England 61 - 21 Scotland: Story of the match


The Dark Blues arrived in London high on confidence and hopeful of taking the Championship battle to the final week. However, they were simply ripped apart by the rampant hosts, who added tries from Anthony Watson and Billy Vunipola before a late double from Danny Care - as well as 26 points from the flawless boot of Owen Farrell - to Joseph’s treble.
Prop Gordon Reid crossed over for Scotland while Huw Jones grabbed a brace but those briefs shows of defiance from Vern Cotter’s team could not halt the hosts cruising to a victory which sees them equal the All Blacks’ 18-match Test record winning streak.
TWEET OF THE MATCH
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Hide Ad“Have to give @EnglandRugby credit - they are playing the best rugby they have all @SixNationsRugby at the moment” - a grudging show of respect from former Scotland skipper David Sole (@davidsole678) after watching the Red Rose equal their biggest-ever win over Scotland.
STAR MAN
Jonathan Joseph - the Bath centre put on a sensational display, with the Scots finding him completely unplayable as he squirmed in for three impressive scores. His seat on the plane taking the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand this summer looks assured.
REF WATCH


French official Mathieu Raynal was pressed into action just a minute and a half into the game as Scotland hooker Fraser Brown dumped English wing Elliot Daly onto his neck. A red card looked justified given the new World Rugby guidelines on dangerous tackles but Raynal only flashed yellow. He was just as lenient soon after when he decided against showing any card to Mario Itoje after the England flanker caught Stuart Hogg high with a flailing arm.
HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF FOR SCOTLAND
After wins over Ireland and Wales, the Dark Blues set their sights on a first win over England at Twickenham since 1983. But their title hopes evaporated during a disastrous 80 minutes as Brown’s indiscipline and a whole host of errors handed victory to the Auld Enemy. Injuries to key men Hogg, Mark Bennett, Tommy Seymour and Ryan Wilson meant they finished with a makeshift line-up barely able to defend itself.