For the debut of Steve Borthwick on the bench of XV de la Rose, the English offered a big physical fight, but they had to give in to the flashes of their opponents who left with the offensive bonus point.

If we add the 38-38 draw of 2019, it is even the third time in a row that the XV du Chardon leaves London undefeated in the Tournament.

They have lost just one of the last six encounters in this competition and won the most recent three.

This victory is totally deserved and embellished by two incredible tries from their colossal winger of South African origin, Duhan van der Merwe, elected man of the match.

In the first period, on an aerial ball received in his camp, he first crossed the entire opposing half of the field dodging or dismissing six opponents to go flat at the end of this superb solitary effort (12-5, 28th).

But he was also and above all at the conclusion of a long sequence of Scottish games where the English were moved from right to left to conclude at the end of the line, again resisting five opposing attempts to stop him (29- 23, 75th).

England, however, have nothing to be ashamed of and the spectators witnessed a breathtaking chase which could have turned in the other direction.

English winger Max Malins also went there with his double in the first period, allowing his team to stay in contact (7-5, 23rd and 12-10, 37th).

Steve Borthwick at Twickenham on February 4, 2023 © Adrian DENNIS / AFP

England even thought they had taken the lead by taking an eight-point lead thanks to the boot of Owen Farrell and a try from prop Ellis Genge at the start of the second half (12-20, 48th).

But a trickster try from scrum-half Ben White, who escaped his opponents with a skillful volte, immediately put Scotland back in contact (19-20, 52nd).

A penalty from Farrell had given the English a four-point lead (19-23, 64th), but this advantage was swept away by the opposing spirit.

Scotland join Ireland, victorious 34-10 in Wales earlier, at the top of the standings, before Italy-France on Sunday.

In a week, the Scots - whose propensity to alternate the good and the bad has weighed down the ambitions of final victory in recent years -, will try to confirm at home against Wales, while England will want to do get over his frustration with another home game, this time against Italy.

© 2023 AFP