IT WAS England’s first real test this Six Nations as they faced a team that expected to defeat them rather than fantasise about it. They failed it despite taking an early 10-point lead, their blitz left in bits with Finn Russell and Duhan van der Merwe forcing them to pick up the pieces.
It looked set for England at halftime. They were losing, as they had been against Italy and Wales while Scotland were ahead for the third time having come close to blowing a big lead in Cardiff before falling victim to a French smash and grab at Murrayfield.
This time England’s comeback did not materialise and it was down to them. Three minutes into the second half Sam Underhill won a penalty near his own line having forced George Turner to hold on. It was kicked to touch and the visitors had had a 100 per cent lineout return in the opening period.
Scotland had had to readjust their backline with Sione Tuipulotu limping on to the field for the start of the second half only to immediately hobble off again, robbing them of their gainline gouger behind. Their lead was four points and the first half had been a strange affair where neither side exerted control but fed off mistakes.
Jamie George threw to the middle of the lineout only for Scott Cummings to rise high and deflect the ball backwards. Tuipolutu’s replacement, Cameron Redpath, made a break towards England’s 22 and as the defence tried to scramble into position, Russell chipped to the left where the bounce was kind for van der Merwe to pick up and secure his first Test try hat-trick.
The score reflected a difference between the sides. Scotland had a settled formation and the tactical appreciation that goes with it. Russell was calm under pressure and was often not the first receiver in phase play when England’s defence was at its most secure, rushing up to prevent the ball going wide.
None of van der Merwe’s tries involved the ball being moved along the line to his wing. The first came after Tuipulotu acted as first receiver from a scrum with Russell a decoy. Henry Slade tracked Russell, proving space for Huw Jones to streak through and into the 22 where he passed off the ground to van der Merwe who had come off his wing.
His second followed an England handling error. George Furbank, who had opened the scoring after England’s best move of the evening, fumbled a head-high pass from George Ford. Jones caught the rebound and immediately fed van der Merwe who stepped away from Ollie Lawrence, beat Ben Earl for pace and ran 50 metres to score.
England’s evolution from a territory obsessed side whose default position was to kick into one with a greater ambition
