Scotland Halts England's Winning Streak with Calcutta Cup Triumph
England's impressive 12-game winning streak came to an abrupt end as they suffered their heaviest Calcutta Cup defeat in eight years against a determined Scotland side. The Scots delivered a commanding performance at Murrayfield, securing a 31-20 victory with four tries that marked their biggest win in this historic fixture since 2018.
Timely Victory for Under-Pressure Townsend
This triumph arrived at a crucial moment for Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend, who had faced mounting scrutiny following his team's disappointing 18-15 defeat against Italy in their Guinness Six Nations opener just one week earlier. The comprehensive victory breathed new life into Scotland's championship campaign while simultaneously dealing a significant blow to England's aspirations of claiming their first title since 2020.
Scotland's dominance was evident from the outset, with Finn Russell opening the scoring through a close-range penalty in just the fourth minute. The hosts gained further advantage when England wing Henry Arundell received his first yellow card in the eighth minute for failing to release after a tackle during Scotland's threatening advance toward the try-line.
Scotland's Early Dominance
Capitalizing on their numerical superiority, Scotland scored their first try in the 10th minute through a brilliant attacking move. Russell displayed exceptional skill, swatting the ball with one hand to Huw Jones, who evaded Maro Itoje's challenge to cross the line. Russell successfully converted the try, maintaining his perfect kicking record throughout the match.
The Scots continued their swashbuckling display, adding another try just four minutes later when Jamie Ritchie powered over after Scotland worked the ball efficiently from right to left. With Russell's conversion, Scotland established a commanding 17-0 lead within the first quarter of the match—a stark contrast to their 12-0 deficit at the same stage against Italy the previous week.
England's Brief Resurgence
England managed to reduce the deficit when Arundell, recently returned from the sin-bin, scored in the 21st minute following a perfectly-delayed pass from George Ford, who added the conversion. Ford further narrowed the gap with a penalty in the 26th minute, testing Scotland's resilience after their notorious collapse from a 21-0 lead against Argentina in November.
This time, however, Scotland demonstrated improved composure, regaining control almost immediately. In the 27th minute, England prop Ellis Genge struggled to handle Russell's clever chip over the top, allowing Ben White to seize the loose ball and score. Russell's conversion extended Scotland's lead to 24-10.
Arundell's Costly Second Yellow
England's challenges intensified when Arundell received his second yellow card two minutes before halftime for taking out Kyle Steyn without attempting to challenge for a high ball. This offense resulted in a 20-minute red card equivalent, leaving England with 14 players during a critical period of the match.
Ford managed to reduce the deficit with a penalty early in the second half, but Scotland responded decisively in the 53rd minute. Substitute Matt Fagerson charged down Ford's drop-goal attempt and fed Jones, who sprinted clear for his second try of the match. Russell's conversion appeared to set Scotland on course for their biggest victory over England in four decades.
Late Consolation for England
England secured a late consolation try through Ben Earl in the closing minutes, with Ford adding the conversion. Despite this final score, Scotland's comprehensive performance secured the Calcutta Cup for the seventh time in nine years, delivering a statement victory that revitalizes their Six Nations campaign while halting England's remarkable winning streak.
