Report from Paul Renucci.
A competitive first half saw both teams look dangerous in possession and provided the most entertaining 40 mins of Calcutta cup action for many years. The half ended finely balanced at 6-7, two laidlaw penalties against a converted Kruis try.
In the second half however there was a much more familiar feeling for the large and expectant Scottish support.
The back line failed to make headway against a suffocatingly effective English defence. The forwards struggled to defend the rolling maul within the laws and the scrummage advantage from the first half disappeared. The stand out forward was England's no 8 Vunipola who seemed to always advance with ease even from a standing start. Scotland also made more errors than England, perhaps due to the pressure of England's surging defence, a decision not to pass to Hogg after an interception could potentially have changed the outcome of the game.
Ultimately the defining moment of the match belonged to England. In an increasingly dour second half some quick ruck ball was spun wide to Nowell to finish a fine score. Scotland kept in contention through with another penalty but the game ended with England again controlling possession and territory and in the end there can be no complaints about the old cup heading homeward with Eddies army - it's Scotland that need to think again before Cardiff next week. Final score 9-15.
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