FINN RUSSELL missed a last-gasp shot at glory as Scotland lost to England for the first time in five years.
The fly-half – so often the hero against the Auld Enemy – slid a conversion attempt agonisingly wide of the post in the final minute.
And that saw England rack up a first homewin in this fixture since 2017 as they regained the Calcutta Cup for the first time since 2020.
Russell also missed two conversion efforts in the first half – while England’s kickers Marcus and Fin Smith were flawless in comparison.
And that ultimately proved the difference as Scotland failed to make their first half dominance pay.
Tries from Ben White and Huw Jones had them ahead at the break before England roared back.
And a late score from Duhan van der Merwe paved the way for Russell to become the hero.
But the Bath playmaker had looked out of sorts all day – and it was no huge surprise when he dragged his effort wide.
The defeat leaves Scotland’s Six Nationsdreams in tatters for another year.
And there will be major regrets at letting this one slip through their fingers.
It was frantic and end-to-end right from the first whistle with both teams clearly up for the scrap.
The Scotland fans were massively outnumbered inside Twickenham’s vast bowl.
But it was the tartan-clad travellers who were out of their seats first as the visitors claimed an early lead.
Van der Merwe – the hat-trick hero last year – got the move going with a burst down the middle before finding Blair Kinghorn.
The full-back picked out Tom Jordan who sped down the line before passing inside for White to scurry over.
It was a brilliant team try although Russell couldn’t add what looked like an easy conversion.
England were rattled briefly but soon came roaring back with a try of their own.
Their forwards battered away at the line as the Scotland defence did their best to hold them out.
But there was only so long England would be denied and Alex Mitchell set up Tommy Freeman who bulldozed his way over. Marcus Smith’s extras put England in front.
Kyle Rowe had been given the nod to start ahead of the injured Darcy Graham.
And the Glasgow winger looked in the mood with a couple of brilliant bursts up the pitch.
It was Rowe who got Scotland motoring as the visitors forged back in front with their second try of the game.
His run was taken on by Kinghorn and then van der Merwe stationed wide on the left.
The giant flier has scored from that position on plenty of occasions in the past.
But this time he selflessly took the tackle to create space forJones who bolted down the line, smashing England winger Ollie Sleightholme out of his way before dotting down.
Russell, again, couldn’t convert but after just 20 minutes Scotland were serving notice that they wouldn’t be giving up the Calcutta Cup without a fight.
Scotland’s only regret by half-time would have been that their advantage was only three points given their dominance. And they almost never had a lead at all.
England created one final chance before the break.
Marcus Smith broke free from full-back until he was crunched by the back-tracking van der Merwe.
England recycled play quickly and looked certain to score only for Ollie Lawrence to throw a pass straight into touch to end the half.
The home side came out after the break looking like a team that had a half-time rocket up them.
A Marcus Smith penalty tied up the scores and at this point it was anyone’s game.
Scotland were struggling to get their attack going. And from one rare attack Russell couldn’t get the final pass away to the waiting van der Merwe.
England started to crank up the pressure as Scotland’s penalty count climbed higher.
Marcus Smith knocked over another easy three-pointer to put his team back in front.
And when Rory Darge was pinged near the halfway line, namesake Fin Smith – whose Scottish parents watched on from the stands – made a monster kick to double England’s lead.
That left Scotland needing a converted try to win it with just 10 minutes to play.
One glaring chance went a-begging when subs Ewan Ashman and Matt Fagerson made a mess of a line-out in the England 22.
And Ashman also ended another promising move as his pass out the back of the hand flew into touch,
Scotland, though, did finally get over the line late on when a brilliant run from Stafford McDowall took them close.
And the ball was worked out to van der Merwe who scored but right in the corner.
It was a difficult kick for Russell. And when he missed, England held on for a long-awaited victory.
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