London (AFP)

History!

The Scots ended Saturday at 38 without a win in England by winning (11-6) in a tough match but where they found a perfect game plan that they were able to apply to the end.

In terms of passion, we will have stayed very far from the crazy comeback of 2019, where, from a 31-0 for the XV de la Rose at half-time, an improbable 38-38 draw was born that we thought would remain remembered for years to come.

Less than two years later, the Scots have done even better, at least in terms of results and history, with this well deserved success.

Faced with the winners of the 2020 edition, Scotland confirmed the beautiful promises of last year when they lost their first two matches in Ireland and against England, before winning the next three by inflicting on France its only defeat (28-17), before winning in Wales.

Even more than the victory, it was the impression of domination given by the men of Greg Townsend, against the English rarely so rushed and messy, which impressed.

The pack of the XV at Chardon put under the extinguisher English forwards and the play at the foot of Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg allowed an intelligent occupation of the ground which wore down the English.

The men of Eddie Jones, who still lacked five elements of choice up front, stammered their attacking game, never managing to really break through the dark blue defensive curtain.

-Rare English indiscipline-

They were also a rare indiscipline, with 10 penalties whistled against them in the first period alone, as much as in an entire game usually.

The only try of the game came from a nice movement off the Scots until the powerful winger of South African origin Duhan van der Merwe who managed to transplant towards the center and resist three opponents before making landfall in the in-goal (0-8, 31st).

A few minutes earlier, the same van der Merwe had been a few centimeters away from recovering in the in-goal the capricious rebound of a brilliant pass to the foot of Russell (28th) who should have already led to a try.

The only real fear for the Scots was this yellow card at the very end of the first period (38th) against the same Russell, who had the unfortunate reflex of stretching his leg for a voluntary crochepied on an opponent.

A numerical advantage that the English will not have exploited, nor have they been able to tell the difference in the last ten minutes when the KO was in the air on both sides.

England will have to rebound very quickly by receiving Italians corrected at home by the French at the opening of the Tournament (10-50).

Scotland will receive Wales before going to Paris to challenge the Blues for a match that already smells of powder.

© 2021 AFP