EDINBURGH, Scotland (AP) — England’s 12-test winning streak was shattered by Scotland pulling out an astonishingly one-sided 31-20 victory at Murrayfield in the Six Nations on Saturday.
England was favored to win at Murrayfield for the first time since 2020, having developed a mighty bench and become well-drilled and confident during its longest winning run in nine years.
But set-piece dominance was undone by sloppy handling within five meters of Scotland’s tryline, under pressure from having to play catchup after a scintillating Scottish start.
Scotland, conducted by a masterly Finn Russell, blasted off to 17-0 after 14 minutes.
A 20-minute red card to England winger Henry Arundell hardly made a difference. Scotland was already leading by 14 when he was issued a second yellow card right on halftime.
In his absence, Scotland out-scored England only 7-3, including a second try for center Huw Jones that was Scotland’s bonus-point fourth and last try.
Scotland and coach Gregor Townsend, on the occasion of his 100th test, have been under fire all week after opening the championship last weekend with a humbling 18-15 loss to Italy in Rome.
But a sixth win (plus the epic draw in 2019) over England in nine matchups, all under Townsend, will quieten the growing clamor for him to resign.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
The Associated Press
