Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Match Highlights: Scotland retain Calcutta Cup after unthinkable 31-point comeback

By Ben Spratt
England and Scotland battle in a Calcutta Cup classic

George Ford rescued England from the biggest comeback in Six Nations history as his 84th-minute try earned a 38-38 draw with Scotland at Twickenham.

ADVERTISEMENT

There might well have been fears that this match could have been considered a non-event after Wales wrapped up the Six Nations Grand Slam before kick-off, but it proved anything but.

England, who came into the weekend still in the running for the championship, quickly put their disappointment behind them with four tries without reply to take complete control.

But Stuart McInally’s score before half-time brought Scotland back into contention and they were sensationally level with around 20 minutes to play, before Sam Johnson looked to have completed an incredible turnaround.

There was one last twist in the tale of this classic, though, and Ford stormed under the posts from England’s final attack to at least partially spare Eddie Jones’ blushes.

England’s Jack Nowell – selected ahead of Joe Cokanasiga – danced inside from the right past four men to touch down in little over a minute and there was no let up in that early pace.

Tom Curry profited on a smart set-piece as a low lineout caught Scotland short, before Kyle Sinckler charged through and, with the visitors unable to regroup, Joe Launchbury went over.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ben Youngs was denied try number four as he knocked Nowell’s kick forward, but Owen Farrell converted a penalty and Henry Slade’s cute reverse pass then sent Jonny May through to score.

A blocked Farrell kick and mistimed May tackle allowed McInally to get Scotland off the mark on the break and England were slowed further by half-time.

Scotland’s belated first flowing move ended with Darcy Graham dodging a pair of challenges to lunge over in the left corner and then Ali Price teed up Magnus Bradbury for another quick try.

The visitors were rampant and Graham got his second with another free-flowing score, before the deficit was wiped out completely when Finn Russell picked off Farrell’s pass to cross, with Greig Laidlaw kicking the extras.

ADVERTISEMENT

Then came Johnson’s moment as the visitors bore a hole in England’s defence and he was left free, able to dodge despairing challenges and go under the posts for what looked to be the winner.

But England finally awoke from their slumber and after a period of extended pressure, Ford worked a gap through the centre and lunged for the line, converting his own try to seal the highest-scoring draw in international rugby history.

TALE OF TWO HALVES

Jones’ decision to select Nowell over Cokanasiga – ridiculed by many – looked to have paid off when he played a key role in a dominant first-half display, opening the scoring and threatening throughout. But Scotland turned the tide after the break and Russell was key, involved in everything as the visitors tightened up the defence and picked apart a reeling home side.

FREEDOM EVIDENT IN THRILLER

Wales’ result meant there was little pressure on England, while Scotland similarly had little to lose when they trailed 31-0. The circumstances contributed to a gripping encounter with attacking flair evident in both sides. These two bitter rivals really looked to be enjoying themselves in possession and there were stunning tries for either side – from a fine first-half England lineout to Johnson’s brave late dash.

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
Jon 3 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

35 Go to comments
j
john 6 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

28 Go to comments
A
Adrian 8 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

28 Go to comments
T
Trevor 11 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING Diamond demands law change while accusing Tigers of illegal activity Diamond demands law change while accusing Tigers of illegal activity
Search