The men in white won a fantastically thrilling game over the French in round two. However, they did have the side of luck over the 80 minutes. Despite flashes of attacking brilliance, France’s inability to finish key opportunities cost them dearly. Handling errors from their veteran players and questionable decision-making under pressure prevented them from turning possession into points, a stark contrast to their usual clinical finishing. England’s victory was built on defensive grit and tactical discipline rather than attacking brilliance. They showed improvement in key areas but remain a work in progress, especially in their attacking structures. France, meanwhile, will be frustrated by their inability to convert opportunities and will need to address their inconsistency before the next fixture.
Scotland had issues against the Irish at Murrayfield. Ireland’s forwards quickly asserted their dominance, interrupting Scotland’s flow and establishing a robust physical presence. This superiority in the scrum and breakdown phases hindered Scotland’s capacity to obtain clean possession and generate momentum. Coach Simon Easterby emphasised the forwards’ influence, acknowledging their contributions to both offensive and defensive strategies. The loss of pivotal players like Finn Russell and Darcy Graham, who were sidelined due to a head collision in the first half, significantly hindered Scotland’s offensive performance. Russell’s role as a playmaker and Graham’s ability to finish scoring opportunities are vital to Scotland’s attacking strategy, and their unavailability resulted in diminished creativity and effectiveness in the team’s offensive efforts.
England’s Pros and Cons ahead of the ‘Calcutta Cup’
(Pros)
England’s Half back combination
● Finn Smith had a phenomenal first start for England. His in-game kicking was second to none, giving England try scoring opportunities which came through Tommy Freeman. His management of the backline brought opportunities for England’s centres, which is an area England have been struggling with over the last couple of campaigns.
● The return of scrum-half Alex Mitchell marked England’s performance, as he played the entire 80 minutes and controlled the tempo of the match.
● His rapid decision-making and precise passing provided England with a more dynamic attacking approach, solidifying his position as the preferred No. 9.
England’s Forward Dominance in Key Moments
● England’s pack produced a strong set-piece display, particularly in the scrum, where they put France under pressure.
● England’s maul also served as a reliable weapon, creating a platform for points at crucial stages, most notably Elliot Daly’s try in the death to steal the victory.
● England’s back row carried very effectively, through Tom Willis and Ben Earl who increasingly made the gain line giving their side important front foot ball.
(Cons)
Concerns Regarding England’s Offensive Performance
● Although England secured a victory in round 2, their offensive capabilities appear to be lacking at certain moments.
● While there was an improvement in intent and organisation compared to earlier matches mainly thanks to a huge degree of control from Finn Smith, they still do not exhibit the same fluidity and decisiveness as top teams such as Ireland, France or even Scotland when performing at their peak.
● The insertion of Marcus Smith at Fullback added some dynamism, yet England must discover methods to enhance their attacking momentum during phase play.
England’s messy Defensive reset
● France had many opportunities throughout the 80 minutes due to broken English defence after errors in attack. Luckily for England, France weren’t able to capitalise due to sloppy handling errors.
● However on another day you’d expect France to run in with ease. If the same thing happens next week Scotland have the ability to tear the English to shreds with the likes of Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn.
Overall
England have the tools to win—set-piece dominance, defensive discipline, and home advantage—but their attack remains a major concern. If they control the territory and avoid giving Scotland counter-attacking chances, they have a strong chance. However, if Scotland get into their rhythm and England struggle for creativity, another Calcutta Cup defeat is a real possibility.
Scotland’s Pros and Cons ahead of the ‘Calcutta Cup’
(Pros)
Recent dominance over England
● Scotland have won the last four encounters, proving they have the mental edge over England.
● Their victories have come both home and away, showing they can handle Twickenham pressure.
Tactical Kicking and Finn Russell’s Influence.
● If fit, Finn Russell remains Scotland’s key playmaker, capable of unlocking defenses with creative kicking and attacking vision.
● Scotland’s varied kicking game (chip kicks, cross-field kicks) could exploit England’s back three, which has looked shaky under the high ball. Especially if Marcus Smith is selected at Defensive Line Speed & Turnovers.
● Under Steve Tandy, Scotland’s defense has improved significantly, with aggressive line speed disrupting opposition attacks.
● They forced multiple turnovers against England in previous meetings, something they’ll look to exploit again.
(Cons)
Injury Concerns & Squad Depth
● Finn Russell and Darcy Graham both took knocks against Ireland. If unavailable, Scotland’s attacking potency could be significantly reduced.
● Lack of depth in key positions (particularly fly-half) could be exposed.
Scotland’s Bench
● Scotlands 6:2 Forward to Backs split was an issue against Ireland. While it was an understandable idea to challenge the might of the Irish pack. It blew up in their faces after 2 early injuries to Graham and Russell, meaning Scotland had to play most of the game with the same backline on the pitch. We’d expect to see a 5:3 split from the Scots versus the English in London.
Overall
Scotland have the ability to cause England problems, especially if Russell is fit and their forwards front up. However, their inconsistency, injury concerns, and struggles in the set-piece could be their undoing. If they play with discipline and execute their game plan efficiently, a fifth consecutive Calcutta Cup win is possible—but they cannot afford another error-strewn performance like against Ireland.
