Scotland is consistently beating England and this time, led by Finn Russell and Duhan van der Merwe’s spectacular hat-trick, they have achieved their biggest victory yet. As a result, it seems likely that the Calcutta Cup will be safeguarded in a display cabinet in Edinburgh for some time to come, with no chance for England to reclaim it.

Discuss the impact of the Flying Scotsman in making history. Van der Merwe was a dominant force against England in their last match at Twickenham and continued to make a significant impact in this game as his team achieved a rare quartet of victories in this longstanding matchup. This has also revitalized Scotland’s chances of winning the title while England, with upcoming matches against Ireland and France, will have to regroup.

The guests had nothing to complain about. They lost steam after a strong beginning and towards the end, their group was forcefully pushed back, while being encouraged by a jubilant home audience. For a long time, Scottish fans feared the consequences of this match. Nowadays, they would be content to face England every week.

Van der Merwe displays a positive response to the appearance of a white jersey. He showcased impressive finishes in both of his tries against England at Twickenham last season and exuded confidence in his latest contribution. This was the first time a Scotland player scored a hat-trick in the historic rivalry between these two nations. His second try, in particular, was exceptional. Although England had attempted to play aggressively, their execution fell short, as was often the case throughout the match. In the 29th minute, a stray pass bounced off George Furbank’s head and back into Scottish possession. With over 60 meters to cover, Van der Merwe swiftly made his way down the left touchline. He effortlessly surpassed Ben Earl and Henry Slade before diving into the corner. The tall blonde player consistently creates remarkable occurrences on the field.

His two additional touchdowns were also noteworthy. After falling behind 10-0 and struggling to find a rhythm, Scotland came alive thanks to a clever pass from Sione Tuipulotu, who sent his center partner Huw Jones on a clear run towards the try line. A quick pass from the ground found support from Van der Merwe, who confidently evaded defenders and scored.

The third goal, scored five minutes after halftime, was also greatly assisted by Russell. Redpath, who had come on for the injured Tuipulotu, skillfully evaded defenders and made a break up the field before eventually being tackled. England was struggling to recover when Russell’s clever diagonal kick found Van der Merwe, who once again finished with finesse and pushed his team into a 24-13 lead.

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Manny Feyi-Waboso made a great move to score his first try in the final quarter, but at that point, the game was almost over. Though Scotland wasn’t flawless, their strategic use of quick restarts kept England on the defensive, and despite a few setbacks, they maintained a strong level of teamwork and energy that their opponents struggled to match. This set the stage perfectly for Russell, a skilled leader, who was not likely to let this opportunity slip away.

Throughout the day, all the elements were in place for an exhilarating Scottish afternoon. Despite the chilly weather, it was thankfully dry. The walk to the stadium on game day was filled with enthusiastic supporters. In a considerate move, a sing-along performance of The Greatest Showman was being held at the Playhouse for those unable to attend the rugby match featuring the talented Russell.

The goal for England, for those who were willing to undertake it, was to prevent the Scottish ringleader from using their methods. It was a promising turn of events for the away team when George Ford utilized a clever play after only five minutes, freeing up Elliot Daly for a well-worked try that a joyful Furbank was able to score.

The goal was to demonstrate a deviation from the usual rule. Ford, after converting Furbank’s try, added another penalty to grant England the seemingly crucial early lead they had been pursuing. However, untimely mistakes and turnovers continue to hinder their progress. This did not prevent them from defeating Italy and Wales, but facing Scotland was always expected to be a more challenging task.

At the halftime break, Van der Merwe’s selfishness contributed to England falling behind for the third consecutive match. Despite Dua Lipa’s song “Houdini” being a fitting choice, there was no miraculous outcome this time. Despite losing Tuipulotu to injury, a well-executed kick by Russell put pressure on the visitors once again and Van der Merwe secured his third try soon after.

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Even after Ford was penalized again, George Martin’s fumble on the restart added to England’s troubles. This epitomized England’s performance for the night – taking one step forward but two steps back. Scotland, with their determined spirit, continued to exert pressure and the premature substitution of England’s supposed key players spoke volumes about their shortcomings.

Steve Borthwick is faced with a few predicaments. While it is admirable that he wants to play more rugby, having 22 turnovers and 24 handling errors against Ireland will result in a terrible outcome. On the other hand, Scotland can now approach their upcoming matches against Italy and Ireland with renewed vigor. Although there are other things to focus on besides defeating England, it still holds a special importance in this region.

Source: theguardian.com