Scotland produced a remarkable second-half display to turn around a 31-7 deficit in the final game of the 2019 Six Nations at Twickenham.

England, who were confirmed runners-up following Wales’ crushing victory over Ireland, needed a last-gasp George Ford try to save their blushes.

? | England v Scotland

First half…. @EnglandRugby

Second half… @Scotlandteam

RESULT…. ? ? ? #GuinnessSixNations #ENGvSCO pic.twitter.com/lqDdo3javW

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 17, 2019

A Sam Johnson try five minutes from time look to have secured Scotland a memorable 38-31 victory, but Ford scored under the posts in overtime and converted, leaving the final score 38-38.

After a blistering first half an hour, tries from Jack Nowell, Tom Curry, Joe Launchbury and Jonny May had put England on course for a comfortable win.

A Stuart McInally breakaway try just before half-time looked to be a mere consolation.

But after the interval England capitulated – with Scotland running in five unanswered tries.

Darcy Graham scored twice either side of a Magnus Bradbury try, and Finn Russell crossed before Johnson put Gregor Townsend’s side ahead.

Although Wales’ victory earlier in the day had secured the title, Eddie Jones will be furious his England side were unable to end the campaign on a win.

For Scotland, there are mixed emotions – they may have retained the Calcutta Cup, and produced one of the most remarkable comebacks international rugby has seen – but players and fans alike will be left wondering: ‘what if?’.

? Head Coach Gregor Townsend talks to the media after remarkable Test match against England.#AsOne pic.twitter.com/cQttLrw4p7

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 17, 2019

How it happened

The 137th installment of a 145-year rivalry kicked off in front of a slightly subdued Twickenham, following the Welsh victory over Ireland earlier in the day – and after 66 seconds it had it’s first try.

Jack Nowell stepped in off the right-wing and eluded the Scottish cover to score the first of the games 11 tries.

A smart line-out routine five metres from the line then allowed flanker Tom Curry his second try of the competition.

Then, before the game was even 15 minutes old, a barn-storming run from Ellis Genge set the platform for Kyle Sinckler, before the ball was worked out to second-row Joe Launchbury who dived over for England’s third.

Jonny May, the championships top try scorer, bagged his 6th of the competition just before the half hour mark after an audacious backhanded pass by Henry Slade.

There was a swagger about Eddie Jones’ side in the early stages, with some slick handling and flowing rugby.

Hooker McInally’s try for Scotland just before halftime proved to be the start of a mistake-ridden 45-minutes for England.

The usually unflappable Owen Farrell’s kick was charged down by McInally, who ran from halfway to score – a weak tackle from May on the 22-metre line did little to slow his progress.

After the break, Scotland’s backline sprang to life and produced some scintillating rugby to carve through England’s panicking defence.

Winger Graham scored six minutes into the half, courtesy of some clever offloading and feeble English tackling.

Back-rower Bradbury collected Ali Price’s clever chip to score, before Graham crossed again in the corner to put Scotland within a converted try of England with 25 minutes to go.

"It's a re-occurring theme for us."

Eddie Jones promises to solve ‘mental problem’ that allowed a 31-point lead slip at Twickenham: https://t.co/K9lVXJ8ETn pic.twitter.com/Kmudzyc2f6

— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) March 16, 2019

As head coach Eddie Jones watched on in horror, England then conceded again.

Finn Russell picked off a Farrell pass and raced away to score a third Scottish try in 10 minutes, before Greig Laidlaw slotted the conversion to level the scores at 31-31.

A stunned England began to regain a foothold in the game, but an intelligent Russell pass fed Johnson, who bullied his way over the line.

It seemed that try would end Scotland’s 36-year wait for a win at Twickenham in the most dramatic fashion.

But the last and arguably best game of the 2019 Six Nations had one more twist – England reached the Scotland five metre line three minutes into overtime, before Ford dummied and went over under the posts.

Ford then converted, levelling the scores once again at 38-38, and bringing a breathless contest to an end.

For Townsend’s Scotland, this game accentuated how brilliant – and how poor – they have been in spells of this competition.

For Jones’ England, there is a growing concern that his current squad struggle to deal with the mental demands of competing at the peak of international rugby.

Either way, it was fitting final bow for a fascinating 2019 Six Nations.

Did anyone get their weekend predictions right!?

A reminder of that #GuinnessSixNations table!

Full table: https://t.co/1jxHTYoT2B pic.twitter.com/xUiW33bl5C

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 17, 2019

What they said

Scotland fly-half Finn Russell was devastated at the final whistle, but was quick to praise his sides second-half performance.

“I’m gutted to be honest,” he said. “At half-time, everyone would have written Scotland off, it was 31-7 and for us to come out and have a second half like that was outstanding.

“It shows the character the boys have and I’m just so disappointed and gutted we didn’t managed to finish it off at the end after Sammy’s try with a couple of minutes to go and seven points up.”

Giving the ?! Well done to @Finn_Russell on a fantastic performance in #SCOvENG. #GuinnessSixNations Man of the Match. pic.twitter.com/7r28ONjvzv

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 17, 2019

Man-of-the-match Russell also revealed that there was an “argument” between himself and head coach Gregor Townsend during the half time break, as Scotland trailed 31-7.

“I actually had an argument with Gregor [at half-time],” Russell told ITV.

“I said to him ‘you’re telling us to kick and when we kick, they just run it back and cut us open, and when we run it, they’re just hitting us behind the gain line and winning the ball back’.

“Second half, we just came out with nothing to lose, played our rugby, kicked out of our half and scored some great tries. We played good Scottish rugby.”

His teammate Darcy Graham, who scored two tries in the incredible second-half display, was also keen to praise his sides fightback.

“We had a good look at ourselves at half-time,” Graham told BBC Scotland.

“We just said, ‘let’s see what we can get out this game’. We spoke about putting pride back into our badge because it was an embarrassing first half.

“I think we’ve shown that, we’ve put pride into that Scotland badge and it’s just outstanding from the boys.”

England head coach Eddie Jones bemoaned his teams inability to see out games, and called for his players to “put teams like Scotland away”.

“It is a recurring thing. It is not a one off,” Jones told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“When you want to be the best side in the world you have to put sides like Scotland away. We had the opportunity to do it and we didn’t.”

Jones also pointed to ill-discipline as an explanation for England slipping up against a side that finished second-bottom of the Six Nations.

“We just lacked discipline to keep doing the simple things well,” he added.

“We failed to get control and discipline back into the game when it gets loose, and we think we are on top and get a bit ‘free-wheely’.

“It’s 100% mental – there was no physical difference. It’s going to take some digging deep into the team psyche.”

#GuinnessSixNations Player of the Championship for 2019 voting is OPEN!

The nominees are: Josh Adams, Tom Curry, Alun Wyn Jones, Jonny May, Hadleigh Parkes and Liam Williams.

Good luck to all nominees – it's over to you, the fans, to pick the winner!https://t.co/3iyupSdbhT

— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 17, 2019

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