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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