This victory can be described as historic. Because it was the 150th anniversary of the first rugby match between England and Scotland. But above all because they put an end to 38 years without a victory in England, Saturday February 6 at Twickenham, by their success (11-6) at the opening of the Six Nations Tournament. Scotland’s first victory on English soil since 1983, a tough match in which they were able to apply their game plan to the end.
As for passion, we will have stayed very far from the crazy comeback of 2019, where, from a 31-0 for the XV de la Rose at half-time, an improbable draw was born 38-38. However, less than two years later, the Scots have done even better in terms of result.
Faced with the winners of the 2020 edition of the Tournament, Scotland confirmed the beautiful promises of last year when they lost their first two matches in Ireland and against England, before winning the next three, inflicting in particular on France’s only defeat (28-17).
Even more than the victory, it was the feeling of control given by the men of Greg Townsend, facing the English rarely so rushed and muddled, which impressed.
The pack of the XV at Chardon put under the extinguisher English forwards and the play at the foot of Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg allowed an intelligent occupation of the ground which wore down the English.
English indiscipline
England coach Eddie Jones, who still lacked five elements of choice up front, stammered their attacking game, never managing to really break through the dark blue defensive curtain.
They were also of rare indiscipline: 10 penalties whistled against them in the first period alone, as much as in an entire match usually.
The only try of the game came from a nice movement off the Scots until the powerful winger of South African origin Duhan van der Merwe who managed to transplant towards the center and resist three opponents before making landfall in the in-goal (0-8, 31st minute).
A few minutes earlier, the same van der Merwe had been a few centimeters away from recovering in the in-goal the rebound of a subtle pass at the foot of Russell (28th) who should have already brought a try.
The only real fear for the Scots was this yellow card at the very end of the first period (38th) against the same Russell, sent off for ten minutes for tripping over an opponent.
A numerical advantage that the English will not have exploited, nor have they been able to tell the difference in the last ten minutes when the KO was in the air on both sides.
England will have to rebound very quickly by receiving Italians corrected at home (50-10) by the French at the opening of the Tournament. Scotland will receive Wales before going to Paris to challenge the Blues for an already promising match.
