Thus it was again at the weekend as Scotland reignited the bonfire of English vanities and once more sent the auld enemy homewards tae think again. Amid all the Sassenach muttering on southbound trains, planes and automobiles on Sunday, the main takeaway is that Scotland were outstanding. And how much sharper and more urgent did Scotland collectively look for the vast majority of the game? Scotland may even have done Steve Borthwick and his coaches a favour by puncturing any developing sense of complacency behind the shiny white facade. The challenge for Scotland is to replicate this level of execution and energy every week.

Source: Irish Examiner February 16, 2026 17:09 UTC