9 hours Ago
But if he is ever going to part with a tenner and pick some numbers in the chase of a fortune, then the time is now. Because today was without doubt, his lucky day. Despite being outplayed and outgained by almost every metric that matters, England leave Twickenham with the Calcutta Cup in their possession and their hopes of becoming Six Nations champions alive and well.
Quite how is anyone’s guess. However you slice it, they were well beaten, except of course on the scoreboard, with Finn Russell’s missed conversion – his third of the night – proving decisive, as England escaped with a 16-15 win. Scotland will look back on this match and wonder how they lost.
They had 59% territory, 58% possession, outscored England three tries to one, outgained them by 198 metres, made nine breaks in comparison to two, beat 35 defenders in comparison to 10. They had history right in front of them - the chance to beat England for the fifth year in a row, something never done before in the 154 years of this fixture. Oh, how they will kick themselves.
“In a lot of ways it was a better performance than we've had down here when we've won,” said head coach Gregor Townsend. "The reality is we didn't win and are likely now not going to win the championship. It's a performance we can build on over the next two rounds.
" That there can be no doubt, but there must be so much disappointment north of the border. After years of promise, Scotland will once again finish – at best – in the middle of the Six Nations pack, and the sense that time is running out for this generation to take the next step will only grow. Quite how Townsend picks them up after both a chastening defeat to Ireland in round two and this result is anyone’s guess.
. @EllisGenge was all of us at the end 😅 #ENGvSCO | @o2 | #WearTheRose pic.twitter.
com/Alf94FPl1D They scored three excellent tries, cut England’s defence to shreds, and restricted their opponents to kick after kick after kick in open play, much to the frustration of England supporters. England will hope that the result – rather than the performance – will transform the mood around this fixture and usher in a new era of English dominance. Though it may not feel like it, it was not so long ago that beating Scotland was less of an event and more of an expectation.
Those days have long gone. The last time they won this fixture at Twickenham, Theresa May was prime minister, Roger Federer was the reigning Wimbledon champion and Fin Smith was 14 years old. The magnitude of beating Scotland cannot be overstated, then, for a young, emerging team that is still learning how to win close Test matches.
"Every game is important for England and you have to give Scotland credit, as they played a real smart game,” said head coach Borthwick. "They put pressure on you and as soon as they get a chance they move the ball wide quickly. "This young group stayed in the fight and they kept composure and they kept running hard.
They eventually found a way to win." It is difficult not to feel sympathy for Russell, who controlled the game in the first half and displayed some excellent passing. He has worked hard to become one of the premier goal-kickers in the northern hemisphere – indeed he missed just once in the 2024 Six Nations – but when it’s not your night, it’s not your night, and you have to wonder how his Lions chances will have been affected.
Supposedly a shoe-in for the starting jersey this summer, this performance and those misses – in front of a watching Lions head coach Andy Farrell no less – will damage, however unfair that may seem. On the opposite side was Fin Smith, who was again impressive for England. The middle round of the Six Nations may often gain the lowest TV ratings amid a mid-Championship momentum slump, but it can so often be the key weekend.
And, by hook or by crook, England are title contenders and have the simplest run-in. While Ireland and France meet in Dublin in a fortnight – and England will be hoping for a Les Bleus win to derail Ireland’s Grand Slam charge – England play Italy and Wales. Title talk is premature of course, it remains Ireland’s to lose, but the mood around England has changed, the tide may have turned and English rugby has a trophy.
Sometimes it is better to be lucky than good..
