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Russell misses prove costly as England edge Scotland in Six Nations

football22 February 2025 20:34| © AFP
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Players of England © Gallo Images

Finn Russell missed a last-gasp conversion as England just did enough to end a run of four straight Calcutta Cup defeats by Scotland with a 16-15 win at Twickenham on Saturday that maintained their Six Nations title hopes.

Scotland outscored England three tries to one but, crucially, co-captain Russell was off target with all three conversions.

Most importantly the fly-half, so long a thorn in England's side, fired wide of the post following the outstanding Duhan van der Merwe's 79th-minute try as the hosts prevailed by a point for the second match in a row following their 26-25 win over France.

Scotland led 10-7 at halftime in the 143rd edition of rugby union's oldest international fixture.

They scored tries through Ben White and Huw Jones either side of Tommy Freeman's lone converted score for England as Van der Merwe once more tormented the hosts' defence.

Two Marcus Smith penalties and a long-range effort from Fin Smith, however, put England 16-10 up with 10 minutes to play.

But with Van der Merwe sprinting in for what was his seventh try against England, the Dark Blues were in sight of victory only for Russell, passed fit after a head injury last time out in defeat by Ireland, to skew the conversion.

England's second win from three matches meant they stayed in touch with unbeaten champions Ireland, who maintained their bid for an unprecedented third straight Six Nations title by defeating Wales earlier Saturday.

But Scotland's second loss in three games all but ended their title ambitions as they paid the price for failing to make the most of their early dominance.

ENGLAND 'FIGHT AND SCRAP'

"We had a lot of opportunities in that first half and we didn't take all of them," Van der Merwe told ITV.

"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."

England captain Maro Itoje admitted: "Scotland played a lot in our half but we did fight and scrap. There is loads for us to get better at but we are delighted to win."

Scotland took just four minutes to open the scoring.

England wing Ollie Sleightholme's poor kick gave Scotland possession inside their own half.

Van der Merwe, a hat-trick scorer against England at Murrayfield last year following his brilliant solo Twickenham try of 2023, initiated a move that ended with centre Tom Jordan's excellent inside pass sending in scrum-half White for a try out wide that Russell could not convert.

But England hit back when Freeman forced his way over from close range for a try, with full-back Marcus Smith converting.

Van der Merwe, however, was causing England problems every time he received the ball and in the 20th minute, as Marcus Smith again fell off a tackle, he found Jones with the centre going through a narrow gap near the touchline for his sixth try against England.

Russell again missed the conversion but Scotland still led 10-7 in an open game.

England coach Steve Borthwick brought on former captain Jamie George and Chandler Cunningham-South in a bid to bolster his pack early in the second half, with veteran utility back Elliot Daly also coming off the bench before Marcus Smith's 55th-minute penalty tied the game at 10-10.

Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie won several turnovers before Marcus Smith's simple 67th-minute penalty in front of the posts gave England the lead.

Minutes later long-range kick specialist Fin Smith, whose Scottish parents were in a Twickenham crowd of over 81 000, landed a penalty from just inside half-way to make it 16-10 before Van der Merwe took Scotland to the brink of another memorable victory.

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