SCOT
No.Name
15Stuart Hogg, -
14Sean Maitland, -
13Mark Bennett, -
12Matt Scott, -
11Tommy Seymour, -
10Finn Russell, -
9Greig Laidlaw, -
3
1Alasdair Dickinson, -
2Ross Ford, -
3WP Nel, -
4Richie Gray, -
5Jonny Gray, -
6John Barclay, -
7John Hardie, -
8David Denton, -
Replacements
16Stuart McInally, -
17Gordon Reid, -
18Zander Fagerson, -
19Tim Swinson, -
20Blair Cowan, -
21Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, -
22Duncan Weir, -
23Duncan Taylor, -

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Scottish Gas Murrayfield
11:50 AM, February 6, 2016
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'+19-15 End of second half
80'England get the ball out, Youngs passes back to George Ford and the fly-half boots the ball out to ensure Eddie Jones starts off with a win.
79'Billy Vunipola is a central figure once more as England keep possession and allow the clock to tick down. And they have a scrum.
78'England go through the phases looking to run the clock down as much as score. But they are into the Scotland 22.
77'Penalty to England as the Scottish pack turn once more. England are now back in Scotland's half with a little over two minutes to play.
77'Player substituted - Dylan Hartley , England
77'Substitute on - Jamie George , England
76'However, as the pressure is beginning to grown a Russell knock on hands England a scrum. With Hartley off Farrell takes on captaincy duties.
75'The lineout isn't the cleanest but they have possession and they are into England's half.
74'The cheers suddenly turn to cheers as Brown slices his clearance out on the full. Can Scotland take advantage of this platform?
73'Hogg runs the ball back at England from inside his own 22 but Scotland are unable to make too much ground and Russell clears.
72'Boos and jeers ring around Murrayfield after Farrell pushes Laidlaw into touch as the scrum-half attempts to let the ball bounce into touch. Farrell apologises, there are some handbags and Scotland have a penalty.
71'England claim their lineout and are threatening the Scottish 22.
70'England keep possession from the scrum but the Scottish defence is good and pushes them back.
70'Player substituted - Jonny Gray , Scotland
70'Substitute on - Tim Swinson , Scotland
70'Substitute on - Zander Fagerson , Scotland
70'Player substituted - WP Nel , Scotland
70'Player substituted - Chris Robshaw , England
70'Substitute on - Jack Clifford , England
69'Jack Clifford is on for his England debut, replacing his club mate Robshaw. Zander Fagerson is on too in the Scotland front row and will have to contend a scrum after Russell knocks on.
69'9-15 Penalty goal - Greig Laidlaw , Scotland
68'Laidlaw lines up a shot at goal, bang in front of the posts, and nails it. Scotland back within six points.
67'Penalty to Scotland as Hogg loses the ball in the tackle. Courtney Lawes pinged for offside.
66'Richie Gray claims the lineout, and Scotland have the ball with Hardie. Duncan Taylor gets his hands on the ball for the first time but after initially making good ground, the hosts are pushed back towards halfway.
66'Substitute on - Duncan Taylor , Scotland
66'Player substituted - Tommy Seymour , Scotland
65'England are using the clock well at the moment, but as they attempt to keep the ball in the back of the scrum they are penalised. Russell kicks the ball deep into the English half.
65'Substitute on - Stuart McInally , Scotland
65'Player substituted - Ross Ford , Scotland
64'Scotland lose a lineout on halfway before Seymour knocks on to give England a scrum just inside the hosts' half.
63'6-15 Penalty goal - Owen Farrell , England
62'The Saracens man steadies himself to send the ball through the posts. England are now more than a converted try ahead.
61'Penalty for England as the scrum turns. Farrell lining up another shot at goal...
59'Player substituted - John Barclay , Scotland
59'Substitute on - Blair Cowan , Scotland
58'Scotland steal the lineout but it's untidy and Russell clears downfield.
58'Substitute on - Gordon Reid , Scotland
58'Player substituted - Alasdair Dickinson , Scotland
57'Big moment for Scotland. Russell intercepts Youngs but with Hogg on his outside he kicks forward, and the ball goes out into touch on halfway. How costly could that prove?
56'England get the dive on from the lineout before Billy Vunipola feeds Youngs who finds Watson. The winger find a gap though, and the visitors go back to their forwards.
55'Penalty for England, which Farrell kicks to the corner.
55'Player substituted - Danny Care , England
55'Substitute on - Ben Youngs , England
53'Laidlaw hoists a box kick looking for Sean Maitland but Brown gather well before winning the penalty as the Scottish wing fails to roll away.
52'Scotland have possession but they are stuck on halfway.
51'Farrell is uncharacteristically wayward with his conversion attempt, but England are now six points clear.
51'6-12 Try - Jack Nowell , England
50'Try for England! England continue to build through the phases, before Care injects some tempo and Billy Vunipola is involved in a lovely midfield move that allows Nowell to grab the game's second try.
49'Ford hoists a cross-kick high into the sky and England emerge with the ball as Joseph taps the ball back to Kruis.
49'Player substituted - Joe Marler , England
49'Substitute on - Mako Vunipola , England
48'Farrell lines up a kick at goal amid boos, and pulls it wide of the left post.
47'Penalty to England. Jonny Gray pinged for pulling down the England drive.
47'Substitute on - Courtney Lawes , England
47'Player substituted - Joe Launchbury , England
46'Again Vunipola is forced to pick up from the base of the scrum under pressure from Scotland. He does it well and Care launches a kick downfield. Scotland launch a counter through Hogg but England win a turnover and the fullback is called into action at the other end of the pitch.
45'Jonny Gray is unable to gather the lineout cleanly, knocks on and England have a scrum. It has been a scrappy evening in Edinburgh.
44'There is a brief break in play as Vunipola gets some strapping applied to his ankle. After which Russell gives Scotland a good attacking position.
43'Cole penalised at the breakdown.
42'Another wayward lineout from England but Vunipola mops up.
41'Scotland move through the phases and they edge towards the England line. But the visitors withstand the pressure and eventually win a penalty.
41'Eventually Russell drops back into the pocket but he is disgusted with his drop goal attempt. That brings an end to the first half, and although Scotland are behind Vern Cotter may not be too concerned given they trailed by seven at one stage.
41'+16-7 End of first half
41'+1Drop goal-missed
40'Russell gets the second half underway and a Hartley mistake gives Scotland possession with a penalty coming. They use it well to drive into the English 22.
40'England are able to set their defence and Scotland are pushed back.
40'6-7 Start of second half
39'Russell kicks Scotland into England's half. Can they edge in front before half-time? Richie Gray takes the lineout before John Hardie finds a gap. Scotland are metres from the England line...
38'The ball bounces around halfway before Dan Cole scoops it up. The England prop is offside though, penalty Scotland.
38'6-7 Penalty goal - Greig Laidlaw , Scotland
37'Laidlaw knocks it over from in front with ease and Scotland are just a point behind.
36'England are forced to withstand some pressure on a scrum inside their own 22. Vunipola initially does well to pick up off the base of the scrum but Scotland have the bit between their teeth and win a penalty.
35'It's Scotland's turn to drive towards the England line but after a good break from Seymour the winger knocks on for the second time in a matter of minutes.
34'Russell takes full advantage with a big boot towards the England 22.
33'Vunipola loses possession of the ball at the base of the scrum and as Laidlaw comes in to disrupt, Scotland win the penalty.
32'The ball is something of a hot potato at the moment. Scotland win a turnover and threaten a break with Seymour but England regain possession through Nowell, who loses it pretty quickly.
31'Scotland momentarily take the tempo out of the game but that plays into England's hands a bit as Care puts in a testing kick before Brown launches another raid from deep.
29'Was that a late hit on George Ford?
28'Laidlaw snatches at his attempt though and Scotland remain four points behind.
27'Ford is caught by Tommy Seymour and Hogg and gives away a penalty.
26'England's lineout is more secure this time and after Brown attempts a counter, George Ford is able to clear.
25'An untidy lineout from England but Robshaw is able to hold onto possession for the visitors. Danny Care hoist an up and under that Hogg gathers comfortably before Russell booms a good clearance down into England's 22.
24'England win a penalty though and Farrell is able to clear downfield.
23'David Denton makes good ground over halfway for Scotland and after Laidlaw tidies up, the hosts start to build phases.
22'Just as England being to mount some more pressure in Scotland territory they are penalised for side entry at the breakdown.
21'Farrell pokes an awkward kick forward that deceives Hogg, but the fullback is able to clean up the danger.
20'England clear their lines and claim the lineout cleanly.
19'It's a bit far out for Laidlaw and the hosts instead look for touch. The lineout is won comfortably but after a smart break from Jonny Gray, Scotland lose momentum and England win a penalty.
18'Good work from Finn Russell and Matt Scott gives Scotland territory and although they are unable to get through the English defence, they win a penalty.
17'3-7 Penalty goal - Greig Laidlaw , Scotland
16'Laidlaw makes a sweet contact and Scotland are on the scoreboard.
15'Hogg counters well for Scotland, taking his team well into England's half. Robshaw is caught on the wrong side of a ruck and the hosts have a penalty...
15'0-7 Conversion - Owen Farrell , England
14'Farrell has place kicking duties and fires the conversion through the posts.
14'0-5 Try - George Kruis , England
13'Try for England! Vunipola picks off the bottom of the scrum and as the ball is recycled George Kruis spots a gap and barrels over the line for his first international try.
12'Can England do anything with this scrum...
11'Nowell chips forward on the right wing and his chase is excellent, forcing Stuart Hogg to ground the ball over the try line and handing England a scrum five metres out.
11'Drop goal-missed
10'George Ford sits back in the hole, but his drop goal attempt sails wide. He maybe should have done better there.
9'Chris Robshaw, James Haskell and Billy Vunipola all involved as England look to power their way to the Scotland line but the Scottish defence holds firm for now.
8'Ross Ford penalised for a crooked throw and England have a scrum well inside Scotland's 22'.
7'Anthony Watson involved in midfield for England, but his stab forward for opposite wing Jack Nowell bobbles into touch.
6'John Barclay gives away a soft penalty that allows England to kick downfield and set an attacking platform.
5'Greig Laidlaw boots downfield following the lineout and Joe Launchbury just about mops up the danger and as Mike Brown attempts to counter, it's all a bit scrappy.
4'England put on a squeeze but Scotland hold firm and win the penalty.
3'England finally get the ball out of the scrum but the attack mis-fires as Ford knocks on a pass from Jonathan Joseph. Scrum Scotland...
2'An early test for England's scrum as they win a set piece in Scottish territory. Swing Low rings around Murrayfield.
1'ESPN's Tom Hamilton has had his say on England's win:

It was far from pretty, expansive rugby was at a premium but England and Eddie Jones will care not a jot. Like four years ago, Jones gets his tenure off to a winning start under the lights at Murrayfield. England will be worried by their discipline and George Ford's form remains a concern but they will look to the brilliant Billy Vunipola and the performance of James Haskell and Owen Farrell as signs of optimism. Scotland were their own worst enemies with poor decision-making stunting attacks as the Calcutta Cup remains south of Hadrian's Wall for the eighth year running.
1'ESPN's Tom Hamilton is at Murrayfield, and has had this to say:

It has been a nervy first-half, bereft of attacking fluidity. The ball has spent most of its time in the air or in the tight quarters with the tale of the game largely spent within the forwards. Chris Robshaw and James Haskell have performed well for England but Scotland's John Hardie has had a superb 40 and if his team can control the ball better, they will score. George Kruis scored the opening try of the Eddie Jones era but this game has a long way to go poised at 7-6 to the visitors.
1'And we're underway! The Calcutta Cup starts with George Ford booming the kick off deep into Scotland territory.
1'Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Six Nations clash between Scotland and England.

The game represents the start of Eddie Jones' England reign, with much expected from the former Australia and Japan coach. The Red Rose also have a new captain in the form of Dylan Hartley, who Jones believes can help the side rediscover its bite.

Scotland have not beaten their old rivals since 2008 but there is a sense of optimism around Vern Cotter's side following their run to the World Cup quarterfinals. Cotter will be hoping they can maintain the momentum that generated today.

Either way, though, it's set to be a cracker!

Scotland: Hogg, Maitland, Bennett, Scott, Seymour, Russell, Laidlaw, Dickinson, Ford, Nel, R Gray, J Gray, Barclay, Hardie, Denton.

Replacements: McInally, Reid, Fagerson, Swinson, Cowan, Hidalgo-Clyne, Weir, Taylor.



England: Brown, Watson, Joseph, Farrell, Nowell, Ford, Care; Marler, Hartley (captain), Cole, Kruis, Launchbury, Robshaw, Haskell, B Vunipola.

Replacements: George, M Vunipola, Hill, Lawes, Clifford, Youngs, Goode, Devoto.



You can follow the game with our man at the ground Tom Hamilton (@tomESPNscrum) and you can read our preview HERE.

The teams are out on the Murrayfield turf and we are moments away from kick off!
1'0-0 Start of first half

Six Nations 2016 News