The 2024 Six Nations returns this Saturday, with round three set to re-ignite the competition after the recent fallow week. Scotland and England are set to meet tomorrow afternoon, to add the latest chapter into rugby’s oldest international rivalry. England travel up to Murrayfield for this one, and will be met with a hostile atmosphere in the Scottish captial.
Throughout the 152 years of rugby rivalry, the two nations have played each other a total of 141 times. The two illustrious rivals have met on the rugby pitch almost every year since their first battle in 1871, with the exceptions of the First and Second World Wars keeping them apart. Throughout the years, England have secured the win 76 times, whilst Scotland’s aura as underdogs has seem them battle for the victory on 46 occasions.
There has been 19 draws between the two nations, with the fixture last ending in a stalemate in the unforgettable 38-38 thriller during the 2019 Six Nations. The Calcutta Cup is an iconic symbol of the Anglo-Scottish sporting rivalry, and was introduced for the ninth meeting between the two nations back in 1879. Currently, Scotland hold the fabled trophy, and have done since winning it at Twickenham in 2021. History hangs in the balance ahead of this Saturday’s match, as should Scotland win their fourth consecutive match against England, they will match their record streak of victories against the old enemy that dates back to 1893 to 1896.
England’s best run of form against Scotland is 10 consecutive wins, which took place between 1991 and 1999. The run of matches includes nine meetings in the old Five Nations Championship, and the iconic 1991 Rugby World Cup Semi-Final at Murrayfield, which saw England edge a 9-6 victory in the famous rugby cauldron. So, ahead of tomorrow’s exciting reunion between rugby’s most historic rivals, here is our head to head for Scotland and England.
First Meeting: Scotland 1-0 England – Exhibition Test Match
27th March 1871, Raeburn’s Place, Edinburgh
The match that started it all. The inaugural encounter between Scotland and England took place when Queen Victoria sat upon the throne. As the score-line suggests, this match did not take place under the recognised rugby laws that we are accustomed to today, instead the only way to score a point for your team was to successfully convert a try.
Taking place north of the border in Raeburn’s Place, Edinburgh, little over 4,000 spectators attended this match. In what would today have finished 7-5 to Scotland, both sides scored a try, yet it was William Cross who slotted the monumental conversion for Scotland’s victory. Angus Buchannan, a dual-code player who also starred for the nation’s cricket team, has the accolade of scoring the first ever try in an international test match. The return fixture the following year saw England record their first win, and such a rivalry was then born.
Most Recent Meeting: England 23 – 29 Scotland – 2023 Six Nations Championship
4th February 2023, Twickenham Stadium, London
Rewind the clock 12 months, and the most recent meeting between England and Scotland had recently taken place. Kicking off each side’s 2023 Six Nations campaigns, Scotland spoiled the party for Steve Borthwick’s first match in charge as England head coach. The opening round match is best remembered for Duhan van der Merwe’s incredible solo try, that has had a replay resurgence in the recent Netflix documentary ‘Full Contact’.
Van der Merwe had a starring role in this fixture, as he powered over for two tries against the resolved English opposition. Scotland added their first try of the match through Huw Jones, before Max Malins’ retaliation score levelled the playing field after the first 25 minutes. The scoreboard continued to tick over as Malins added his second and Ellis Genge powered over for England. A second half Scottish surge saw Ben White nip over for a try, van der Merwe secure his brace, and the astute kicking of Finn Russell wrap up the win.