1 ▲ Building an edifice
There were no new faces in England’s starting lineup and of the three uncapped players on the bench, only Jack Clifford came on. It was not so much rebuilding after the Stuart Lancaster era as recalibrating. Most of the initial attacks were as lateral as they had been during the World Cup, midfield bursts by Billy Vunipola taking them forward, but gradually England used one-out runners to suck in defenders and create space. Jack Nowell’s try was the crowning example, England going wide with the extra man on the right, which turned into two when Mako Vunipola’s inside pass to Owen Farrell took out two defenders.
2 ▲ Kruis control
Billy Vunipola was named man of the match after taking the game to Scotland from the off but his Saracens team-mate George Kruis was not far behind. He took nine of England’s 14 lineouts, with only one lost, and was second behind James Haskell on the tackle count with 15. Kruis also scored England’s opening try, getting up quickly from a scrum to support Vunipola. He forced the turnover in the second half, abetted by Dan Cole, that gave England the position from which they eventually worked Nowell’s try. On a day notable more for individual performances rather than the team’s, Kruis was one of those who stood out and he showed leadership in his 11th Test.
3 ▲ Nuts and bolts
The result was always going to matter more than the performance for Eddie Jones after only two weeks with his new charges and, while he was happy with the set-piece count, 26-13 (Scotland had the put-in at only one scrum), there were areas of concern. England missed 15 tackles and had Scotland made more of their seven line breaks, would have found themselves behind. England were more effective at the breakdown, with the two wings and Jonathan Joseph helping compensate for the lack of an openside finish, but Jones will expect far more polish by the final round of the Six Nations after a display that hinted at what is to come.
4 ◀ Billy buoyed
It was only 16 months ago that Billy Vunipola was dropped by England for a poor work-rate and a lack of focus, receiving a reprieve after Ben Morgan sustained a broken ankle. Had he suffered an early injury, it would have been interesting to see how England coped with the lack of someone on the bench with the capacity to break tackles from a standing start. He carried the ball for 51 metres, compared with 29 by the other 11 forwards, and was also effective over the ball. England used him in midfield at their first lineout to get over the gain line and he lasted the full 80 minutes. In matches to come they will need more gain-line options and a return for Manu Tuilagi against Wales would be timely.
5 ▲ Sent away to think again
It is now eight years since Scotland defeated England and 12 since they scored a try against them at Murrayfield. They sensed a great opportunity after coming so close to a World Cup semi-final and with England under new management, but they started slowly and never had a lead to defend. Their will was strong but they made a series of mistakes in possession, lacked composure at vital times and were rushed by England’s industry in defence. They have lost their last eight matches in the Six Nations and not beaten England, Wales or France this decade. Were the Six Nations a new tournament being set up now, Ireland, Wales, England and France would probably be in a home-and-away first division, with Scotland and Italy in a second tier with countries such as Georgia and Romania. Scotland’s status is assured but their play is not.
