Six Nations: England find a way as Calcutta Cup history slips through Scotland’s fingers

England manage to find a way

Many things can be levelled at Steve Borthwick’s England, but you cannot say they don’t entertain.

Even throughout their year of near misses against Tier 1 opposition, drama was abundant, if victories were not.

But England look to have transformed their fortunes, going from a team who found ways to lose Test matches, to a team that finds a way to win, regardless of the nature of performance.

For large spells against Scotland they were second best, and it would have been very different had Finn Russell converted Duhan van der Merwe’s late try to secure victory.

But Russell didn’t add the late conversion, and England found a way to deny Scotland a fifth successive win as a jubilant Twickenham crowd celebrated a cathartic victory over the ‘Auld Enemy’.

“I’m delighted the endings in the last two games have gone our way,” Borthwick said. “The team worked exceptionally hard for that.

“At Allianz Stadium recently, the endings to games are pretty tight and dramatic. In many ways it wasn’t pretty, and there are things we want to do better, but the players found a way to win the game.”

Calcutta Cup history slips through Scotland’s fingers

A kick at goal. A shot a history. An agonising miss.

History beckoned at the boot of Finn Russell after Duhan van der Merwe’s late try presented Scotland with the opportunity to seal an unprecedented fifth Calcutta Cup victory in a row.

It could have been the crowning moment at the end of a performance that was dominant for large periods, but it wasn’t to be, as Scotland were dealt a crushing reminder of just how brutal international rugby can be.

The nail-biting finale at Allianz Stadium will be remembered for Russell’s missed conversion, but that wasn’t where Scotland saw their grip on the Calcutta Cup loosen.

Gregor Townsend’s inquest will centre on how Scotland outscored England by three tries to one, made 198 more gain-line metres, nine line breaks to England’s two – beating 25 more defenders than England managed through the game – and still failed to win.

Defeat took with it any realistic prospect of Scotland winning the Six Nations for the first time, but there were positives in defeat, however bitter, for Townsend.

“I’m proud of how we played today. In the first half, our execution was very good – our contact work was outstanding,” the Scotland head coach said.

“We created opportunities. We scored three tries and will look back and think we could have scored more. In a lot of ways, it was a better performance than we’ve had down here when we’ve won.

“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.”

Ireland handed clear wake up call in Welsh capital

Simon Easterby’s Ireland were facing a Wales side on Saturday who were beaten 43-0 by France in the opening round and were 19-3 adrift against Italy in Rome in Round 2 until 11 minutes to play.

Granted, it was Wales’ first game under Matt Sherratt following Warren Gatland’s departure, their first home game and their first in the championship with a recognised fly-half in Gareth Anscombe – brought in and selected by Sherratt with Ben Thomas shifting into his more customary role of midfield.

Still, proceedings in Cardiff on Saturday were a wake-up call for Ireland, and then some. They made seven changes for the clash, and several players who have earned Easterby’s trust very quickly were nowhere near the required level.

The experienced Garry Ringrose put Ireland in all sorts of bother with his red card – something which will likely see him missing for Round 4’s mammoth clash vs France in Dublin – while fly-half Sam Prendergast made a catalogue of errors in the Test, particularly in defence where he was targeted and cut apart.

The captaincy of Dan Sheehan must also come into question. The hooker repeatedly chose to kick penalties rather than to touch for territory and potential try chances. It was a ploy that almost came back to bite the visitors when Ellis Mee went so close to scoring for Wales with seven minutes to play – a try which would have given the hosts a conversion chance for the lead.

Plenty to ponder for the men in green then ahead of welcoming France to the Aviva Stadium. Has a side or support ever felt as flat winning a Triple Crown?

A day of hope and pride for Wales

If it was a day that checked the feel-good Irish mood in this championship somewhat, then it was also a day of great hope and pride for Wales.

Nobody gave the men in red a prayer of even being competitive in this one, coming into the Test on a record run of 14 straight losses and facing a side looking for history and three championship titles in a row.

And yet, Wales pushed Ireland to the point of almost creaking in a tremendous Cardiff atmosphere, fighting from 10-0 down to lead by eight points into the second half.

Wales lack resources, but Saturday proved they have talent, the will to defend and quality too. Wings Tom Rogers and Mee, back-rows Jac Morgan and Tommy Reffell, loosehead prop Nicky Smith and fly-half Anscombe just a few of those to impress massively.

If Sherratt can get this out of the players from just five days and a few training sessions, where else can he take them?

Six Nations fixtures: Round 4

Saturday March 8

Ireland vs France (2.15pm)
Scotland vs Wales (4.45pm)

Sunday March 9

England vs Italy (3pm)

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