SebonSport

The Calcutta Cup, contested annually between England and Scotland, is a fixture steeped in drama, history, and intrigue. This year’s game may not have been a classic, but England (finally) reclaimed the trophy after just one win in their previous seven encounters. It took immense resilience for Steve Borthwick’s side to allow Maro Itoje to hoist the famous old trophy, and for the 2^nd time in two weeks, England may have benefitted from a bit of luck.

Player Ratings:

Ellis Genge – 7 Dominated the scrum throughout, worked tirelessly around the park, and was a consistent carrying presence.

Luke Cowan-Dickie – 7 The lineout functioned better than in previous weeks, and he played a key role in a strong front-row performance. Would like to see more impact at the breakdown, where he can be a real nuisance at his best.

Will Stuart – 7 An underrated presence in this England team and a key factor in the scrum’s success. Not the most dynamic in open play, but he continues to scrummage well. There’s growing talk of him as a future Lion, which seems deserved after this strong showing.

Maro Itoje – 8 Still somehow underrated in this England team. Looks like he relishes the captaincy and was able to control the lineout all game with Chessum. He was at his disruptive best around the ruck—pushing the limits of legality—but always effective.

Ollie Chessum – 7 Brought much-needed stability to the lineout. His athleticism and high work rate stood out, especially given his return from injury. A creditable 79-minute performance.

Tom Curry – 6 Played on one leg for most of the game but still contributed effectively in defense. Not one of his more memorable performances, likely hampered by his hip issue.

Ben Earl – 8.5 (Man of the Match) A powerhouse performance. Topped England’s tackle count and made the most metres outside of Marcus Smith. Adapted well despite injuries around him and seemed to grow stronger as the game progressed.

Tom Willis – 6 Still finding his feet in an England shirt. Provides a strong ball-carrying option but was forced off near halftime. His availability for the rest of the tournament remains uncertain.

Alex Mitchell – 5 A rare off-day for a usually consistent performer. Box kicks were erratic, tempo was lacking, and defensive lapses crept in. Likely to bounce back next week.

Finn Smith – 7 His penalty-winning tackle on Tom Jordan was textbook. Made 16 tackles, an excellent number for a fly-half. Didn’t bring much attacking spark, but neither did anyone else in the England backline. The No. 10 shirt feels like it’s his to lose.

Ollie Sleightholme – 5 Hooked after 44 minutes despite an impressive game against France the previous week. Failed to make an impact, gaining zero metres. Defensively, he looked like a target for opposition teams.

Henry Slade – 5 Still not entirely convinced by his role in this team. Often goes unnoticed unless stepping up for a penalty suiting a left-footer. Missed five tackles and didn’t contribute much in attack.

Ollie Lawrence – 6 England’s standout back in previous games, but quieter here. A moment of brilliance before halftime nearly set up Smith, but a subsequent handling error summed up his mixed performance.

Tommy Freeman – 6.5 A quieter game than last week but rock-solid defensively. He was tasked with handling Duhan van der Merwe and did so effectively, completing all 11 of his tackles. Would like to see him roaming more like elite wingers such as Damian Penaud or Mark Telea as he is a real threat with the ball in hand and will get more tries like the one he did today.

Marcus Smith – 6 Injected excitement into England’s attack, creating a key opportunity with Lawrence. The fullback experiment should continue, but his defence needs significant improvement. Offers England a much-needed creative spark.

Replacements:

Jamie George – 7 Calm and composed, his introduction coincided with an improvement in England’s performance.

Fin Baxter – 6 Unnoticed, which can be a good thing. No drop-off in performance.

Joe Heyes – 6 Similar to Baxter—solid but unremarkable.

Ted Hill – N/A Not enough time to make an impact.

Chandler Cunningham-South – 6.5 Brings immense physicality and makes his presence felt immediately. A strong bench option for upping England’s tempo and intensity.

Ben Curry – 7.5 Arguably outperformed his more celebrated twin brother this winter. Made 13 tackles in just one half and was a constant menace at the breakdown. A strong candidate to start next week.

Harry Randall – 6 Nearly had a heart-in-mouth moment with a late charge-down attempt. Has yet to cement himself at the international level but showed improvement from Mitchell.

Elliot Daly – 6.5 Brings a different dimension to England’s attack. Would like to see him paired with Lawrence in midfield, though size could be an issue. Made a strong impact off the bench, fitting well into a 6/2 forward-back split.

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England finally got the result they needed in the Calcutta Cup, though it wasn’t a vintage performance. There were promising signs, particularly from the forward pack and Ben Earl’s standout display, but question marks remain over the backline’s attacking fluency. With the tournament progressing, consistency and refinement will be key to ensuring England build on this crucial victory.