, leading England out for the first time. The youngest England captain since Will Carling looks pumped up, slapping hands with Nick Isiekwe as he bobs his head to the music.
The BBC pundits have their say
“The weather is actually as good as we could expect,” says World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson with his English perspective. “I think it is going to be incredibly tight.”
“It will come down to fine margins, it will come down to discipline,” predicts ex-Scotland skipper John Barclay. “You’ve got to tick all the boxes today.”
Former Wales back-row Sam Warburton offers his impartial view: “If it stays dry-ish, I favour Scotland; if it gets wet, I favour England.”
Finn Russell vs Marcus Smith
Two of the most naturally gifted fly-halves in rugby, the duel between Finn Russell and Marcus Smith could be blockbuster:
Breaking down the Finn Russell vs Marcus Smith fly-half battle
Scotland tackle England at Murrayfield on Saturday
Finn Russell vs Marcus Smith
Two of the most naturally gifted fly-halves in rugby, the duel between Finn Russell and Marcus Smith could be blockbuster:
Breaking down the Finn Russell vs Marcus Smith fly-half battle
Scotland tackle England at Murrayfield on Saturday
Scotland vs England
It sounds like the rain isn’t coming down too heavily at the moment at Murrayfield, though it is a little blustery. England tamed the tempest on their last visit to Edinburgh two years ago - how might the conditions impact affairs this afternoon?
Scotland vs England
It sounds like the rain isn’t coming down too heavily at the moment at Murrayfield, though it is a little blustery. England tamed the tempest on their last visit to Edinburgh two years ago - how might the conditions impact affairs this afternoon?
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