England got their Six Nations campaign off to a winning start on Saturday with a 38-18 victory over old rivals Scotland at Twickenham.
An early Sean Maitland try temporarily gave the visitors the lead, but further scores from Chris Ashton, Billy Twelvetrees, Geoff Parling and Danny Care saw England retain the Calcutta Cup.
Stuart Lancaster's side travel to Ireland next weekend, while Scotland welcome Italy to Murrayfield.
Read Sports Mole's minute-by-minute report below to find out how the match went down.
Hello there and welcome to Sports Mole's live text coverage of England's Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham.
PENALTY! ENGLAND 3-0 SCOTLAND (FARRELL)
PENALTY! ENGLAND 3-0 SCOTLAND (FARRELL)
Well, it was some start to this year's competition earlier as Ireland edged out Wales 30-22 in Cardiff. This next match has a long way to go if it's going to top the excitement of that one.
It's a great start for England as Farrell lands a kick between the posts. The home side have started well and they earned that crack at goal thanks to a marauding run from the big number eight Morgan.
The hosts get off to a great start with Farrell kicking over a penalty. England have started well here and they earned that opportunity thanks to a marauding run from the big number eight Morgan.
Anyway, here are the teams for this afternoon...
PENALTY! ENGLAND 6-5 SCOTLAND (FARRELL)
ENGLAND: Goode, Ashton, Barritt, Twelvetrees, Brown, Farrell, B Youngs; Marler, T Youngs, Cole, Launchbury, Parling, Wood, Robshaw, Morgan
Replacements: Hartley, Wilson, Vunipola, Lawes, Haskell, Care, Flood, Strettle
A fairly routine kick from Farrell puts England back in front following Maitland's try.
SCOTLAND: Hogg, Maitland, Lamont, Scott, Visser, Jackson, Laidlaw; Grant, Hall , Murray, Gray, Hamilton, Strokosch, Brown, Beattie
Replacements: Ford, Low, Cross, Kellock, Denton, Pyrgos, Weir, Evans
Apologies for some technical problems there. If you're wondering how Scotland scored their try it was thanks to some quick passing out on the right side which allowed debutant Sean Maitland to go over.
SCOTLAND: Hogg, Maitland, Lamont, Scott, Visser, Jackson, Laidlaw; Grant, Hall , Murray, Gray, Hamilton, Strokosch, Brown, Beattie
Replacements: Ford, Low, Cross, Kellock, Denton, Pyrgos, Weir, Evans
PENALTY! ENGLAND 9-5 SCOTLAND (FARRELL)
Of course, the Calcutta Cup is also at stake today. England have won it nine times since 2000, while Scotland have triumphed on three occasions. The two sides drew in 2010.
It's three kicks from three for Farrell as another penalty puts England further ahead. That Scotland try seems to have given them a wake-up call.
Needless to say, the Scots are huge outsiders for this match but it will be interesting to see how the new coaching team of charismatic Aussie Scott Johnson and former Gloucester coach Dean Ryan get on. They have made a number of tweaks to the side as the visitors look to break a 30-year hoodoo in England.
PENALTY! ENGLAND 9-8 SCOTLAND (LAIDLAW)
That win for Scotland in 1983 was one of four triumphs for them on English soil. The others came in 1926, 1938 and 1971.
Just as England get their noses in front, a Laidlaw penalty reduced the deficit to a single point for Scotland. Expect plenty of twists and turns in this one.
As for England, they've only lost two of their Six Nations openers since 2000 (both to Wales in 2005 and 2008).
It's a similar case for England now as some good work is undone when they fail to release the ball. The hosts moved the ball quickly from right to left there, but it comes to nothing.
Here come the two teams out of the tunnel to plenty of fireworks and general razzmatazz. Scotland are up first for the national anthems.
REPLACEMENT: Alasdair Strokosch is off for the hosts through injury and it's David Denton on in his place.
While there was a suitably rugged man to sing Scotland's anthem, England had the usual warbly opera type to belt out theirs.
Former Wales international Shane Williams on his country's defeat to Ireland earlier today: "A confidence lacking Wales team in first half but got to say proud of their pride in 2nd half! Keep the faith guys. Lets back our boys?"
TRY! ENGLAND 14-8 SCOTLAND (ASHTON)
CONVERSION! ENGLAND 16-8 SCOTLAND (FARRELL)
It's not a spectacular try from Ashton but they all count. Launchbury goes close with a slippery run, but Ashton is there to pick up the pieces. The officials had to look at it again before they gave it and England now have an eight-point lead.
Five minutes left to play in this opening half and England are starting to take control. However, Scotland are still threatening on the break.
On aspect of play that Scotland will be pleased with is their kicking. They've dug themselves out of a few holes this afternoon with the boot.
PENALTY! ENGLAND 19-8 SCOTLAND (FARRELL)
It's a fair way out, but Farrell has no problem kicking his fifth kick from five this afternoon.
PENALTY! ENGLAND 19-11 SCOTLAND (LAIDLAW)
HALF TIME: ENGLAND 19-11 SCOTLAND
Scotland have the final say of an entertaining first half as Laidlaw's penalty reduced England's lead to eight points at the break.
There can be little argument that England deserve to be in front, but the Scots have certainly played their part. The visitors stunned Twickenham with their early try, only for the home side to grow in confidence.
The Six Nations got off to an explosive start earlier today as Ireland recorded a thrilling 30-22 win over Wales in Cardiff.
Here come the players for the second half...
Here's Scotland's Sean Maitland celebrating his try with his teammates...
© AP Photos
© AP Photos
Scotland get us underway in this second half...
TRY! ENGLAND 24-11 SCOTLAND (TWELVETREES)
CONVERSION! ENGLAND 26-11 SCOTLAND (FARRELL)
We've already had a debut try toda from Scotland's Sean Maitland, but now we have another thanks to Billy Twelvetrees. England have started the second half ferociously and it was Twelvetrees who bundled over the line to increase the home side's advantage.
REPLACEMENT: England make a change as James Haskell comes on for the hobbling Ben Morgan.
REPLACEMENT: It's Scotland's turn to switch their lineup now as the injured Dougie Hall is replaced by Ross Ford.
Chance of a third try for England there, but Farrell has no one outside of him and Scotland buy themselves some time.
Some confusion here as England think that they have scored again through Launchbury. However, Toby Youngs has been penalised for a high tackle and Scotland live to fight another day.
REPLACEMENT: That's Toby Youngs's last contribution for the day as well as he comes off for Dylan Hartley.
TRY! ENGLAND 31-11 SCOTLAND (PARLING)
CONVERSION MISSED! ENGLAND 31-11 SCOTLAND
Scotland weren't bale to hold on for long as Geoff Parling scores his first try for England. It all came from a botched Scottish lineout, allowing England to switch the play out to the left. Parling was there waiting and he had all the space in the world to touch down.
World Cup winner Ben Cohen on Twitter: "Great pass by Farrell. Good try. Come on England!!!"
REPLACEMENTS: England make two changes as Danny Care and Mako Vunipola come on for Ben Youngs and Joe Marler.
England come within inches of extending their lead through Mike Brown. A sudden burst of pace from the Harlequins man almost gets him to the try line, but the Scotland defence just do enough to deny him. It's all England now.
From nowhere Scotland enjoy some possession inside the England 22, only for some poor handling to deny them a try-scoring opportunity.
REPLACEMENT: Joe Launchbury is the latest England player to be withdrawn as Courtney Laws enters the action.
Scotland's Matt Scott gets a talking to from the referee for his high tackle on Brad Barritt. Meanwhile, Billy Twelvetrees comes off for Toby Flood.
TRY! ENGLAND 31-16 SCOTLAND (HOGG)
CONVERSION! ENGLAND 31-18 SCOTLAND (LAIDLAW)
What a wonderful try from Stuart Hogg! He picks the ball up deep in his own half before chipping the ball upfield. It's an old-fashioned foot race with Toby Flood, but it's the Scot who has the legs to touch down. Great stuff.
Scotland make the change now as Henry Pyrgos replaces Greig Laidlaw.
Just under five minutes to go until full time and Scotland have been buoyed by their score.
Oh, England have fluffed it there. The edge toward the Scottish try line, but the visiting defence fight fire with fire and the hosts are penalised for holding on to the ball. To both teams' credit, they're still givign everything out there even though it's the final moments of the match.
TRY! ENGLAND 36-18 SCOTLAND (CARE)
CONVERSION! ENGLAND 38-18 SCOTLAND (FARRELL)
FULL TIME: ENGLAND 38-18 SCOTLAND
England put the icing on the cake with the final play as Danny Care fights his way under the posts to score England's fourth try of the afternoon. There was an early scare for the hosts through Sean Maitland's try, but Stuart Lancaster's side have been far superior today as the scoreline reflects.
Anyway, that's all from me for today. Don't forget that you can follow live text coverage of tomorrow's clash between Italy and France tomorrow. That one is due to start at 3pm. Thanks for joining us and we hope to see you again soon!
Written by
Jack Prescott
Jack Prescott
