Scotland 9-15 England: Visitors start Six Nations campaign with win
By Keith Moore
Last Updated: 08/02/16 10:36am
Eddie Jones' England passed their first test by beating Scotland 15-9 in the opening round of the Six Nations at Murrayfield.
Tries either side of the half by second rower George Kruis and winger Jack Nowell handed England the advantage, while Owen Farrell offered five points with the boot.
Scrum-half Greig Laidlaw kept Scotland in the game from the kicking tee by contributing three penalties, but the home side were unable to cross the whitewash as the English defence remained resolute throughout and Jones saw out his first game in charge with a win.
England No 8 Billy Vunipola won man of the match in what was a bruising encounter for the forwards, while hooker and new captain Dylan Hartley led his side with confidence.
There was not much between the two teams, but England were more clinical in the opposition half, which ultimately kept them in front throughout.
The two teams threw the ball around in the opening exchanges thanks to the dry weather, but when expansive play yielded no results after 10 minutes, George Ford stepped into the pocket to attempt a drop goal. He sent the effort wide, but England were back on the attack soon after.
Jack Nowell put in a well-weighted kick from the wing which forced Stuart Hogg to dot down over the tryline under pressure from the advancing English defence.
From the resulting five-metre scrum Billy Vunipola darted for the line and though he was brought down short, England recycled the ball quickly and sent it to Kruis, who crashed through the tackles of the Gray brothers to score the first try of the game.
England's lead was immediately reduced when Chris Robshaw failed to roll away at the ruck and Laidlaw called for the kicking tee to make it 7-3 after 16 minutes.
The scrum-half then had a chance to make it a one-point game in the 29th minute, but he sent the effort wide of the poles.
As the first half drew to a close England were awarded a scrum in the shadow of their posts. The Scottish pack put Vunipola under pressure at the back, and though he managed to make some ground at the tackle the Scottish forwards did enough to disrupt proceedings at the ruck.
Joe Launchbury dived on the ball to clean up but he was penalised for holding on, and Laidlaw made no mistake with the regulation kick at goal.
Scotland then won a penalty with a minute remaining in the half and set up an attacking lineout. John Hardie broke from the maul to bring the Scots within eight metres of the English line, but the visitors drove their opponents back with each possession.
Eventually Finn Russell forced a drop goal that ended up nowhere near the posts, leaving England 7-6 ahead at the break.
The home side started the second half with purpose but it was England who registered the first points of the period when replacement prop Mako Vunipola drew two defenders in the midfield before passing, which created an overlap that saw Nowell dot down in the corner.
Farrell missed the conversion but England were edging towards a more comfortable lead.
The visitors were then awarded a kickable penalty that they turned down in favour of an attacking lineout, and it almost backfired in the worst possible fashion when Russell intercepted Ben Youngs' pass near the line with Stuart Hogg outside him.
Russell booted the ball ahead but it bobbled out before Hogg or the chasing English defence could get to it, keeping England 12-6 ahead as the third quarter drew to a close.
When the Scottish scrum was penalised in the 62nd minute Hartley pointed towards the posts and Farrell made it 15-6 from far out, but Laidlaw eradicated Farrell's effort in the 69th minute when Courtney Lawes was caught in front of the kicker.
However, despite enterprise and possession, Scotland were still unable to breach the visitors' line as England held out for a 15-9 win to retain the Calcutta Cup.
