Scotland edge England in Calcutta Cup thriller

Scotland launched their Six Nations campaign with a dramatic 20-17 win over England at Murrayfield on Saturday as they recorded consecutive Calcutta Cup victories over their arch-rivals for the first time since 1984.

England were 17-10 ahead, with fly-half Marcus Smith having scored all of their points, when Scotland were awarded a penalty try 15 minutes from time after Luke Cowan-Dickie was ruled to have deliberately knocked on a Finn Russell cross-kick heading towards wing Darcy Graham.

While the act of foul play that earned Cowan-Dickie a yellow card seemed clear enough, referee Ben O'Keeffe also had to decide if a try would probably have been scored but for the hooker's intervention.

Russell then added a penalty before Scotland survived a series of scrums to see the game out and spark joyous scenes among a 67,000-capacity home crowd in a Test match that saw the return of spectators to their Edinburgh headquarters for the first time since the pandemic.

Defeat was hard on the 22-year-old Smith who, in his first away international and just the sixth Test of his career, scored a well-taken try and kicked four penalties.

England, in the latest edition of rugby's oldest international fixture, dominated territory and possession in the first half.

But they turned round 10-6 behind after Scotland replacement Ben White marked his Test debut with a converted try and Russell added a penalty following two from opposing No 10 Smith.

Rising star Smith

Rising star Smith cut Scotland's lead to 10-9 early in the second half with a close-range penalty.

After a strong drive by England's pack, Smith went in on the blindside for a 53rd-minute try that saw England lead at 14-10.

Smith missed the ensuing conversion but he kicked England further ahead