In the end, the Scottish rugby players once again defeated England, considered the best team in the world.

Michael Jackson Billie Jean The charts were led and Margaret Thatcher saw her heyday at 10 Downing Street when Scottish rugby players last won at Twickenham. After this there was no success in away games against England for 38 years. The agony came to an end in the opening Six Nations match on Saturday as Scotland registered an 11-6 win at an empty Rugby Temple.

For Scots, victory over the title holder is a salvation. Of the four British nations, the Scots have been the most vulnerable over the years. The last time he won the prestigious tournament was in 1999. Without Italian participation, it was then called the Five Nations. Since then, England has won the tournament seven times. The only thing Scots have won this century is the wooden spoon: four times they were the last.

Although South Africa are the current world champions, England’s achievements in recent years are seen as the best team in the world. National coach Eddie Jones’ ambition is to build ‘the strongest team rugby has ever produced’. There was no sign of that ambition in the rain of London. The home team played without motivation due to being undisciplined. ‘comedy of errors‘ commented an English rugby commentator.

The narrow score did not do the Scottish official justice. It was a miracle that he managed to push the ball to the back line only once by South Africa’s Scott Duhan van der Merwe after half an hour of play. The good Scottish game didn’t come out of the blue. Two years earlier, the meeting ended in 38–38, a game in which the Scots managed to overcome a 31–0 deficit at half-time.

With this win, the Scots also won the Calcutta Cup. The history of the Challenge Trophy dates back to Christmas 1872, when English and Scottish rugby players played a match in Calcutta. This led to the establishment of the Calcutta Rugby Club, but rugby proved unsuitable for the Indian climate. The club went bankrupt and the coins from the club’s treasury were melted into a cup for which the countries would henceforth compete.

The British have won the cup 71 times, the Scots 41 times. For the Scots, the latest victory comes at a good time. There is finally a growing enthusiasm for independence in Scotland. Such a victory over the auld enemy is seen by nationalists as a political statement. In June, England will have a chance for revenge when the two football teams meet for the European Championships at Wembley.