At one point in the pre-match media conference, Finn Russell referred to Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash with England as “just another game and another chance to get glory”.
If it was an attempt by the Scotland fly-half and vice-captain to downplay expectations of the intensity of the event, he later undermined the illusion by observing that the home side should put 153 years of history and rivalry aside. “We need to focus on this match,” he said. “Everyone’s situation is different.” Quite a few.
The day before, head coach Gregor Townsend had failed to mention the fact that the England game was on the Highlanders’ minds more than any other. “That probably shouldn’t be the case, but it is,” he said. “This is history. “This is the feeling.”
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Russell said he was trying to take the emotion out of Scotland’s preparations this week but still made a valid point. After three decades when victory over the old enemy caused wild celebrations, times have changed. With four wins and a draw in the last six competitions, any inferiority complex the Scots may have had has been negated. “If we could beat England in the past it was a huge result and we would celebrate it a lot,” Russell said with a knowing grin. “Don’t get me wrong, we’re all still celebrating. But this is in a different way. The team has improved a lot and I think the mentality as a group has improved a lot in the last five, six years. “We are now much more professional about this fixture.”
It is noteworthy that Scotland won their fourth consecutive championship match against England for the first time since 1896. They won four in a row from 1970 to 1972, but one of them was a special centenary match celebrating the first meeting of these oldest rivals.
Townsend, 50, wasn’t born at the time. He had to wait to enjoy his eighth victory over England as a player; 2000’s Clive Woodward’s hatchet job of avoiding the wooden spoon, denying the big blows. This proved to be his only success in 10 competitions.
As assistant coach from 2009 to 2012, he suffered four more defeats and a solitary draw. But as head coach of the national team, Townsend changed the narrative of this fixture. He may not yet have enjoyed victory over Ireland (nine tries and counting) or the All Blacks or Springboks, but epic victories over his nearest and dearest feature proudly on his resume.
2018’s thrilling 25-13 win (Russell’s miraculous pass, Huw Jones’ finishing, John Barclay’s devastating thuggery) was the catalyst for turning the tide. The attacking mentality continued even as they stared into the abyss of a 31-0 defeat at Twickenham the following year; A mind-blowing comeback resulted in a score. Surprising draw of 38-38.
“The comeback in 2019 secured the faith and confidence we have in England,” Russell said. “We had a few good wins after that, it’s something that evolves. It’s not just one result, it took time to change.”
In 2021, there was a hoodoo victory at Twickenham that ended a 38-year winless streak, capping off a come-from-behind race two years ago, with Duhan van der Merwe scoring; one an individual brilliance, the other a classic Team trial – a year ago Townsend became the first Scotland coach to preside over back-to-back wins in London.
The only exception was the 2020 fixture, when England sneaked home at storm-hit Murrayfield. It was a good thing for Russell, who was exiled after falling out with Townsend, to miss the opportunity. Having lost the first three matches against England, he now boasts four wins and one draw in eight matches.
Not that he counts his chickens. He has seen both sides of the Calcutta Cup, being one of the few players to suffer a 61-21 defeat at Twickenham in 2017.
“You may have some players in the team who have only won against England. They won’t know what it’s like to be 60 points behind at Twickenham. Unfortunately it is. But it’s good that that’s where we are and we’re making progress as a group. In five years it’s all pretty quick.” It may change in some way.”
What hasn’t changed yet is Scotland’s inability to put together five consistent displays in the Six Nations campaign. Having nearly capitulated in Cardiff before belatedly seizing control and faltering from a commanding position against France, the team is in desperate need of 80 minutes of sustained quality to nip the green shoots of the red rose’s budding revival.
The new reality is that this is a must-win game for the Scottish team if they are to retain hope of a top-two finish and head to Dublin on the final day with a concrete target.