England vs Scotland LIVE: Result and reaction from Six Nations as hosts cling on in thrilling Calcutta Cup climax

England edged Scotland 16-15 in a thrilling Calcutta Cup climax to win back the prize for the first time since 2020.

Scotland had established a run of dominance over the Auld Enemy and had the chance to continue their hoodoo here, with Duhan van der Merwe sliding in for a scintillating score just moments from time to grant Finn Russell a kick for victory. But the fly half’s conversion slid by, allowing England to hold on for a first win in the fixture in five years.

In doing so, Steve Borthwick’s side backed up another tight win over France, giving them real momentum ahead of meetings with Wales and Italy to come. An early try from Tommy Freeman set them on their way while they scrambled superbly against some sparkling Scottish interplay. Both Marcus and Fin Smith struck from the tee to leave the hosts - just about - on the winning side.

Re-live all of the action from Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in our live blog below:

England vs Scotland LIVE

• England cling on to beat Scotland in thriller and win Calcutta Cup for first time since 2020

• REPORT: England’s luck finally turns to end Calcutta Cup misery as Finn Russell suffers late agony

• FULL TIME! England 16-15 Scotland

• TRY! England 16-15 SCOTLAND (Duhan van der Merwe, 80 minutes)

• 20' - TRY! Jones adds another Calcutta Cup corker to his collection (ENG 7-10 SCO)

• 9' - TRY! Freeman crashes over in entertaining start (ENG 7-5 SCO)

• 4' - TRY! White finishes off stunning team try to put visitors on top (ENG 0-5 SCO)

Steve Borthwick discusses England's narrow Calcutta Cup win

20:10 , Luke Baker

Steve Borthwick has been in for his post-match press conference:

“I’m delighted that in the last two games, the ending has gone our way. We’re finding ways to win. In many ways it wasn’t pretty and there are things we want to do better but it was important to win.

On Fin Smith’s performance: “I thought Fin Smith went well. It was a completely different game to the last one (against France). It was a tactical arm wrestle because of the way Scotland set up. But a different game is good for our young side that is evolving and developing.

Injury updates: “Tom Curry has a dead leg. He took it early in the game - he’s a tough competitor but it became too uncomfortable after half-time. Tom Willis was a HIA so he’ll enter those protocols.

“These are good teams we’re playing against. What pleased me is that the team is evolving. We don’t necessarily want to play the way we did today. We want to move the ball because we have creative talent but Scotland stopped us doing that. We’ll find a way to do that.

“There are areas to improve and we will. We’ll need to against Italy. Italy play not dissimilarly, with a low phase count and contestable kicks.”

Gregor Townsend discusses Scotland's loss in post-match press conference

19:44 , Luke Baker

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has had his say:

“A lot went right for us. We scored three tries to one. To get the amount of yards we did was positive. England kept their discipline in the 22. We didn’t get penalties for offside. Credit goes to them but we know we can be better.

On missing chances in first half: “I wouldn’t use adjectives like ‘frustrated’. You learn during that first-half period. A couple of times we went wide and scored but sometimes you have to narrow up the defence and get something when you get into the 22.

“We probably put in a better performance than the last couple of times we’ve come here. I’m so proud of the group. They did everything they could to retain the cup.

Will Finn Russell be replaced as goalkicker after three misses?: “No, I don’t think so. Finn is an outstanding goalkicker - he was last season and they were tough kicks today.

“We asked them to show who we are as a team and I think they did that. The next games will be tough challenges so we have to build on today. We showed we can create opportunities and scored tries away from home.

“It’s tougher to take for the players - to play well you have to put the effort in and they’ve done that. From a coaching perspective, we asked them to deliver on effort and execution and they did that.”

England’s luck finally turns to end Calcutta Cup misery as Finn Russell suffers late agony

19:38 , Luke Baker at Allianz Stadium

For the second game in a row, England found a way. Having been battered and beaten by a relentless Scotland, Steve Borthwick’s side somehow stayed in the contest, edged into the lead and rode their luck to hold on to the most dramatic of 16-15 wins and finally end their half-decade of Calcutta Cup woe.

There was some irony to the fact that it was England’s tormentor-in-chief from the recent past, Finn Russell, who, having already missed two earlier kicks, saw his touchline conversion at the death drift agonisingly wide to leave the visitors one paltry point short in the final reckoning. So often the match-winner, he took on a more heartbreaking role to leave the men in white exhausted but celebrating the end of a streak.

England’s luck turns to end Calcutta Cup misery as Finn Russell suffers late agony

Rory Darge reflects on Scotland's narrow Calcutta Cup loss

19:32 , Luke Baker

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend and captain Rory Darge have just started their post-match press conference.

Darge says: “We scored three tries but there were chances to score more. England were better in the second half than the first half but when you have your opportunities in Test rugby you have to take them. You know there’s going to be a reaction. We knew their bench was going to have an impact.

“We’re disappointed with the result but the performance was better than it was two weeks ago.”

On Finn Russell’s mindset after three missed conversions: “Finn is the same as all of us. There were loads of opportunities in that game outside of those kicks, that everyone across the team missed.”

Scotland co-captain Rory Darge, speaking to BBC Scotland

19:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle

"We scored more tries, but to be honest there were a lot of opportunities that we didn't make the most of.

"Part of that is England defended well, but we know we made enough opportunities to win that game, we maybe just didn't execute.

"It is tough. It was a big game in terms of the championship and obviously it's Scotland-England. We're gutted we couldn't get a win.

"There's no excuse for a drop-off now. We need to deliver in the next two games."

Maro Itoje speaks to ITV

19:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle

"The performance was a bit mixed.

"Scotland played a lot in our half and we didn't exit the way we wanted but we did fight and scrap. There is loads for us to get better at but we are delighted to win.

"In the first half and the second half, we probably didn't play as much as we wanted and Scotland probably played more than us but we were more clinical than we have been.

"There is a feeling we are going to score so we just need to find ways of being there more and then we will execute more."

Duhan van der Merwe speaks to ITV

19:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Poor Duhan van der Merwe has been named man of the match, meaning he has to front up to the broadcasters:

"We had a lot of opportunities in that first half and we didn't take all of them,” the wing says.

"Fair play to England's defence, in the first half they kept us out.

“We didn't have enough ball in the second half. England were applying pressure at the breakdown and they got the ball. Fair play to England."

FT: England 16-15 Scotland

18:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That really is a sickener for Scotland, mind. They carried for basically double the metres as England and so often looked on the verge of cracking the contest wide open - but they left six points out there from the tee, and perhaps plenty more with some strange decision-making in wide channels. Even in a good showing in so many ways, there will be some more tough questions for Gregor Townsend, I’m sure.

FT: England 16-15 Scotland

18:54 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Italy and Wales to come for England - how big a win is that to give them momentum into a (relatively) kind finish to this campaign? They scrambled quite brilliantly defensively today, finding a way even with Scotland making all of the running.

FT: England 16-15 Scotland

18:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle

For the first time in five years, an England captain will clutch the Calcutta Cup! What drama in a fixture that just always seems to deliver! It looked like Scotland might snatch it again with their scintillating backs to the fore, but Finn Russell’s miss from the touchline, his third failure from the tee on the day, means that their hopes of an historic fifth straight victory over the Auld Enemy disappeared into the Twickenham night.

FULL TIME! England 16-15 Scotland

18:44 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England 16-15 Scotland, 84 minutes

18:42 , Harry Latham-Coyle

NO THEY CANNOT! ELLIOT DALY AND HENRY SLADE HOLD KYLE ROWE UP IN THE AIR AND THEIR MATES HAUL THE SCOTLAND WING OVER THE TOUCHLINE!

The hosts cling on! Heartbreak for Scotland but the Calcutta Cup is back in English hands!

England 16-15 Scotland, 84 minutes

18:41 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Claimed at the back. A meaty maul - five metres, ten metres, onwards still.

Jamie Dobie throws into midfield. Can Scotland’s backs produce another spectacular?

England 16-15 Scotland, 82 minutes

18:40 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Scotland make little ground but Maro Itoje’s deliberate knock-on earns them a penalty. There is a high tackle, too.

Finn Russell punts for touch. Ewan Ashman’s lineout to throw on the England ten-metre line.

TRY! England 16-15 SCOTLAND (Duhan van der Merwe, 80 minutes)

18:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s Duhan van der Merwe in the Calcutta Cup again! A simply scintillating Scottish score, and Finn Russell will have the chance to win it from the touchline...

MISSED! Dragged wide of the left-hand upright! A yard or so away, but that may prove the difference.

It was a sensational score, Stafford McDowall searing up the centre after a delicious move in midfield before Russell set the rest of the backs free. There will be time for a restart but Scotland will have to score again.

England 16-10 Scotland, 79 minutes

18:36 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Scotland’s lineout is messy but they escape with the ball. They’ll have to go from inside their own half...

England 16-10 Scotland, 78 minutes

18:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England find touch safely. Banker ball, Maro Itoje in the middle...but there’s obstruction from the lifters! Scotland have a penalty and another opportunity!

England 16-10 Scotland, 77 minutes

18:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Flung wildly into touch! Phase after phase the exhausting passage continues before Ewan Ashman throws a heroically misjudged backdoor offload forward into touch.

It’s not even Ashman’s worst involvement in the movement - a contact off the ball would have prompted a penalty regardless! Is that the extinguishing of Scotland’s hopes?

England 16-10 Scotland, 76 minutes

18:32 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Good initial work from England defensively, firm on the fringes and adjusting effectively as Scotland go wider through Tom Jorddan and Finn Russell. Duhan van der Merwe is bashed back by Henry Slade - quite the statement from the centre!

Onwards Scotland go, though. A rainbow from Russell finds Blair Kinghorn, but England are across in good number.

England 16-10 Scotland, 75 minutes

18:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Snatched by Maro Itoje! Up at the front flies the England captain to jar the ball out of the hands of Matt Fagerson.

But Harry Randall’s clearance is charged down! Scotland on the offensive again...

England 16-10 Scotland, 74 minutes

18:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ollie Chessum is thrown across the lineout. Penalty Scotland, who march further down the right touchline.

England 16-10 Scotland, 73 minutes

18:28 , Harry Latham-Coyle

How much good has that France win done England? This is the exact sort of situation they squandered repeatedly last year. A kick out on the full is far from an ideal start to the closing skirmishes...

PENALTY! ENGLAND 16-10 Scotland (Fin Smith, 71 minutes)

18:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A nerveless strike from Smith, the son of two Scots but rapidly becoming England’s fly half of the future.

England 13-10 Scotland, 70 minutes

18:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ben Curry has wrought havoc since his introduction. He doesn’t get hands on ball here but Rory Darge and Tom Jordan drop him dangerously having lifted him away, and it’ll be England’s penalty on halfway.

Is it in Marcus Smith’s range? Long-distance specialist Elliot Daly? Neither - Fin Smith steps up...

England 13-10 Scotland, 68 minutes

18:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Elliot Daly helps out England’s other back replacement, Harry Randall’s nasty box kick not travelling far at all but landing in the hands of the veteran wing.

Jamie Dobie is on at scrum half for Scotland, meanwhile.

PENALTY! ENGLAND 13-10 Scotland (Marcus Smith, 67 minutes)

18:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle

As simple as they come for Marcus Smith. England get their noses in front.

England 10-10 Scotland, 66 minutes

18:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Not yet. Scotland infringe again at a ruck but then do a solid job of reforming. Finn Russell is warned about his side’s discipline as England consider which of the penalties to take...and it’ll be the one by the posts, indicating their intent.

England 10-10 Scotland, 65 minutes

18:19 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Superb take from Maro Itoje! Plucked at full extension at the tail.

Advantage coming for England, but can they make this position pay with a try?

England 10-10 Scotland, 65 minutes

18:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Penalty only. There is head-on-head contact from a tackling Kyle Rowe on Ollie Chessum, but the wing is very much the matador to the England lock’s bull, caught in the horns as he charges. The officials reach their conclusion quickly.

England enter the Scottish 22 from Fin Smith’s accurate punt.

England 10-10 Scotland, 64 minutes

18:17 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Henry Slade ruins his own good work, keeping a Finn Russell penalty from reaching touch neatly but then skewing his clearing kick shallow.

Hang on, the television match official Tual Trainini wants a look at a head contact...

England 10-10 Scotland, 61 minutes

18:13 , Harry Latham-Coyle

That from Ben Earl, however, is not at all contentious - a howitzer of a clearout from the back row as he desperately tries to resource a ruck.

Another Scottish change in the forwards: Sam Skinner steps in for Jonny Gray.

And an English switch - Harry Randall spent the 80 on the bench against France but is called upon to relieve Alex Mitchell here.

England 10-10 Scotland, 60 minutes

18:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England cling on again! Scotland seem on the verge of breaking them open four or five times in the movement, but the hosts somehow stay with them. Maro Itoje clambers over the top of a Scottish sealing player and pinches the pill - Finn Russell is furious but referee Pierre Brousset is happy, and it’s his opinion that counts.

England 10-10 Scotland, 58 minutes

18:09 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Maro Itoje takes the restart magnificently, but it isn’t long before England are back on the defensive. Elliot Daly does rather well to extricate himself from a spot of bother and the hosts eventually clear 25 metres from their own line.

Ellis Genge is off at prop; Fin Baxter replaces the England loosehead.

PENALTY! ENGLAND 10-10 Scotland (Marcus Smith, 56 minutes)

18:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Straight and true.

England 7-10 Scotland, 55 minutes

18:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Changes for Scotland with Ewan Ashman and Matt Fagerson on in the pack.

Penalty, though, to England, and it’s bang in front. Marcus Smith will line it up...

England 7-10 Scotland, 53 minutes

18:05 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A helter-skelter couple of minutes! England, led by Ben Curry who has been brilliant since coming on, drive Duhan van der Merwe back towards his own line at a rate of knots. Jamie George jackals and comes up with the ball, with Alex Mitchell just about able to extra.

There look to be green pastures beyond Henry Slade but the centre ploughs a lone furrow up centrefield. Scotland turn him over, and Blair Kinghorn flips the field with a booming boot beyond halfway.

England win a free kick at the lineout to restore a bit of calm.

England 7-10 Scotland, 51 minutes

18:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Now it is England who get breakdown joy. Fin Smith takes the plaudits of his teammates, a superb tackle on Tom Jordan granting his back rowers the chance to attack the exposed ball. Smith’s defensive steel is a real strength.

England 7-10 Scotland, 50 minutes

18:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

But that is not where England want their scrum half - a clearout takes two players past the ball and leaves Mitchell forced to dive in to protect breakdown ball he’d have been hoping to whisk away. Penalty to Scotland.

England 7-10 Scotland, 49 minutes

17:59 , Harry Latham-Coyle

An Alex Mitchell box kick is beautifully flighted to allow Tommy Freeman a rare opportunity to thump Duhan van der Merwe before the sizeable Scot has a chance to get on the charge.

England 7-10 Scotland, 47 minutes

17:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle

More back row issues for England: Tom Curry is limping off, the all-action flanker having been down for treatment a couple of times already. Chandler Cunningham-South, unused against France, steps in on the blindside.

Unsurprisingly, that has little impact on England’s scrum superiority - another decisive penalty won by Will Stuart, who really is furthering his case for Lions selection in this championship.

England 7-10 Scotland, 47 minutes

17:56 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Sublime stuff from Scotland, varying their attacking pictures quite wonderfully to drag England out of shape. Jack Dempsey’s delightful pivot and pass send Finn Russell into space.

Infield to the forwards for a rumble or three...spilled! Maro Itoje rakes at the ball having held up Zander Fagerson, forcing it free, and Dave Cherry knocks on as he attempts to pick up the pieces. England survive again.

England 7-10 Scotland, 45 minutes

17:54 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Some aerial jousting brings about another Scotland scrum.

Here come England’s “old dogs” - Elliot Daly and Jamie George replace Ollie Sleightholme and Luke Cowan-Dickie.

England 7-10 Scotland, 44 minutes

17:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England have looked really purposeful when they’ve had the chance to use the ball. A neat dummy and delay from Fin Smith create a half-hole through which Henry Slade goes, but Ollie Lawrence can’t connect with his centre partner’s offload, which looked a lot like this one he threw in the first half:

England 7-10 Scotland, 43 minutes

17:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A familiar start to the half: Scotland threaten to burst away on the outside but can’t quite escape, with Huw Jones taken well by Ben Earl. Ben Curry and co. make a mess of the breakdown and win a penalty.

England 7-10 Scotland, 42 minutes

17:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Tom Willis’s day is done, unfortunately - the No 8 has failed his HIA. Ben Curry is on for the remainder, probably.

England 7-10 Scotland, 41 minutes

17:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Blair Kinghorn restarts proceedings.

Second half...

17:47 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Right. Breath drawn? Glasses recharged? Sustenance taken on board? 40 minutes more of Calcutta Cup fun is about to begin.

HT: England 7-10 Scotland

17:37 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Another captivating and compelling Calcutta Cup so far - not that there was much thought it would be anything else. Scotland have showed greater consistency of threat, really stressing England with their dynamism and dynamite carriers, but the hosts have hung in there, as they have done throughout this campaign so far.

Three tries already, and it feels like we might have had six on a different day - lively stuff, and it is only just getting going.

HALF TIME: England 7-10 Scotland

17:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England 7-10 Scotland, 41 minutes

17:34 , Harry Latham-Coyle

From the sublime to the ridiculous from Ollie Lawrence and England pass up a golden opportunity!

Oh, it was so excellent initially from the centre, hitting an irresistible thrusting line up the centre and then showing his dexterity to free Marcus Smith. The full-back gambols inside the Scotland 22 before being hauled down by a retreating Duhan van der Merwe.

The try should still be scored, though, numbers on the right as Alex Mitchell flicks away. But Lawrence gets too clever, taking contact and trying to recreate his back-door offload. The first was pinpoint precise; the second most definitely is not.

Into the first row of the stands it flies to send everyone down the tunnel.

England 7-10 Scotland, 40 minutes

17:32 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England definitely have the edge at the scrum. Zander Fagerson tries to anchor against Ellis Genge but Will Stuart earns a penalty on the other side. One last chance for England to attack in this first half.

England 7-10 Scotland, 39 minutes

17:31 , Harry Latham-Coyle

More staunch defence from England - and it’s the other Curry twin at the heart of it. Tom weevils within the Scotland maul; it stalls and falls, England’s ball.

England 7-10 Scotland, 38 minutes

17:29 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A vital intervention from the new man! Scotland stress both edges of the England defence and Dave Cherry speedbumps Fin Smith, but Ben Curry latches over the top of the ball and pilfers it, coming up with a truly crucial turnover.

England 7-10 Scotland, 36 minutes

17:27 , Harry Latham-Coyle

This is bad news for England, though - Tom Willis is departing for a head injury assessment having taken a bang from Ellis Genge, by the sounds of things. The No 8 doesn’t look in fantastic shape, but we’ll see what the outcome is of that HIA.

Ben Curry is on as Steve Borthwick reunites the dynamic back row that began in Dublin. Ben Earl slides across to the base of the scrum.

England 7-10 Scotland, 36 minutes

17:25 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A bit of luck for England, Ollie Lawrence cleared out virtually on top of Scotland scrum half Ben White, who knocks the ball on at the base. White argues he should have a penalty but there’s nothing of obvious illegality; another promising Scottish movement is halted.

England 7-10 Scotland, 35 minutes

17:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle

This is the third round in a row in which England have had to do a lot of first-half scrambling. Scotland will want another score (at least) before the interval.

England 7-10 Scotland, 33 minutes

17:23 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Sterling work from Alex Mitchell, facing up to Duhan van der Merwe one-on-one and stopping the wing in his tracks, allowing Tom Curry to provide a buffeting towards touch. The Scot contorts an offload away but can’t find a teammate.

England 7-10 Scotland, 32 minutes

17:21 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Down the forwards pack again for another bit of pushing and shoving. Alex Mitchell feeds as the front rows go down, and they’ll get up and do it all over it again.

Stable this time. Tom Willis plucks and thunders away, driving back three tacklers all of about 12 metres.. He’s some specimen, the Saracens number eight.

England 7-10 Scotland, 30 minutes

17:18 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Duhan van der Merwe shakes free of two would-be tacklers as Scotland again begin to threaten. Is there space out on the left? No, excellent defence from Tommy Freeman, making an outstanding read to rush up on a looping Kyle Rowe and force a knock on. It was all or nothing from the England wing with a Scottish player beyond him, but that was razor sharp.

England 7-10 Scotland, 28 minutes

17:16 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Not Marcus Smith’s best moment. The full-back crabs across field before attempting to clear England’s lines, but a wretched slice will give Scotland a lineout on the fringes of the home 22.

England 7-10 Scotland, 26 minutes

17:14 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Genge is sent steaming into Scottish bodies having been sent out into the backs from a lineout, the prop over the gainline but not making huge inroads. Finn Russell finds a canny kick soon after, spotting space in England’s backfield. Not quite a 50/22, but not far away.

England 7-10 Scotland, 25 minutes

17:13 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The home scrum is going well, though. A penalty this time - slaps on the back for Ellis Genge and Will Stuart, who are both having strong campaigns so far.

England 7-10 Scotland, 24 minutes

17:11 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England are in trouble here. James Lowe caused havoc against their undersized edge defenders and Alex Mitchell and Marcus Smith are once again being tasked with shutting down the sidelines against men of larger stature. Duhan van der Merwe bats back the full-back with a fierce fend before Mitchell is matador-ed by Jamie Ritchie. England’s scramble is solid to force a knock on but this is a concern for the hosts.

England 7-10 Scotland, 22 minutes

17:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Howls of disbelief around Allianz Stadium, Twickenham as Ben Earl’s seemingly legitimate jackal is penalised. Pierre Brousset rules that the flanker had gone off his feet on a hopelessly isolated Blair Kinghorn - and the French referee is probably right, Earl’s hands past the ball initially.

TRY! England 7-10 SCOTLAND (Huw Jones, 20 minutes)

17:08 , Harry Latham-Coyle

How do they do it? Another sensational Scottish score, and it’s Huw Jones!

The centre simply loves this fixture! This is a delightful display of attacking interplay, a set-piece strike in which every Scottish back is involved. Stafford McDowall takes Finn Russell’s pass and pulls back to Kyle Rowe, who connects with Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe on the outside. The hulking wing carries Marcus Smith with him before popping for his partner in Calcutta Cup crime, Jones adding yet another try against the Auld Enemy to his tally.

England 7-5 Scotland, 19 minutes

17:06 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ollie Chessum is penalised at the maul for changing his bind. Finn Russell makes a hash of his touchfinder, slicing it for a territorial gain of little more than 10 metres.

England 7-5 Scotland, 18 minutes

17:04 , Harry Latham-Coyle

After that lively opening, the game ends up in something of a stupor as the two sides trade high hoists in the middle third. Ollie Sleightholme ends the stalemate by winning a contestable, but his pat back scurries into touch.

England 7-5 Scotland, 16 minutes

17:03 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Scotland have clearly come with ambition to play. Another Blair Kinghorn offload fails to find the hands of Dave Cherry, the hooker, like Kyle Rowe earlier, not expecting such a bold pass. Kinghorn, of course, has been thriving in exactly this sort of style with Toulouse.

England 7-5 Scotland, 13 minutes

17:01 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Nothing, it transpires - an early shove and a free kick England’s way.

England 7-5 Scotland, 13 minutes

17:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A touch naive from England, catching and mauling but going nowhere in particular, allowing Scotland to stay in the fight and eventually earn a scrum when the ball fails to re-emerge. A fine attacking platform, this - on the 22, 15 in from the touchline. What can Finn Russell and co. conjure?

England 7-5 Scotland, 13 minutes

16:58 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Malfunction at the junction! Some devastating footwork from Blair Kinghorn leaves Alex Mitchell chewing the Twickenham turf, but the full-back’s basketball-style alley-oop clatters off the hands of an unsuspecting Rowe, who hadn’t quite read his teammate’s intentions. England survive.

England 7-5 Scotland, 11 minutes

16:57 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A hectic start, this. England infringe at a ruck near halfway and Scotland punt towards the corner. Kyle Rowe shimmies and shakes past a couple to within five metres of the line.

TRY! ENGLAND 7-5 Scotland (Tommy Freeman, 9 minutes)

16:55 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A bit of biff from Tommy Freeman and the burly wing bashes over!

Freeman steps up at first receiver and goes route one, taking the pass of club colleague Alex Mitchell and bursting between the outsized Finn Russell and Tom Jordan. Marcus Smith converts to put England in front.

The replay isn’t at all conclusive, with the footage perhaps suggesting that Freeman might not have got it down, but there’s nothing to overturn the on-field try call.

England 0-5 Scotland, 7 minutes

16:53 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Good continuity from the hosts inside the Scotland 22, drawing an advantage for offside. Tom Curry rumbles to within a metre, and Ben Earl isn’t far away, either...

England 0-5 Scotland, 6 minutes

16:52 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Scotland are penalised soon after the restart, allowing England their first 22 entry in possession. The lineout move doesn’t quite function as intended but England retain possession and will try something different.

TRY! England 0-5 SCOTLAND (Ben White, 4 minutes)

16:49 , Harry Latham-Coyle

A superb Scottish strike!

They just do this so often in this fixture! It’s a scintillating score, Duhan van der Merwe (of course) sparking it by burning around the outside of Ollie Lawrence. He gets his arms free and offloads to Blair Kinghorn, who transfers sharply and smartly to send Tom Jordan onwards.

His inside pass is on the money; Ben White collects and gallops in. What a start!

England 0-0 Scotland, 3 minutes

16:48 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Luke Cowan-Dickie does find his first target. England maul, getting a bit of early movement before Alex Mitchell extracts.

To the skies...Kyle Rowe takes strongly and then spins out of the tackle of Ollie Sleightholme and Tom Willis.

Scotland reply in kind soon enough, though. Fin Smith takes the box kick in comfort before exploring the left, but it isn’t long before a teammate is forced to kick again.

England 0-0 Scotland, 2 minutes

16:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Cherry doesn’t find his jumper but England are free kicked for closing the gap. Finn Russell boots to touch.

England 0-0 Scotland, 1 minute

16:46 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Good footwork from Jack Dempsey, shimmying into space from his first carry. England scramble effectively and force Scotland to kick.

A tidy start from England in attack, creating a corner. Henry Slade checks and kicks - clever, trapping Scotland seven metres from their own line. Dave Cherry will throw a pressure lineout in the opening moments.

KICK OFF!

16:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Pierre Brousset blasts on his whistle, Fin Smith puts boot to ball and we are underway!

England vs Scotland

16:43 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Two mighty fine renditions of the national anthems, plenty of Scots making themselves heard during “Flower of Scotland”.

Will their dominance of this fixture continue? Or will it finally be English hands clasping the Calcutta Cup?

England vs Scotland

16:39 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army” charges the crowd up with its familiar thumping riff, the capacity crowd ready to roar as Maro Itoje and Finn Russell prepare to lead the sides out.

Out into the balmy air the players come, ready to reignite international rugby’s oldest rivalry.

England vs Scotland

16:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle

It’s a gorgeous evening in Twickenham, the sun just dipping below the Allianz Stadium stands, the temperature up in the teens - an occasion ripe for running rugby, I’d suggest.

Here’s the prize they’re playing for...

Calcutta Cup match officials

16:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

There’s a debutant in the middle today with Pierre Brousset making his tournament bow a year after having an intended first Six Nations outing scuppered by injury.

Match officials for England vs Scotland, Saturday 22 February:

Referee: Pierre Brousset (Fra)

Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (Ire) & Luc Ramos (Fra)

Television Match Official: Tual Trainini (Fra)

Foul Play Review Officer: Quinton Immelman (SA)

England vs Scotland referee: Who is Six Nations official Pierre Brousset?

England and Scotland face new pressures in transformed Calcutta Cup rivalry

16:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Before 2021, Scotland had won four encounters with England in 30 years; since then, it’s four wins in four. This rivalry has been transformed:

England and Scotland face new pressures in transformed Calcutta Cup rivalry

How England are plotting to stop ‘world-class’ Finn Russell and end Calcutta Cup woe

16:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England think they have the right strategy against a man that has proved their chief Six Nations tormentor over the last few years. Centre Ollie Lawrence has thrived on Finn Russell’s shoulder at Bath and explained this week what makes the Scottish fly half so good - and how England are plotting to stop him:

How England are plotting to stop ‘world-class’ Finn Russell and end Calcutta Cup woe

Finn Russell’s Calcutta Cup availability delights Scotland co-captain Rory Darge

16:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Rory Darge says it is “massive” to have fellow co-captain Finn Russell available to aid Scotland’s pursuit of Calcutta Cup history.

Gregor Townsend’s side are bidding to continue their recent domination against rivals England by recording an unprecedented fifth consecutive win in the fixture.

Influential fly-half Russell has been passed fit to start today’s Six Nations showdown at the Allianz Stadium after recovering from a nasty head knock suffered in his country’s round-two loss to Ireland.

Finn Russell’s Calcutta Cup availability delights Scotland co-captain Rory Darge

Team news - Scotland

15:50 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Finn Russell has been passed fit to feature for Scotland after his sickening clash of heads with Darcy Graham against Ireland, though the wing has not come through return-to-play protocols and misses out. Kyle Rowe is thus brought in on the wing while Pierre Schoeman returns to the team at loosehead prop. Former captain Jamie Ritchie is also back amongst the starting side, beginning opposite current co-captain Rory Darge on the flank.

Rory Sutherland had been due to be Scotland’s replacement loosehead, but he drops out late; in comes Jamie Bhatti.

Scotland XV: 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Dave Cherry, 3 Zander Fagerson; 4 Jonny Gray, 5 Grant Gilchrist; 6 Jamie Ritchie, 7 Rory Darge (co-capt.), 8 Jack Dempsey; 9 Ben White, 10 Finn Russell (co-capt.); 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Tom Jordan, 13 Huw Jones, 14 Kyle Rowe; 15 Blair Kinghorn.

Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Matt Fagerson; 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Stafford McDowall.

Team news - England

15:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England have made a single alteration to the starting side that beat France, with Ollie Chessum replacing club colleague George Martin in the second row, while the Fin Smith and Marcus Smith playmaking axis is retained. Six forwards are named on a bench that provided a significant impact in their last outing, though Martin is not among them - the Leicester lock is out with a knock so Ted Hill is primed for a first international appearance in nearly four years.

England XV: 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Will Stuart; 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 5 Ollie Chessum; 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Tom Willis; 9 Alex Mitchell, 10 Fin Smith; 11 Ollie Sleightholme, 12 Henry Slade, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 14 Tommy Freeman; 15 Marcus Smith

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Ted Hill, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Ben Curry; 22 Harry Randall, 23 Elliot Daly.

Maro Itoje urges England to ‘seize the moment’ in clash with Scotland

15:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England captain Maro Itoje has urged his side to “seize the moment” against Scotland and prove they are growing as a team.

Steve Borthwick’s side achieved a long-awaited win in their last outing against France as they at last got over the line in a tight game after a year of near misses.

After a similarly sizeable upset against Ireland during the 2024 Six Nations, England came close repeatedly against some of the world’s top sides but were unable to secure a second statement victory.

Fears of another false dawn will heighten if Scotland extend their run of Calcutta Cup dominance, with the visitors chasing an unprecedented fifth straight success against the Auld Enemy.

Maro Itoje urges England to ‘seize the moment’ in clash with Scotland

Steve Borthwick backs Marcus Smith to rebound from kicking off-day against Scotland

15:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Steve Borthwick has backed Marcus Smith to rebound from a difficult day from the tee against France after revealing that the England full-back will retain kicking duties for the Six Nations clash against Scotland.

The Harlequins playmaker missed a penalty and a conversion in the second half of the round two fixture, and had the tee taken off him as fly half Fin Smith assumed duties.

The 22-year-old subsequently slotted two conversions to help England to a long-awaited victory as part of a composed first start at international level.

There has since been contradictory comments from England in explaining how that call was made, with Borthwick insisting in the immediate aftermath of the round two success that it had been a decision made by the players, but Fin Smith suggesting last week that Kevin Sinfield, England’s assistant coach, had brought on his tee after a decision made by the staff.

But Borthwick has backed Marcus Smith to step up again this season with the Harlequin boasting an outstanding record at club level this season, with a Premiership-best kicking percentage of 96.43 per cent.

Steve Borthwick backs Marcus Smith to rebound from kicking off-day against Scotland

Fin Smith: ‘Both my parents are Scottish - but I always wanted to play for England’

15:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The London Scottish clubhouse may seem a peculiar place to embark on the life and times of England’s new fly-half star, but the rickety Richmond hangout is where Fin Smith’s story really begins. It was there, two miles or so from Twickenham, where Smith’s mother Judith first set eyes on his father, Andrew: two Scots not then knowing they would one day produce a player who will have spent much of this week plotting their own nation’s sporting demise.

Fin Smith: ‘My parents are Scottish - but I always wanted to play for England’

Ben Earl reveals painful England motivation for key Scotland clash

14:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ben Earl revealed the agony of rewatching recent Calcutta Cup failures has left England gunning for redemption as he admitted Scotland’s last visit to Twickenham caused him to question his suitability for international rugby.

Gregor Townsend’s team are chasing a record-breaking fifth consecutive win over their fierce rivals during today’s pivotal Six Nations showdown at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

Ben Earl reveals painful England motivation for key Scotland clash

Cohesion, connections and cutting edge: Why England are building around a Northampton Saints spine

14:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

England’s backline today again contains four Northampton Saints, with Alex Mitchell, Fin Smith, Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme likely to reunite with club colleague George Furbank once the full-back is fit again. Why is Steve Borthwick so keen to build around them?

Why England are building around a Northampton Saints spine

Wales vs Ireland

14:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

The action is just getting underway in Cardiff in the first Six Nations action of the day, the Matt Sherratt interim era beginning with a mighty challenge as Wales host Ireland. Can Sherratt spark a shock against the tournament favourites? Follow LIVE coverage here:

Wales vs Ireland LIVE rugby: Six Nations latest build-up and updates

Six Nations 2025 schedule in full: Fixtures, results and table

14:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Need a reminder of the action so far or what is to come in this edition of rugby’s grand old championship? We’ve got you covered:

Six Nations: Fixtures, results and table

What will British and Irish Lions coach Andy Farrell be watching during the Six Nations?

13:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle

This feels like a massive day in the Lions selection shake-up, with England and Scotland’s crop of contenders looking to put their best foot forward in a pressure fixture. Who will catch Andy Farrell’s eye?

What will Lions coach Andy Farrell be watching during the Six Nations?

Calcutta Cup talking points: Deadly Duhan

13:30 , Harry Latham-Coyle

One figure looms large over England’s recent Calcutta Cup blues – Duhan van der Merwe. The giant wing ran in a hat-trick at Murrayfield last year and 12 months earlier plundered two tries as Scotland prevailed 29-23 at Twickenham, some sensational scores among them. Given space, he has the power and speed to cause havoc and his understanding with Russell is a real threat. “We just gave him the ball and said: ‘Go on, off you go’,” said England’s Ollie Lawrence of his former Worcester team-mate. A likely repeat Lions Test wing, England know he must be stopped.

Calcutta Cup talking points: Back in the saddle

13:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle

Ollie Chessum’s promotion into the second row will be a moment of personal triumph, while also providing England with multiple strengths. Chessum missed the 2024 summer tour Japan and New Zealand because of shoulder surgery and just a few months later he was back under the knife, a knee injury ruling him out of the autumn campaign. Now ready for his first start since last year’s Six Nations, he will give England a crucial extra line-out target as well as high work-rate and mobility around the field. An impressive appearance off the bench against France suggested his fitness issues are behind him.

Calcutta Cup talking points: Fin vs Finn

13:00 , Harry Latham-Coyle

With Finn Russell passing his concussion tests, a fascinating duel between two British and Irish Lions contenders looms at fly-half. Fin Smith, still only 22, marked his full Test debut against France with a man of the match performance despite making a shaky start and on the evidence of his commanding finish at Allianz Stadium, he will occupy England’s 10 jersey for some time to come. Opposite him will be the favourite to fill the position on this summer’s Lions tour with Russell a playmaker capable of unpicking defences at any moment, even if he has yet to fire in this Six Nations.

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