Captain Sione Tuipulotu has praised Scotland's impressive Calcutta Cup win, which came after a difficult week for head coach Gregor Townsend, with the team delivering a much-needed triumph.

Following their opening Six Nations defeat to Italy in Rome, Scotland's championship aspirations were under scrutiny as they hosted an in-form England side at Murrayfield, with Townsend's position under increased pressure.

The hosts made a stunning start, racing into a 17-0 lead within 15 minutes, a cushion they maintained for the remainder of the match.

Scotland's performance was characterized by pace and flair, with fly-half Finn Russell playing a pivotal role in the victory.

Russell's vision and distribution were instrumental in creating tries for Huw Jones and Jamie Ritchie, as Scotland's attacking play flourished.

Despite England's response, which included a try from Henry Arundell before his dismissal for a second yellow card, Scotland continued to play with freedom, adding a third try after Ellis Genge failed to gather Russell's chip, allowing Ben White to capitalize.

England, who had won their previous 12 Tests, attempted a comeback in the second half, but Scotland's defense held firm, and they sealed a bonus-point victory with Jones' second try, following a charged-down drop-goal attempt by George Ford.

Tuipulotu expressed his pride in the team's performance, saying he was "extremely proud" of the way they responded to their defeat in Italy.

The Scotland captain acknowledged that the team had deserved criticism after their loss to Italy, but felt they had redeemed themselves with a strong display against England.

Tuipulotu stated that the team had felt under pressure, but had rallied behind their coach, delivering a performance that justified their support.

The captain admitted to feeling a sense of guilt, recognizing the challenges faced by head coaches, who receive criticism when the team performs poorly.

Tuipulotu praised his teammates for their commitment to the coach and their role in the victory, saying they had "got behind our coach and delivered a performance."

The Scotland Rugby Podcast has reaction from a jubilant Murrayfield, with players and coaches reflecting on the impressive win.

Scotland will now travel to Spain to recover before their next championship match against Wales, looking to build on their momentum.

Tuipulotu emphasized the importance of maintaining their performance level, saying the team would do everything possible to replicate their victory against Wales.

The Glasgow Warriors centre said he wanted to enjoy the win, but was already focused on preparing for the next match, ensuring they "prepare to the best of our abilities to back up this performance."

Former Scotland captain John Barclay echoed Tuipulotu's sentiments, stressing the need for consistency and saying that the best teams are able to maintain their performance levels.

Barclay, speaking on ITV, said that Scotland must "back it up" and avoid a significant drop-off in performance if they are to progress as a team.

The former skipper emphasized that the team's focus should be on replicating their Calcutta Cup win, with Tuipulotu and Townsend already highlighting the importance of consistency.

Barclay noted that the top teams are able to maintain their performance levels, with minimal drop-off, and that Scotland must strive to achieve this if they are to succeed.

Scotland's convincing win over England has rejuvenated their championship campaign, with the team sweeping aside their opponents in a stunning Calcutta Cup victory.

Townsend has expressed his pride in the team's performance, which saw them dominate England and regain the Calcutta Cup.

The match highlights are available, showcasing Scotland's impressive display.

Townsend has spoken about Scotland's emphatic victory, praising the team's performance and highlighting the challenges they faced.

The Scotland head coach has faced a difficult period, with three defeats in four Tests and speculation about his future, but the win over England has eased the pressure.

Townsend's position had been under scrutiny, with some questioning whether he had taken the team as far as he could, but the Calcutta Cup win has provided a timely boost.

The head coach praised the team's first-half display, saying it was some of the best rugby he had seen from a Scotland team.

Townsend told ITV that the team's performance in the opening 20 minutes was exceptional, and that he was proud of the way they fought for each other and the supporters in the second half.

The head coach attributed the team's success to their aggressive and fast-paced play, saying that Finn Russell had one of his best games for Scotland and the forwards' work-rate was superb.

Scotland have now won five of the last six Calcutta Cup matches, with Russell's missed conversion last year denying them a sixth consecutive win.

Former Scotland prop Peter Wright praised the team's performance, saying they had made England look "pretty mediocre."

Wright noted that Scotland's inconsistency is frustrating, as they can produce performances like the Calcutta Cup win, but also struggle, as they did against Italy.

The former prop said that the players deserved credit for their display, which was a significant improvement on their previous outing.

Scotland's players have been praised for their commitment to the coach and their role in the victory.

The match highlights are available, showcasing Scotland's impressive display.

England head coach Steve Borthwick said that Scotland's players had "shown up" for their coach, delivering a performance that justified their support.

Townsend dismissed the idea that Scotland only produce their best performances against England, saying that the team sees it as a positive that they can raise their game for the Calcutta Cup match.

The head coach said that the team had played some of their best rugby against England, and that this was a testament to the players' ability to perform under pressure.

Townsend emphasized that the team's focus is on the positives, rather than the negatives, and that they are proud of their record in the Calcutta Cup fixture.

The head coach reflected on the team's performance against Italy, saying that they had shown resilience and determination, even in defeat, and that he was proud of the players' efforts in difficult conditions.

The players' dedication and hard work throughout the week are evident, and their performance on the weekend is a testament to their commitment. Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that their energy and effort are not the issue. The team's efforts have been commendable, and their coach's pride in them has been consistent, whether in victory or not, as seen in the past two weeks.

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Following a 12-match winning streak, England captain Maro Itoje acknowledged that his team would need to learn from their recent defeat.

A specific moment can be identified when Scotland halted England's unbeaten run.

At the 56-minute mark, the Murrayfield crowd was in the midst of singing "Flower of Scotland" after Huw Jones' second try, when Rory Darge secured a crucial turnover within his own 22-meter line.

Although the crowd's enthusiasm continued uninterrupted, it marked a significant turning point, as Scotland had already gained the upper hand.

England's winning streak came to an end at 12 matches, and it was not solely due to bad luck.

By halftime, England faced a significant deficit, regardless of how it was measured.

The scoreboard showed a 14-point gap, and England were also at a disadvantage in terms of personnel and crowd support at Murrayfield.

However, at that point, the situation did not seem insurmountable for England.

Scotland achieved a convincing Calcutta Cup victory, overwhelming England in the process.

Scotland's head coach, Townsend, expressed pride in his team's performance, which saw them reclaim the Calcutta Cup from England.

Finn Russell played a key role in Scotland's success, showcasing his agility, ball-handling skills, and game intelligence, particularly in the opening stages when he set up a try for Huw Jones.

Scotland's team, which had struggled against Italy the previous week, demonstrated a ruthless approach, scoring 24 points from four visits to England's 22-meter line in the first 40 minutes.

England, however, had also contributed to their own difficulties.

Henry Arundell was a notable factor, receiving two yellow cards, first for failing to release the tackled player and then for a clumsy challenge on Kyle Steyn while he was in the air.

Arundell's absence, which totaled 30 minutes, allowed Scotland to exploit the space and gain an advantage.

Arundell received his second yellow card after failing to quickly release from an aerial contest with Kyle Steyn.

Arundell was not the only England player to make individual errors.

Luke Cowan-Dickie's tackle without using his arms provided Scotland with the field position that led to Jamie Ritchie's try.

Ellis Genge, who was tasked with a role that did not suit him, made a mistake by failing to secure a loose ball, resulting in a try for Scotland.

Collectively, England's defense, which had been solid in the past year, showed signs of vulnerability that Scotland were able to capitalize on.

Despite these challenges, the game was not yet lost for England.

If England could eliminate individual errors, improve their defense, and capitalize on their strengths in the scrum, there was a potential path back into the game.

Successfully executing this plan would be a significant validation of England's progress as a team.

Scotland had previously shown vulnerabilities, such as when they squandered a 21-point lead against Argentina, and England's bench could potentially make a difference.

The theoretical possibility of a comeback existed.

For a brief period, it seemed that England might be able to turn the game around.

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According to Borthwick, Scotland's players had risen to the occasion and performed well for their coach, Townsend.

Ellis Genge won a penalty from Zander Fagerson two minutes into the second half, and George Ford successfully kicked it to reduce the deficit to 24-13.

The Scotland front row was again penalized, and Murrayfield's atmosphere became slightly more tense.

As George Ford lined up a drop-goal attempt on 53 minutes, it seemed that England might start to exert pressure on the scoreboard.

However, Ford did not provide himself with sufficient space, and Matt Fagerson, who had just come off the bench, was able to charge down the kick.

The resulting try sealed England's fate, and Scotland's fans celebrated in the stands.

England's replacements were introduced, but they were unable to make a significant impact, and Scotland comfortably closed out the game.

Borthwick noted that the charged-down drop-goal attempt by Ford was a crucial moment in the game but not the sole reason for England's defeat.

Borthwick described his team as one that had consistently been able to reel in opponents over a long period.

He pointed out that if Ford's drop-goal attempt had been successful, the score would have been 24-16 with 24 minutes remaining, which would have given England a different outlook.

Borthwick emphasized that the 10-point swing resulting from the charged-down drop-goal was significant but not the only factor that contributed to the result.

Matt Fagerson's charge-down of Ford's drop-goal attempt led to a try for Huw Jones and effectively sealed the game.

Prior to the tournament, Richard Wigglesworth, Borthwick's assistant, had suggested that England's criticism in 2024 and praise in 2025 might have been exaggerated, implying that the team's performances were not as extreme as perceived.

In hindsight, these words have proven to be prophetic.

Captain Maro Itoje emphasized the importance of learning from mistakes, stating, "We have to learn our lesson and move forward."

Itoje acknowledged areas for improvement, noting, "Our start was subpar, and we lacked accuracy and precision, particularly in the scrum – these are aspects that require significant enhancement."

Reflecting on the team's performance over the past year, Itoje observed, "While we've been adept at adapting to challenges and finding solutions over the last 12 months, we fell short in that regard today."

The team must absorb these lessons quickly, as a loss to Ireland next weekend would likely derail their Six Nations title aspirations.

England's schedule includes upcoming away matches against Italy, France, and reigning world champions South Africa.

If England fails to regain their footing, they can expect to face intense pressure in the coming weeks.

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