Finn Russell missed a last-minute conversion that might have given Scotland a file fifth successive Calcutta Cup win on Saturday, permitting England to assert a tense 16-15 Twickenham victory that retains them within the hunt for the Six Nations title.
England regarded protected with a six-point lead heading into the ultimate minutes however Duhan van der Merwe scored towards them but once more, just for Russell to overlook his third conversion of the match and let the hosts off the hook.
Having edged France on the demise two weeks in the past it was one other nail-biting finale for the Twickenham crowd who had endured a flat first-half efficiency as England trailed 10-7 however had been lifted by their second-half fightback.
“It’s a must to give Scotland credit score as they performed an actual good sport,” England coach Steve Borthwick mentioned. “They put stress on you and as quickly as they get an opportunity they transfer the ball huge rapidly.
“However this younger group stayed within the struggle they usually stored composure they usually stored operating laborious. They ultimately discovered a approach to win.”
The story of the tape will depart Scotland questioning how they didn’t make their dominance pay. They scored three tries to 1, carried the ball greater than twice so far as England, made 9 line breaks to 2, beat 35 defenders to 10 and made 247 passes to 99.
“Within the first half, our execution was excellent — our contact work was excellent,” coach Gregor Townsend mentioned.
“We created alternatives. We’ll look again and assume we may have scored extra. Efficiency-wise it in all probability surpasses what we have performed down right here within the final two or three years.
“England defended very effectively in their very own 22 however with that quantity of possession we’re usually good at changing into factors.”
Eire, who beat Wales 27-18 earlier on Saturday, prime the desk with 14 factors. England have 10 and France, who play Italy on Sunday, and Scotland, have six.
England host Italy subsequent earlier than visiting Wales on the ultimate day and although they may nearly definitely want France to do them a favour by profitable in Dublin to open the door, they continue to be within the hunt for a primary title since 2020.
They made laborious work of it on Saturday, nonetheless, managing just one early attempt to incomes boos at occasions from the house followers after repeatedly kicking away possession.
Scotland had been on the board after 4 minutes when, after a poor clearance kick, Van der Merwe slipped by means of two tackles and slick passing despatched scrum-half Ben White over.
England hit again after a affected person assault on the road opened the best way for Tommy Freeman to blast over, with Marcus Smith changing for a 7-5 lead.
Borthwick’s plan to shoe-horn Marcus Smith in at fullback to reap the benefits of attacking expertise was uncovered once more on the different finish of the pitch when he was brushed apart by Van der Merwe because the Scots poured down the left to depart centre Huw Jones a easy job to attain.
Scotland continued to make all of the operating, taking full benefit of England’s unusually passive defence and Van Der Merwe’s defender-sucking, marauding runs however, with Russell lacking each conversions, they led solely 10-7 at halftime.
England entered the Scots’ 22 solely twice within the half and will depend themselves lucky to be so shut.
Little appeared to have modified within the early levels of the second half with a joyful Russell flinging passes quick and lengthy and England desperately back-pedalling.
Slowly however absolutely, nonetheless, England started to get a toe-hold and levelled it at 10-all after 55 minutes with a Marcus Smith penalty — their first rating in 46 minutes.
They adopted it with a spirited defensive set and, after lastly discovering some cohesion in assault, earned a penalty in entrance of the posts that Marcus Smith slotted residence for a 13-10 lead with 14 minutes to go.
Fly-half Fin Smith prolonged that result in six quickly after with a penalty from nearly midway.
England regarded to have performed sufficient just for Stafford McDowall to blast by means of on a 40-metre swerving run that scattered England’s defenders and allowed Van der Merwe to attain within the nook for a record-extending seventh Six Nations strive towards England.
With lower than a minute on the clock Russell lined up the two-pointer from out huge however missed once more and England then survived a nervous minute of defending to assert the win.
“Scotland performed loads in our half and we did not exit the best way we needed however we did struggle and scrap,” England captain Maro Itoje informed ITV. “There’s hundreds for us to get higher at however we’re delighted to win.
“Within the first half and the second half, we in all probability did not play as a lot as we needed and Scotland in all probability performed greater than us however we had been extra scientific than we now have been.”
Man of the match Duhan van der Merwe mentioned Scotland had did not take alternatives within the first half.
“Honest play to England’s defence, within the first half they stored us out,” he informed ITV.
“Coming into the second half we had perception that we may win this sport. We did not have sufficient ball within the second half. England had been making use of stress on the breakdown they usually received the ball.”
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