How England are plotting to stop 'world-class' Russell

For years, England have had a problem.

- HARRY LATHAM-COYLE

Be it at Twickenham or Murrayfield, in conditions dry or dreich, come the Calcutta Cup clash, they have been unable to stop Scotland’s mischief-makers in chief. Amid fluctuating fortunes for each side, England getting cut to ribbons in this fixture has been a familiar, predictable theme in a run of six defeats in seven.

From Duhan van der Merwe’s wondrous weave between wouldbe tacklers at Twickenham two years ago way back to Huw Jones’s length-of-the-field classic in Edinburgh in 2018, Scotland have found a way to cut England deeply more often than just about any other side. Hulking wing Van der Merwe has six tries against the Auld Enemy; carving centre Jones has five.

Pulling England strings throughout their recent run has been one of the game’s best puppet masters. “Scotland are very smart in the way they play and they have a 10 in Finn Russell who many people say is arguably the best fly-half in the world at the moment,” Steve Borthwick said on Tuesday. “He has a very varied kicking game and a really attacking kicking game. We have to be very sharp to make sure that space is covered because he can find it.”

Russell has been the primary painter of England’s recent pain in this storied rivalry: arcing that lovely rainbow to free Jones in 2018; illustrating the remarkable comeback from 31-7 down in 2019; forcing an exposed Luke Cowan-Dickie into an unedifying error with two picture-perfect cross-kicks in 2022.