Quick Read
- Scotland leads England 24-10 at halftime in the Six Nations 2026 Calcutta Cup match.
- Finn Russell converted an early penalty and set up a try with a brilliant chip kick.
- England’s Henry Arundell received a red card in the 37th minute for a dangerous play.
- Huw Jones and Jamie Ritchie also scored tries for Scotland.
- England entered the match with a 12-match winning streak, while Scotland sought to rebound from a loss to Italy.
EDINBURGH (Azat TV) – Scotland’s talismanic fly-half Finn Russell spearheaded a dominant first-half performance, driving his team to a commanding 24-10 lead over arch-rivals England in their highly anticipated Six Nations 2026 Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield Stadium. Russell’s early penalty conversion and a moment of individual brilliance, setting up a crucial try, underscored Scotland’s aggressive start and placed England under immense pressure, compounded by a red card incident.
Russell’s Early Influence Sets the Tone
The match, a pivotal Round 2 fixture in the 2026 Six Nations, saw Scotland assert control from the outset. Finn Russell opened the scoring for Scotland with a successful penalty conversion just three minutes into the game, immediately putting points on the board. This early advantage was quickly amplified when Henry Arundell of England received a yellow card in the eighth minute, reducing England to 14 men. Scotland capitalized decisively, with Huw Jones breaking away to score a try, extending the lead to 10-0, as reported by FloRugby.
Russell’s impact was not limited to set pieces. In the 27th minute, with Scotland already leading, he executed a remarkable chip kick while falling to the ground, creating a chaotic but effective play that Ben White recovered and scored from. This audacious piece of skill further widened Scotland’s lead, contributing to what FloRugby described as an ‘Absolute Chaos!’ moment and a ‘quite a start’ for the Scots.
Halftime Lead and Red Card Drama
Scotland continued to press their advantage throughout the first half. Jamie Ritchie scored another try in the 14th minute, leaving England ‘absolutely stunned’ and giving Scotland two tries within the first quarter of an hour. England attempted a comeback, with Henry Arundell scoring a try in the 22nd minute and George Ford converting a penalty shortly after, narrowing the gap to 17-10.
However, England’s hopes were severely dented in the 37th minute when Arundell was shown a second yellow card for a dangerous play, resulting in a red card. This left England playing with 14 men for the remainder of the first half and the critical first 20 minutes of the second, a significant blow to their chances. At halftime, Scotland held a substantial 24-10 lead, with the Murrayfield crowd ‘beaming,’ according to FloRugby.
Historical Context and Stakes for Both Sides
The Calcutta Cup fixture arrived with considerable stakes for both nations. Scotland entered the match under pressure following a narrow 18-15 loss to Italy in Round 1, a performance that left head coach Gregor Townsend’s side searching for rhythm. England, conversely, arrived with significant momentum, having secured a dominant 48-7 victory over Wales and extending their winning streak to 12 matches, lifting them to No. 3 in the world rankings, as detailed by FloRugby. The recent history of the Calcutta Cup has favored Scotland, who had won four of the last five meetings before England secured a one-point victory in 2025.
For Scotland, this match represented an opportunity to re-establish their campaign and build on a fine recent record against England. BBC Sport highlighted Finn Russell’s enduring influence, recalling his ‘glorious, soaring, swooping torpedo of a pass’ in 2018 that helped Scotland end a decade-long home drought against England. Russell and Huw Jones, who scored Scotland’s first try today, were two of only two players remaining from the 2018 winning squad, underscoring a continuing link to past successes.
England, despite their strong form, faced the challenge of breaking what BBC Sport termed the ‘hex’ Scotland has held over them at Murrayfield. A victory would solidify England’s title aspirations, while a defeat could derail their momentum ahead of tougher fixtures. The match was broadcast in the UK on ITV1 and streamed on ITVX, with coverage in the USA available on Peacock, according to Yahoo Sports.
Finn Russell’s exceptional first-half display not only provided Scotland with a crucial lead but also underscored his ongoing significance as a game-changing playmaker capable of unlocking defenses and influencing high-stakes contests, proving pivotal in Scotland’s bid to recover from a challenging opening round.