[2025 Six Nations] England vs Scotland - 22/02/25

[Saintjay]

Scotland have had their golden age + imports and England still finished ahead of them on more occasions without winning it

Stay classy San Diego

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Duhan MOTM hahahahaha

lol at someone who is not Scottish or English winning it.

 

[Weldit]

Feels to me this is basically where England are going to be and have been for a long time. They're not at all bad, but they're not really progressing either. Just sort of stuck in the mud.

 

[TSPopinjay]

Scotland really should have won that. Reminiscent of the game two weeks ago against France.

Some very strange calls from referee.

 

[McTallshort]

Loving the drama

 

[Scotty]

Only England can make a win feel like a loss.

England fans*

 

[TommiG88]

Saying building blocks, when the coach has been in place in now what is his 3rd 6 nations

 

[Rinkadink]

lol at someone who is not Scottish or English winning it.

Seems like the best and most logical outcome.

 

[BMatt]

And now for a minute silence for whoever has to put together the highlights reel.

 

[Scotty]

lol at someone who is not Scottish or English winning it.

Suppose England didn't deserve the win, Scotland threw away the win...give MOTM to the South African neutral

 

[Reiser99]

Saying building blocks, when the coach has been in place in now what is his 3rd 6 nations

I'm sure at this point Borthwick has been given a dialogue coach to help, except he still can't actually make it sound believable and it just comes off as sound bites he's been told to say. Either that or he has an earpiece.

 

[Grizwald]

Feels to me this is basically where England are going to be and have been for a long time. They're not at all bad, but they're not really progressing either. Just sort of stuck in the mud.

Today really showed another example of how green the majority of the English coaching ticket is. That was tactically naive a performance as you'll see. Kicking from hand was poor throughout, glacial ruck speed, scrum kept England in the game.

Better to learn in victory than in defeat though I guess.

 

[BrokenWing]

Keep expecting Duhan to sneak in a "Diplomatic immunity!"

 

[Reiser99]

Today really showed another example of how green the majority of the English coaching ticket is. That was tactically naive a performance as you'll see. Kicking from hand was poor throughout, glacial ruck speed, scrum kept England in the game.

Better to learn in victory than in defeat though I guess.

Depends, if they are honest about the performance sure, but if they kid themselves that they are making progress then no.

 

[Horacito]

God it's tough supporting scotland

is this the lowest level of play in a six nations in the last 5 years? even ireland is looking shaky oftentimes

 

[Wasps92]

Right I've (sort of) calmed down.

That was an horror show from England. Outscored 3 tries to one at home to Scotland. Second game in a row the opposition have lost the game instead of England winning it.

Some brain dead penalties again too. Especially at the line out.

Sad thing is this continues to keep Borthwick in a job.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

And now for a minute silence for whoever has to put together the highlights reel.

At least it will be short

 

[Saintjay]

Still think I'd rather wash my eyes out with bleach than watch England sometimes. Less painful.

 

[Jakedood]

I feel that referee ruined the game a bit for both sides. Lots of poor decisions on both sides but really killed the flow of the game.
Scotland were massively better first half, England slightly better 40-75 and Scotland obviously did well chancing it at the end.
Some big issues in the last 10 for England
Fin Baxter for the maul penalty protecting itoje, followed by leaving the huge gap for the Stafford McDowell break
Elliott Daly's 50-22 attempt didn't need to take on so much. Just needed to pin Scotland back
Harry Randall was horrific. I cannot understand why he's closing out a game over Ben Spencer. I can't remember the last time I saw him make a good box kick, and yet England kept letting him try instead of dropping back and using Slade's or Smith's boot.
They really had very little answer for the Scottish kicking game and struggled to challenge the Scottish lineout. Just couldn't read it and they they seemed to overcomplicate things given Scotland are either double tops or tail ball on repeat.
Ben Earl was active but his accuracy in his involvements was poor. Poor body positions in the jackal and tackle left him failing to impact the game.
Tactically poor in the final 10 for England but some positives:
Cunningham South added real impact, and I thought Ben Curry was magnificent
Fin Smith created a lot of space in the Scottish defense when the English pack found him the territory to play in the right places
I did like the scrummage and Chessum is a salmon in the lineout for England.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

England played some really good rugby in the second half but after every good play they either don't resource the ruck, knock the ball on or give a penalty away.

We are so nearly there.