England will be out for a rare Calcutta Cup success as Scotland take on the Auld Enemy in a crunch Six Nations clash.
Just once since 2018 have England tasted success in this fixture, a run that includes a number of their worst performances in that time. Having begun brightly at Murrayfield last year, Steve Borthwick’s side were undone by their errors and some familiarly incisive Scottish attacking play. Duhan van der Merwe ran rampant en route to a hat trick and again shapes as a key danger man in a backline full of strike runners.
The visitors are in need of a big performance after a damp squib of a showing against Ireland, though do tend to lift their level for this storied fixture. Pressure has begun to mount on head coach Gregor Townsend in what looks likely to be another unfulfilling campaign but a victory here would most certainly quiet the critics.
Follow all of the latest from Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in our live blog below:
England 7-10 Scotland, 45 minutes
Some aerial jousting brings about another Scotland scrum.
Harry Latham-Coyle22 February 2025 17:54
England 7-10 Scotland, 44 minutes
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:
Harry Latham-Coyle22 February 2025 17:52
England 7-10 Scotland, 43 minutes
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.
Harry Latham-Coyle22 February 2025 17:50
England 7-10 Scotland, 42 minutes
Tom Willis’s day is done, unfortunately – the No 8 has failed his HIA. Ben Curry is on for the remainder, probably.
Harry Latham-Coyle22 February 2025 17:49
England 7-10 Scotland, 41 minutes
Blair Kinghorn restarts proceedings.
Harry Latham-Coyle22 February 2025 17:48
Second half…
Right. Breath drawn? Glasses recharged? Sustenance taken on board? 40 minutes more of Calcutta Cup fun is about to begin.
Harry Latham-Coyle22 February 2025 17:47
HT: England 7-10 Scotland
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.
Harry Latham-Coyle22 February 2025 17:37
England 7-10 Scotland, 41 minutes
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.
Harry Latham-Coyle22 February 2025 17:34
