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Key occasions
80 minutes. Scotland have the ball from the restart however they’re miles away for the England tryline.
TRY! England 16 – 15 Scotland (Duhan van der Merwe)
79 minutes. Itoje is penalised once more on the subsequent lineout which implies Scotland could have one other assault. McDowall springs unfastened in midfield on a wonderful angle earlier than the ball strikes left to van der Merwe who scores within the nook.
The conversion is required, however it’s a horribly troublesome one and it misses to the left by Russell.
76 minutes. The ball is labored left to Ashman who for some purpose thinks a one-handed reverse offload is the best way to go. It wasn’t because it flew excessive, ahead and into contact. Really terrible stuff.
So as to add insult, the TMO has noticed that just a few seconds prior the alternative hooker had blocked Lawrence in defence giving a clearing penalty to England.
75 minutes. The blue assault is on the 22 and being held there by an brisk England defence.
73 minutes. The most recent platform for Scotland, and lineout within the England 22 , is thwarted by Itoje getting amongst it on the prime of the throw. It’s irritating however the guests will come once more by way of the clearing kick from Randall.
71 minutes. Scotland have the ball again and are busy once more with out trying like breaking an England defence that has fanned out throughout the sector. AFter two phases it runs out of steam and form, the ball bouncing off Ashman’s knee. Nevertheless, Daly does them a favour by booting the ball out on the complete.
PENALTY! England 16 – 10 Scotland (Fin Smith)
69 minutes. The guests are as much as twelve penalties, the most recent is for Fagerson dropping Ben Curry after lifting him in a clearout. It’s 50m out, however Itoje chucks the ball to Smith who slots a cracker.
67 minutes. Scotland are behind and have probably not appeared like scoring to date on this half past half an offload probability from Russell and England are rising into the sport because the minutes ebb away.
PENALTY! England 13 – 10 Scotland (Marcus Smith)
66 minutes. Kyle Rowe is penalised for stepping into excessive on Chessum, it’s a penalty solely as low stage of hazard. This offers England a lineout platform within the 22 which strikes to the backs for Daly who can’t repeat his tryscoring run vs France. There have been a number of benefits being performed as Scotland repeatedly infringed, and so Itoje decides it’s time to take the factors.
63 mins. The house facet have proven extra in assault this half – which wasn’t troublesome after the primary half no-show – however every time they give the impression of being to be gaining some momentum they both knock-on or Scotland nick it as Jamie Ritchie has simply carried out.
61 minutes. Scotland haven’t scored for the reason that 18th minute. Which isn’t adequate as we enter the ultimate quarter all-square.
60 minutes. Russell is this near offloading to van der Merwe on the best with the road begging however he can’t quire launch it. The standard Scotland sample of good trying passes settles in, however once more England comprise it earlier than Itoje robs it on the ruck.
58 minutes. Scotland combine the assault up a bit with Rowe popping up in midfield to drill and angled grubber kick into the nook. It’s lined by Daly, however all Mitchell can do is kick it to the touch on the 22 to present the guests one other assault.
PENALTY! England 10 – 10 Scotland (Marcus Smith)
55 minutes. A constructive opening of the half is rewarded with Smith levelling the scores.
Historical past has demonstrated there are a lot of methods to win a rugby match and England might execute a traditional, stats and information defying win right here if this continues.
52 minutes. Fin Smith wins a turnover by way of an enormous hit on Jordan and follows that up with a probing cross kick that checks van ver Merwe who’s rewarded for taking it with an enormous double hit by England’s kick-chase. Scotland do sufficient to safe the ball and get it away.
49 minutes. A uncommon carried assault by England has Cunningham-South taking his first run with the ball. Genge takes a flip subsequent however Ritchie spots and takes an opportunity to win a turnover on the subsequent ruck.
Chandler Cunningham-South is on for the injured Tom Curry.
47 minutes. The blue assault returns to the England 22 by way of extra left facet possession and runs. Russell is busy in behind and taking part in his team-mates in with quite a lot of passes, the most recent of which finds Zander Fagerson who knocks on in touch.
The longer this goes on, the extra England will consider that is there for the successful, a la the France sport. Scotland should rating some extra factors to mirror their dominance.
44 minutes. England have one other good assault to match the one near half time with the ball taken late to the road for Lawrence to have a run into the Scottish half. It gathers momentum by way of the phases however the ball is spilled ahead in a deal with.
Jamie George is on for Cowan-Dickie.
Elliot Daly replaces Sleightholme.
42 minutes. Regular service resumed with Scotland again on the ball and placing fine condition on the assault. It’s contained to the center third of the pitch by the England defence and finally Ben Curry (on for Tom Willis) wins a turnover out vast.
Second Half!
England obtain the restart to get us again underway.
“I’ve no concept how the second half will go,” says Simon McMahon, “however on the similar time I’m virtually sure Scotland will lose. Virtually.”
In case you consider within the scorching hand idea then this sport is a foregone conclusion Scotland win given that they had just about all of that half.
However because the smallprint tells you; previous efficiency is commonly not indicative of future outcomes and England can be quietly delighted to solely be three behind with an inspiring half-time PowerPoint and PowerBI session to come back from Steve Borthwick.
Half Time! England 7 – 10 Scotland
41 minutes. England resolve to have a ultimate assault from the lineout and it appears to be like a very good possibility as Marcus Smith races 40 metres, stepping left and proper as much as the Scottish 5m line. He’s caught by the blue scramble earlier than Lawrence chucks an offload over Freeman’s head and into contact to finish the half.
39 minutes. One other large run from van der Merwe on the left makes fifteen metres. Russell then places width on the assault the opposite method to stretch England which works up to some extent, however Dave Cherry lurking on the wing will get remoted and that enable Curry to clamp on and win a turnover.
The ball is cleared and on the subsequent Scotland go to the ball received’t come out of the maul, successful a scrum for England, which they win a penalty from.
36 minutes. It’s a must to take what you may from a sport, and England are presently within the place of whooping and clapping Scotland knocking on in a ruck.
It’s pathetic in a technique, however really not with out some benefit as a result of the guests stay solely three factors forward regardless of dominating all over the place. And that is one thing to have fun for England.
33 minutes. England win a scrum of their 22 which Willis carries out exhausting adopted by a Mitchell clearing kick. There’s some traded possession from the boots of every facet, however in the long run it’s benefit Scotland as Itoje is penalised for taking part in Ritchie within the air on the lineout.
30 minutes. It stays just about all Scotland, on a regular basis. The most recent 22 go to by way of an enormous van der Merwe run settles into some carries earlier than Russell tries to seek out Jordan out left with a fizzing go, however it’s ahead.
27 minutes. Russell requires the ball and spots some area for a 50:22 try. It’s crusing in the best route however rolls into contact simply in need of the 22 which supplies England the lineout. Nevertheless the house facet can’t safe clear possession however they finally handle to get it clear.
There’s is the beginnings of a discontented murmur creeping round Twickenham
23 minutes. Extra Scottish possession in English territory. This ends with a knock-on after a grubber from White can’t be gathered on the chase.
England seem to have ceased committing folks to defensive rucks, which means Scotland are having fast ball which I’m unsure is the most effective concept given what was outlined within the earlier submit.
20 minutes. It’s alarming for England who simply first part will get exterior of their defensive system. Will probably be lengthy night for them if Scotland can get to the road at will out vast.
TRY! England 7 – 10 Scotland (Huw Jones)
19 minutes. A maul for Scotland breaks out of the kicking patterns and Itoje is penalised for creeping round it. From the lineout the ball is fired to Russell on first part to place it by way of all arms to Duhan as rapidly as attainable. Jones is in assist and is within the left nook.
Russell misses one other conversion, however they’re all from means out west to date, to be honest.
17 minutes. Two drives, field kick. Repeat.
Tum-te-tum.
15 minutes. The sport settles a bit after the scoring begin as possession is traded within the center third. Scotland are having barely extra of it, however there’s not an enormous quantity being carried out with it from both group.
12 minutes. Scotland are within the residence 22, with the ball finally shifting to Kinghorn on the best who tries a pointless offload to Rowe who wasn’t prepared for it and didn’t have any room to work in. It bounces off his noggin into contact.
10 minutes. Each groups are already buying and selling penalties on the breakdown as their combative backrows spoil possession and win turnovers. The most recent is Ritchie establishing a lineout platform within the England half.
TRY! England 7 – 5 Scotland (Tommy Freeman)
7 minutes. England hit again into the 22 by way of lineout. There are many phases after the preliminary drive, however they’re one-out runners which are being contained by the Scottish line defence. Scotland are offside and on the benefit Freeman requires the ball near the ruck to pressure over below the eye of a few tacklers.
Marcus Smith provides two.
TRY! England 0 – 5 Scotland (Ben White)
4 minutes. Russell stands up Lawrence in midfield round midway and finds van der Merwe who rampages ahead and offloads to Jordan on the left. The centre flies up the touchline and fires an important go again inside to White who runs in unopposed.
Russell can’t convert it, however a incredible begin nonetheless.
2 minutes. England have the primary significant assault after van der Merwe can’t collect a Ben White field kick. The ball pops to Itoje who get his facet on the assault, shifting left to Slade who pins the Scots again with an angled kick to the touch.
Kick Off!
Fin Smith boots the sport to life, sending the ball deep into Scottish territory
Right here come the groups, submitting previous the fabled Calcutta Cup into an honest London night. Some anthems first, then some rugby.
Have a learn when you wait…
Drop me an “>e-mail together with your ideas on the match. Can Scotland do the 5 wins in a row?
Groups
One change made by Steve Borthwick to the beginning XV that overcame France as Ollie Chessum replaces George Martin at lock. Martin was moved to the bench, however a late harm means he’s changed by Tub’s Ted Hill.
For Scotland, Finn Russell is handed match to begin after his conflict of heads with D’Arcy Graham vs Eire. The Edinburgh winger shouldn’t be as fortunate nonetheless and is changed by Kyle Rowe. Within the forwards, Pierre Schoeman returns at loosehead, with Rory Sutherland despatched to the bench. Jamie Ritchie, who captained his facet to victory at Twickenham in 2023, is again within the beginning lineup, taking the place of Matt Fagerson who’s among the many subs.
England: Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Ollie Sleightholme; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje (capt), Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Jack Willis.
Replacements: Jamie George, Finn Baxter, Joe Heyes, Ted Hill, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Harry Randall, Elliot Daly.
Scotland: Blair Kinghorn; Kyle Rowe, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell (co-capt), Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry, Zander Fagerson; Jonny Grey, Grant Gilchrist; Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge (co-capt), Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Will Hurd, Sam Skinner, Gregor Brown, Matt Fagerson, Jamie Dobie, Stafford McDowall.
Preamble
In some unspecified time in the future in our lives and careers, we’ve all had a extremely dangerous day at work. For instance, I as soon as crashed a complete mortgage system as a result of the in a single day patch I’d signed off on tried to place a 3 digit code in a two digit discipline. It was the late Nineteen Nineties, and the system was so previous it was possible designed by Alan Turing – none of those excuses helped. However just a few days later, they gave me one thing easy to do and I relaxed with the benefit of this process and constructed some confidence again up.
Scotland arrive in south west London after Eire put a terrifying rampant ghoul of a ghost of their machine two weeks in the past and Gregor Townsend’s males will take some consolation that they’ve a neater job right now. Beating England is one thing Scotland has change into extremely accustomed to, and so they try to do it right now for an historic fifth time on the trot.
England gamers and followers is not going to take kindly to this narrative, factual although it’s, as they give the impression of being to construct on a dramatic, fortifying win over France within the final spherical; the forwards, led by a rejuvenated Tom Curry, coming into their very own within the second half. Eire confirmed that in the event you knock Scotland round a bit early on then the stress splinters their plans, this might be a means for the house facet to cease the latest dropping run.
A tricky one to name. Type and site marginally favours England, however that’s what the view prior to every of the earlier two wins for Scotland at Twickenham. We’ll quickly discover out.
Kick off is 16:45 (GMT).