"Some of life's certainties are impossible to sidestep. And to the trinity of death, taxes and rail delays can now be added a fourth familiar staple. When Scotland play England at Murrayfield it is now all but guaranteed the hosts will raise their game to Ben Nevistype heights and the visitors will be taken down a peg or three. Thus it was again at the weekend as Scotland reignited the bonfire of English vanities and once more sent the auld enemy homewards tae think again."
"Amid all the Sassenach muttering on southbound trains, planes and automobiles on Sunday, the main takeaway is that Scotland were outstanding. How good was Finn Russell? How smartly did the hosts exploit the extra space available in the 30 minutes when England were down to 14 men? And how much sharper and more urgent did Scotland collectively look for the vast majority of the game?"
Scotland elevated their performance at Murrayfield and defeated England decisively, securing a fifth Calcutta Cup win in six editions. The hosts played with greater urgency and exploited numerical advantage during a 30-minute period with England reduced to 14 players. Finn Russell produced a key influential performance. Scotland's first-half display matched their best recent efforts and they maintained courage and control rather than allowing a halftime lead to slip. England's prior winning run did not prevent them being exposed tactically and mentally. The result forces England to reassess while highlighting Scotland's collective sharpness and tactical intelligence.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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