The Scots are a nation that never surrenders. You must have seen the movie “Braveheart” where William Wallis does not surrender and the Scots defeat the English. That was the case on Saturday in the third round of the 6 Nations where the Scots defeated England 30-21 and won the Calcutta Cup.
The Scots defeated the English, but it was not easy for them. The result reflects the game and gives a picture of the game of both national teams. Scots were better for try and something. We expected an even match. In this derby, which is certainly one of the biggest on the island, anything is possible. The English came to compete, but they also knew that the Scots rarely lose at Murrayfield.
A NERVOUS BEGINNING
The Scots opened the game with too much respect for the English, who entered the match firmly and bravely. At the beginning of the game, you could see the presence of nervousness in both national teams because the stakes were high. Calcutta Cup is not played every day. Too many mistakes by both teams. The Scots are losing scrum battles and after one such scrum England pulls off a great move and scores a convertet try for 7-0. The Scots seem to be out of their skin. Looking at the start of the Scots, one gets the impression that they expected victory to fall from the sky. Fortunately for the Scots, their rivals England are also making a lot of mistakes. The ball falls out of the hand alternately with both.
It did not rain in Edinburgh, but the ball will not be in the hands of the players of both national teams. The Scots are still asleep, and the nervousness is taking its toll. From the penalty, the English increase their lead to 10-0, in the stadium there is disbelief and astonishment about what happened on the field.
THE AWAKENING OF THE SCOTS
The English lead seemed to be a cold shower for the Scots who, when Finn Russell and Van der Merwe started to wake up, scored two tries. Great action and scrum, Hugh Jones breaks through the line of the English in the 19th minute and runs away from his followers to pass the ball to Van der Merwe, who scores the first try for the Scots, despite being tackled by the English. Finn Fassel scored and the Scots reduced the score to 10-7, and not long after in the 29th minute scored the second try and took the lead. The English make a mistake in adding. The ball instead of hitting Furbank in the head comes into the hands of Hugh Jones who passes to Van der Merwe who sprints 60 meters and manages to escape the English and score the second try for 14-10 for the Scots.
RUSSELL-VAN DER MERWE-HUGH JONES
The English are in a knockdown with two tries scored by the Scots. The stadium is on its feet. The Scots have woken up, and the English don’t know what hit them. The Scottish team seemed to gain wings in those moments. Scrum plays as expected. The linemen are starting to function. It’s as if Finn Russell and the team said enough of the banter, it’s time to start playing. The English are nervous because they are losing. After leading at the beginning, it looks like they will go to the break at the end of the first half with a deficit. The English make a mistake, the referee calls a penalty for the Scots, and Finn Russell scores again to give the Scots a 17-10 lead, the 34th minute of the game was played .
The English are old foxes. George Ford at 36th minutes, reduces the score to 17-13 with a drop goal. Easy points for the English who give them hope again to overtake the Scots in the second part of the match.
VAN DE MERVE HAT TRICK
When everyone thought it was over, the Scottish Messi Finn Russell enters the scene. A brilliant ball from the ruck to Russell who with a high shot on the wing finds Van der Merwe for his third try on 44 minutes. No Scottish player has ever given England 3 tries in one game. Van der Merwe made history. The English are amazed.
THE ENGLISH WILL NOT SURRENDER
The English will not give up in the second half. There is still 35 minutes to play and that is enough time to turn the result in rugby. The English after receiving the essay establish their game and the undisciplined Scots make a penalty in the shooting zone. George Ford takes advantage and scores in the 49th minute to reduce the score to 24-16.
Great action from the Scots in the 57th minute, Finn Russell plays in Hugh Jones who kicks the ball forward between the English looking for Van der Merwe, but the shot was too long. Elliott Daly was faster and kicks the ball out. The English were offside. Penalty to the Scots, taken by Finn Russell and the result in the 58th minute 27-16 for the Scots.
EXPERIENCED SCOTS AND YOUNG ENGLISHMEN
The English are making changes in the team. Danny Care was replaced. Much more was expected of him. England coach Steve Borthwick is trying in every way to refresh the team by introducing new and young players into the game. Henry Slade was not seen on the field. England’s line had not been seen since the start of the game and the only try was scored by Furbank.
The Scots are not giving up, they feel that they are close to victory. In 64th minute, Ben Earl is making a breakthrough in his own 22 meters when he is stopped by the Scots who steal the ball from him as he holds it on the ground. The English make a mistake, the referee plays a penalty for the Scots, Ben Earl played two good games in the first two rounds, but in this game against the Scots, he plays a bit weaker. This will cost the English dearly. Finn Russell takes the penalty to increase the Scots’ lead to 30-16.
There are still 15 minutes left. The young England score an try in the 66th minute. The Scots are a bit, lulled by the lead, and England’s young team are eager to prove themselves. Quite a cheap essay and the Englishmen are down to 30-21 trying to enter the uncertain end of the match.
YELLOW CARD FOR PLAYER OF THE MATCH
The Englishmen try there is a great fight, but the young and inexperienced England team fails to achieve the try. It is 78 minutes into the game when Van der Merwe receives a yellow card. The Scots remain with 14 players until the end of the game, which will not affect the result.
A deserved victory for the Scots 30-21. Murryfield Fort is defended. The Scots defeated their great rival England.
The English national team is late in rejuvenating its team. The generation of Marler, Cole, Danny Care, Slade, Vunipola is slowly leaving the stage. The game against the Scots showed that. England will have to go the way of Wales.
The Scots with their well-balanced squad and the likes of Finn Russell, Van der Merwe and Hugh Jones still have plenty of room for improvement and hope to win not only the Calcutta Cup but one day the 6 Nations Cup as well.
THE CALCUTTA CUP REMAINS IN SCOTLAND
The Calcutta Cup remains in the hands of the Scots. We await the outcome in the last two rounds of the 6 Nations. Can the Scots defeat the Irish in the final round in Dublin? If William Wallis could conquer York and almost all of England, why couldn’t the Scots defeat the Irish in the middle of Dublin? We hope for a surprise and good rugby.