Scotland promised an enormous efficiency and so they delivered an depth, an accuracy and a ruthlessness that was completely absent in Rome.

They had been totally deadly within the opening minutes, Russell sending them on their approach with an early penalty that was borne out of exhausting and direct rugby that England couldn’t dwell with.

One other Scottish blast inside 10 minutes noticed the primary yellow for Arundell and it proved so damaging for England. Whereas the wing was away, Scotland did not half play and Russell in full genius mode was on the coronary heart of it.

After stretching the England defence to breaking, Russell then completed them, beating the blitz – Tom Roebuck offered himself within the midst of it – with a beautiful one-handed flick on to Jones who sprinted round Maro Itoje to attain.

They fly-half made it 10-0 and the promised Scottish response to Rome was being visited upon England. And there was extra. A part of their woes in Rome was their lack of ruthlessness. Right here, they mounted the issue.

Of their subsequent go to to England’s 22 they nailed their likelihood once more, getting exterior the defence with a pace and a skill-set of the best class. Sione Tuipulotu flung a protracted move out to Ritchie, standing free on the left wing, and the blindside scored with aplomb.

Russell made it 17-0 with simply 14 minutes on the clock. Breathless and sensible. England, heavy favourites, had been getting blown away. That Arundel yellow value them 14 factors.

They received some pleasure finally. Their scrum, fully dominant, was key and their large runners took them deep into Scotland’s 22. The resistance held, however just for so lengthy. Ford’s pretty delayed move despatched Arundell in. Fairly a half for the wing.

Ford narrowed the hole to seven factors quickly after as England threatened to construct up a head of steam. Their respite was dismantled in fast order when Scotland struck for his or her third rating.

It was fantastic Russell invention as soon as once more that sparked it, the fly-half scampering down the quick aspect, skipping previous Man Pepper and Sam Underhill and getting a kick whereas within the means of falling over.

Ellis Genge was within the again area and seemingly accountable for the scenario solely to slip and let the ball fall free. White was on to him like a shot and touched down for a smash-and-grab that sickened England. Russell added the extras – a 14-point recreation now.

Arundell’s calamity got here simply earlier than the tip of a pulsating half when he took Steyn out within the air. Second yellow and now a 20-minute purple. England had been in serious trouble.

Their scrum superiority introduced them three extra factors early in a second half that started with out Ritchie on one aspect and Sam Underhill. Each injured. On got here Fagerson and Tom Curry and away we went.

England’s one space of pleasure was the scrum and their muscle within the set-piece noticed Ford slender the hole early within the second half. These had been moments when Scotland needed to dig deep.

England had been getting on the entrance foot, however the Scottish defence held. Greater than that, they pissed off England. Going nowhere within the hosts’ 22. Ford opted to take a straightforward three with a drop objective in entrance of the posts.

It backfired. Fagerson was out like a bullet from a gun and charged down the kick, then scooped up the free ball and fed Jones who galloped away with Scottish delirium ringing in his ears all the way in which.

Russell banged over the conversion and, extremely, the underdogs had been forward by 18 factors with a bonus level within the financial institution.

England emptied their bench, introduced on any quantity of heavy hitters, however might solely handle a late, late attempt for Earl, transformed by Ford. Scotland’s lead was 11 – and to the utter ecstasy of the house followers, it stayed that approach.