It was predicted to be the most competitive Six Nations yet, and so it is: for second place. England retained the title with one round to spare and not even a prize-winning thistle could have punctured Scotland’s balloon so piercingly. Five of England’s seven tries came directly from lineouts, three scored by the centre Jonathan Joseph as the home side equalled New Zealand’s record for a tier one nation of 18 consecutive victories and set a new one of 11 for the championship.

It was ludicrously easy against the team who at the start of the match were England’s only rivals for the title. Scotland had not won here for 34 years and within 25 minutes it was clear that drought would be extended by at least another two years, as Joseph’s two tries, both converted, and two Owen Farrell penalties put the home side 20 points ahead. After Ireland’s defeat in Cardiff the previous night, the Lions head coach, Warren Gatland, may be tempted to supplement the England squad with a few Celtic add-ons.

Gregor Townsend will need to address Scotland’s lack of physicality | Michael Aylwin Read more

Eddie Jones said afterwards he was still disgruntled at the tactics employed by Italy here in the previous round when they failed to contest rucks and operated without an offside line, but Scotland were undermined in attack by Farrell rushing up and positioning himself outside the Scotland fly-half Finn Russell, making the passing option risky.

Russell, who had been prominent in the opening three rounds, had no answer. With the full-back Stuart Hogg the first of four Scotland players to leave the field with concussion, there was little shape to a back division that had a scrum-half on the wing for the last hour. The centre Huw Jones scored two second-half tries to offer his side the prospect of an unlikely bonus point in their quest to secure the runners-up position, but this was a contest of unequals.

Scotland needed to start assertively, but they were down to 14 men after two minutes when the hooker Fraser Brown tackled Elliot Daly late and dumped the wing on his back. He received a yellow card which the crowd, recalling Daly’s dismissal against Argentina last November for taking out Leonardo Senatore in the air, thought was lenient. Brown had barely made it to his a seat of shame when England took the lead having kicked the penalty to touch.

The ball was delivered from the top of the lineout at speed for Ben Youngs to supply George Ford with alacrity. The fly-half ran straight, as did Farrell, holding defenders and leaving Alex Dunbar in the centre pondering whether to stay home with the ball-carrier or follow his marker, Joseph. He was still debating with himself when the England centre sprinted through the gap that had opened up in the Scotland midfield to score under the posts.

His second try was a virtual repeat, Courtney Lawes throwing the ball into Youngs’s arms as he started his lineout descent. Youngs, Ford and Farrell again combined swiftly to put Joseph into space and there are few players so equipped to exploit even the smallest gap, blessed with a devastating step as well as speed; better defences than Scotland’s would have been left trailing in his slipstream.

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England’s third try, on 35 minutes, followed the same route, except this time Joseph passed outside to the supporting Anthony Watson, Daly’s replacement. They were almost training‑ground moves, but it was the pace and accuracy that undid a team that in the previous rounds had played teams more laboured and predictable, France and Wales. England aspire to be the No1 ranked team in the world by 2019, which means supplanting New Zealand, and there was something of the All Blacks in the way they scented weakness and then exploited it.

England 61-21 Scotland: how the Six Nations players rated at Twickenham Read more

Scotland, who were anticipating a for-once generous percentage of players in the Lions squad, will be fortunate to have more than Hogg on this evidence. Their scrum was a source of weakness, as expected, but they made little impact at their breakdown in a game that for the most part passed them by in a blur. It was their guard, rather than their heads, that dropped and though they gathered three tries, the first of which was scored by the prop Gordon Reid on 28 minutes after Scotland kicked a penalty to touch and drove the lineout, England’s shape and polish contrasted with the haphazard nature of their opponents’ attacks, which left far too much to chance.

England had been the slowest starters in the Six Nations, 22 points in their three previous first halves, but they led 30-7 at the interval and secured a try bonus point two minutes after the restart when Joseph completed his hat-trick, angling his run after Nathan Hughes’s run and offload had scattered the Scotland defence. England’s next two tries, scored by the replacements Billy Vunipola and Danny Care, also came from lineouts.

England had by now switched to using a lineout to drive mauls, as if rehearsing for Dublin next week where space should be more confined and the atmosphere hostile, but if England’s long winning run has not earned them the accolades lavished on New Zealand when they made it 18 last year, they are developing a squad of such depth to make even the All Blacks reflect on what might be by the start of the 2019 World Cup.

With both Vunipola brothers back and on the bench, along with Watson, England had their strongest 23 of the tournament, and they were still without George Kruis and Chris Robshaw. The respective benches illustrated an essential difference between the sides, one that quickly came into play as first Hogg and then his replacement Mark Bennett were injured.

France put Italy in their place after Gaël Fickou gets them going Read more

Four of England’s seven tries were scored by their replacements, with Care completing the scoring with his second in the final minute. England were left with the familiar sight of the Calcutta Cup, while for Scotland it was a case of Oh Calcutta, stripped bare and exposed.

England Brown; Nowell, Joseph (Te’o 57), Farrell, Daly (Watson 15); Ford, Youngs (Care 61); Marler (M Vunipola 57), Hartley (capt; George 51), Cole (Sinckler 61), Launchbury, Lawes (Wood 66), Itoje, Haskell, Hughes (B Vunipola 51). Tries Joseph 3, Watson, B Vunipola, Care 2 Cons Farrell 7. Pens Farrell 4.

Scotland Hogg (Bennett 17, Pyrgos 21); Seymour (Weir 44), Jones, Dunbar, Visser; Russell, Price; Reid (Dell 43), Brown (Ford 43), Fagerson (Berghan 61), R Gray, J Gray (Swinson 74), Barclay (capt), Watson, Wilson (Du Preez 62). Sin-bin Brown 2 Tries Reid, Jones 2 Cons Russell 3

Referee Mathieu Raynal (Fr)

Attendance 82,100

Game rating 7/10</s>England secured a second consecutive Six Nations rugby title in emphatic style by thrashing a supposedly resurgent Scotland 61-21 at Twickenham.

Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Their performance was encapsulated by a superb hat-trick by recalled centre Jonathan Joseph.

Joseph was dropped for the Italy game two weeks ago but marked his return with an impressive display.

Danny Care got two tries, Anthony Watson and Billy Vunipola one each and the peerless Owen Farrell kicked 26 points as England chalked up their highest score and joint-biggest win in 146 years of the oldest fixture in international rugby to retain the title with a game to spare.

England now have an unassailable lead on 18 points. Ireland and France, who gained a bonus point victory over Italy earlier, both have 10 points, then come Wales and Scotland on nine, with Italy last without a point.

England, whose previous highest score against the Scots was their 43-3 win in 2001, will now seek to complete back to back grand slams in Dublin next Saturday.

Today's victory was also England's 18th in a row, drawing them level with New Zealand, who set the tier one record from 2015-2016.

"We started well and our intensity was pretty good. It was the sort of performance we needed, said England coach Eddie Jones.

"Scotland were confident, they came down here with high expectations and we needed to play well.

"I was really pleased with our effort and now the focus is on the Grand Slam next weekend. The exciting thing is that we are only just starting. We are one year into a four-year project and we will only get better."

Scotland had not won at Twickenham for 34 years but arrived in good spirits with two wins under their belt having played some of their best rugby for many years.

-Reuters</s>Twickenham, London (CNN) It was supposed to be their toughest test of the Six Nations yet, a would-be grueling encounter against their in-form oldest of enemies.

Yet England, off color so far this year, dazzled at Twickenham to not only retain their Six Nations title but equal the world record of 18 consecutive Test victories for a Tier One side, set by New Zealand last year.

Their 61-21 thumping of a disappointing Scotland also extended their own record of consecutive Six Nations victories to 11.

There were more records of note, too. A hat-trick from Jonathan Joseph and 26 points from the boot of Owen Farrell helped the hosts to their highest score, and equaled their biggest winning margin, against Scotland as they retained the Calcutta Cup.

England coach Eddie Jones said his team were "ruthless" and performed "like the number one side in the world."

This was a sensational performance from a side whose claim to greatness has been questioned after unconvincing wins in their opening three matches of this tournament.

Whether England are yet the equal of New Zealand on the pitch -- double World Champions and the world's top ranked team -- is still open to question. Many would answer with a firm no.

Jones himself admitted there was still a gap between the No.1 side in the world and his second-ranked England.

"We're not beating our chest saying we're the No.1 team in the world, but we aspire to be the No.1 team in the world," said the Australian, who has yet to experience defeat in charge of the red rose.

This result, however, would have made the All Blacks take note.

Another equally resounding victory against Ireland, on March 18, in the concluding match of the tournament and England will stand alone in the history books with 19 consecutive wins.

A win in Dublin against an Ireland team which ended New Zealand's record run of invincibility last October and England would also secure their first back-to-back Grand Slams since 1992.

Even New Zealand would then acknowledge them as worthy adversaries, though both sides are not scheduled to play each other until 2018.

In quickly turning the focus on to the tournament's final weekend, Jones said his players would achieve greatness were they to collect another win.

The Dublin clash was supposed to be a title-deciding contest, but Ireland's defeat by Wales on Friday ensured England to simply beat Scotland to successfully defend their title.

"How many times in your life do you get to be great?" asked the former Japan and Australia head coach.

"That's the opportunity they've got and it's exciting. They're in the dressing room now talking about it.

"Ireland, psychologically, are in a strong position. They're beaten, they're out of the tournament and they love spoiling parties and the party they most like to spoil is the England party. That's an enormous amount of psychological advantage."

England burst out of the blocks

This is a very good England side. Their quest for greatness ongoing.

Jones' men attacked with verve, overpowered an up-and-coming Scotland side and secured their place in history, alongside the All Blacks, with a swaggering seven-try display.

Joseph and Farrell were the standout performers.

Farrell, an injury doubt until match day, pulled the strings in midfield, while Joseph was the poacher supreme -- securing his hat-trick before he was substituted on the hour.

"Some of the space created by Jonathan Joseph today was absolutely outstanding and it was the work of George Ford and Owen Farrell on the inside. This is a great message from us."

Replacements Anthony Watson, Billy Vunipola and Danny Care (2) also crossed the whitewash as England cut loose at will against a timid defense.

Scotland had high hopes coming into this match. They had won two of their three matches, scoring seven tries in the process, and were chasing a first Triple Crown since 1990.

But they were a shadow of the side which had lit up this tournament.

Their hooker Fraser Brown was sin binned in the second minutes, while star player Stuart Hogg suffered a head injury early on and his replacement Mark Bennett lasted just four minutes after suffering an injury.

The visitors did manage three tries - a Huw Jones brace and a Gordon Reid touchdown -- but the damage was done in the opening 20 minutes when England were already 20-0 ahead.

It was perhaps always too much to expect Scotland to burst England's balloon.

None of the players on the pitch were born when the Scots last won at Twickenham in 1983. Indeed, they have only won on this ground four times in their 108 years and have not won the Calcutta Cup since 2008.

"We'll take this one on the chin," said Cotter, who will stand down as coach after Scotland's match with Italy on the final weekend.</s>England have retained the Six Nations title after beating Scotland 61-21 at Twickenham.

The win for England means they have also won the Calcutta Cup.

England have now equalled New Zealand's tier one world record of 18 successive test rugby wins.

Watch highlights and read the full match report on our dedicated 6 Nations website.</s>Yet England, off color so far this year, dazzled at Twickenham to not only retain their Six Nations title but equal the world record of 18 consecutive Test victories for a Tier One side, set by New Zealand last year.

Their 61-21 thumping of a disappointing Scotland also extended their own record of consecutive Six Nations victories to 11.

It was a sensational performance from a side whose claim to greatness has been questioned after unconvincing wins in their opening three matches of this tournament.

Whether England are yet the equal of New Zealand on the pitch -- double World Champions and the world's top ranked team -- is still open to question. Many would answer with a resounding no.

But this result would have made the All Blacks take note. Another equally resounding victory against Ireland, on March 18, in the concluding match of the tournament and England will stand alone in the history books with 19 consecutive wins. A win in Dublin against an Ireland team which ended New Zealand's record run of invincibility last October and England would also secure their first back-to-back Grand Slams since 1992. Even New Zealand would then acknowledge them as worthy adversaries, though both sides are not scheduled to play each other until 2018. This is a very good England side. Their quest for greatness ongoing. Eddie Jones' men attacked with verve, overpowered an up-and-coming Scotland side and secured their place in history alongside the All Blacks with a dynamic seven-try display. Jonathan Joseph and Owen Farrell were the standout performers. Farrell, an injury doubt until match day, pulled the strings in midfield and kicked 26 points with the boot, while Joseph was the poacher supreme -- securing his hat-trick before he was substituted on the hour. Replacements Anthony Watson, Billy Vunipola and Danny Care (2) also crossed the whitewash as England were able to cut loose at will. Scotland were a shadow of the side which has lit up this tournament. They managed three tries, but the damage was done in the opening 20 minutes when England were already 20-0 ahead. It was perhaps always too much to expect Scotland to burst England's balloon. None of the players on the pitch were born when the Scots last won at Twickenham in 1983. Indeed, they have only won on this ground four times in their 108 years and have not won the Calcutta Cup since 2008.</s>His team had just reaffirmed its dominance of northern-hemisphere rugby by retaining the Six Nations in spectacular style, tying New Zealand’s tier-one record of 18 straight wins in the process, when Jones laid down another challenge to England’s players.

“We want to achieve greatness,” Jones said, matter-of-factly. “They are in the dressing room now, they are talking about it. They want to do it.”

For Jones, the 61-21 thrashing of Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday was merely another steppingstone on England’s four-year journey to the top of the world game.

The next task is to beat Ireland in Dublin next Saturday to secure a second straight Grand Slam, a feat only five other teams have achieved.

Then, it’s about knocking the world champion All Blacks off their perch.

“We aren’t beating our chests, saying we are the No. 1 team in the world,” Jones said. “We want to be the No. 1 team in the world and we’re not, so we have to get better.”

England’s record under Jones is now played 17, won 17 after dismantling sorry Scotland in an unexpected mismatch in the 136th Calcutta Cup.

Jonathan Joseph scored three of the hosts’ seven tries as the English recorded their highest points total against their oldest international rival and equaled the biggest margin of victory in this fixture, from 2001.

“We are trying to move away from the tag of plucky losers, but that wasn’t even that,” Scotland captain John Barclay said. “We were useless.”

The Scots were talked up massively in the buildup after impressive wins over Ireland and Scotland but they failed to handle the occasion and the increased weight of expectation. They remain without a win at Twickenham since 1983, and couldn’t get out of southwest London quick enough after their hopes of landing a first Triple Crown in 27 years and a first championship since 1999 were ruthlessly torn apart.

England’s players, on the other hand, took a moment to enjoy their success.

Captain Dylan Hartley walked around the field as darkness fell over Twickenham, holding the Six Nations trophy in one hand and waving to jubilant England fans with the other. Teammates in front of him chatted and laughed.

“We’ll have a couple of quiet drinks tonight,” Jones said, “and then tomorrow night we’ll get together and onto Ireland.”

The English have been slow starters in this campaign. Not here. The game was virtually over by halftime, which England went into leading 30-7.

Scotland’s nightmare first half comprised of hooker Fraser Brown getting sin-binned inside two minutes for a tip-tackle on Elliot Daly, strike runner Stuart Hogg going off for a Head Injury Assessment on 18 minutes and never returning, replacement center Mark Bennett going off on a stretcher, and pitiful wide defense that Joseph skewered with some superb running angles.

Back in the team after being dropped to the bench against Italy last time out, Joseph sped through opposite center Alex Dunbar’s weak tackle 40 meters out with his first touch of the ball and cruised unchallenged over the line in the 3rd.

Owen Farrell converted, kicked two penalties either side of Scotland flyhalf Finn Russell missing touch with a penalty, and played a part in a backline move that saw Joseph break the line, slalom past covering defender Tim Visser and dot under the crossbar.

Behind 20-0 after 25 minutes, it was already getting embarrassing for the Scots. But on their first real attacking opportunity, they went for a lineout instead of kicking for goal and prop Gordon Reid barreled over from close range for a try.

It was brief respite because Farrell booted another penalty and Joseph ran another sensational angle off Farrell’s pop-pass and laid on Anthony Watson — Daly’s replacement — to sprint over just before halftime.

The second half was damage limitation for Scotland but Joseph couldn’t be stopped, completing his hat trick in the 43rd by running onto scrumhalf Ben Youngs’ pass in a move off a scrum.

“Credit to the boys,” Joseph said, “I just ran the lines outside that they created. The holes were there for me.”

Scotland center Huw Jones’ try double, in the 50th and 69th minutes, were blips as England passed the half-century mark with fit-again No. 8 Billy Vunipola rolling over from a maul in the 58th, and Danny Care sniping over in the 72nd and again in stoppage time.

Farrell’s final conversion took him to 26 points and ensured a 40-point margin of victory.

England has an unassailable eight-point lead over second-place Ireland after four rounds.

“We are one year into a four-year project,” Jones said. “We’ve done reasonably well in the first year but we want to get better.”



Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.</s>His team had just reaffirmed its dominance of northern-hemisphere rugby by retaining the Six Nations in spectacular style, tying New Zealand’s tier-one record of 18 straight wins in the process, when Jones laid down another challenge to England’s players.

“We want to achieve greatness,” Jones said, matter-of-factly. “They are in the dressing room now, they are talking about it. They want to do it.”

For Jones, the 61-21 thrashing of Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday was merely another stepping stone on England’s four-year journey to the top of the world game.

The next task is to beat Ireland in Dublin next Saturday to secure a second straight Grand Slam, a feat only five other teams have achieved.

Then, it’s about knocking the world champion All Blacks off their perch.

“We aren’t beating our chests, saying we are the No. 1 team in the world,” Jones said. “We want to be the No. 1 team in the world and we’re not, so we have to get better.”

England’s record under Jones is now played 17, won 17 after dismantling sorry Scotland in an unexpected mismatch in the 136th Calcutta Cup.

Jonathan Joseph scored three of the hosts’ seven tries as the English recorded their highest points total against their oldest international rival and equaled the biggest margin of victory in this fixture, from 2001.

“We are trying to move away from the tag of plucky losers, but that wasn’t even that,” Scotland captain John Barclay said. “We were useless.”

The Scots were talked up massively in the buildup after impressive wins over Ireland and Wales but they failed to handle the occasion and the increased weight of expectation. They remain without a win at Twickenham since 1983, and couldn’t get out of southwest London quick enough after their hopes of landing a first Triple Crown in 27 years and a first championship since 1999 were ruthlessly torn apart.

England’s players, on the other hand, took a moment to enjoy their success.

Captain Dylan Hartley walked around the field as darkness fell over Twickenham, holding the Six Nations trophy in one hand and waving to jubilant England fans with the other. Teammates in front of him chatted and laughed.

“We’ll have a couple of quiet drinks tonight,” Jones said, “and then tomorrow night we’ll get together and onto Ireland.”</s>Jonathan Joseph grabbed a hat-trick as Eddie Jones’ England wrapped up their second successive RBS 6 Nations title with a 61-21 drubbing of shell-shocked Scotland at Twickenham.

The Dark Blues arrived in London high on confidence and hopeful of taking the Championship battle to the final week. However, they were simply ripped apart by the rampant hosts, who added tries from Anthony Watson and Billy Vunipola before a late double from Danny Care - as well as 26 points from the flawless boot of Owen Farrell - to Joseph’s treble.

Prop Gordon Reid crossed over for Scotland while Huw Jones grabbed a brace but those briefs shows of defiance from Vern Cotter’s team could not halt the hosts cruising to a victory which sees them equal the All Blacks’ 18-match Test record winning streak.

“Have to give @EnglandRugby credit - they are playing the best rugby they have all @SixNationsRugby at the moment” - a grudging show of respect from former Scotland skipper David Sole (@davidsole678) after watching the Red Rose equal their biggest-ever win over Scotland.

Jonathan Joseph - the Bath centre put on a sensational display, with the Scots finding him completely unplayable as he squirmed in for three impressive scores. His seat on the plane taking the British and Irish Lions to New Zealand this summer looks assured.

French official Mathieu Raynal was pressed into action just a minute and a half into the game as Scotland hooker Fraser Brown dumped English wing Elliot Daly onto his neck. A red card looked justified given the new World Rugby guidelines on dangerous tackles but Raynal only flashed yellow. He was just as lenient soon after when he decided against showing any card to Mario Itoje after the England flanker caught Stuart Hogg high with a flailing arm.

After wins over Ireland and Wales, the Dark Blues set their sights on a first win over England at Twickenham since 1983. But their title hopes evaporated during a disastrous 80 minutes as Brown’s indiscipline and a whole host of errors handed victory to the Auld Enemy. Injuries to key men Hogg, Mark Bennett, Tommy Seymour and Ryan Wilson meant they finished with a makeshift line-up barely able to defend itself.</s>England have defeated Scotland 61-21 at Twickenham to retain their Six Nations title and equal New Zealand's record for consecutive victories.

Defeat for second-place Ireland to Wales on Friday night opened the door for Eddie Jones's men to get the job done on home soil - a chance they took with both hands thanks to a seven-try demolition.

Jonathan Joseph was the star player, crossing over three times for the hosts, while Danny Care scored twice and Anthony Watson and the returning Billy Vunipola also registered.

England's highest-scoring win in a Calcutta Cup fixture, which at the same time prolonged Scotland's misery in the English capital past the 34-year mark, began in style as Joseph ran through with just three minutes on the clock.

Owen Farrell converted and then added a penalty soon after for the first of his 26 points in the one-sided affair, before Joseph slalomed through for a second with a little over a quarter of the match played.

There was to be some respite for the visitors when Gordon Reid found the whitewash, but another Farrell penalty - this one from 44 metres out - and a Watson try put England well on their way to a famous victory.

Within two minutes of the restart, Joseph again darted through for his hat-trick, with Vunipola - back in an England shirt following a three-month layoff - crossing over on the hour to reach the milestone figure.

Huw Jones managed to find a way past the England backline twice in the space of 20 minutes to give Scotland's fans a little something to cheer about, but Care weaved through for two of his own late on to put the icing on the cake.

England now head to Dublin next weekend with a Grand Slam in their sights, as well as overtaking New Zealand's outright record of 18-successive victories.</s>March 11 (Gracenote) - Line-ups for the Six Nations Championship match between England and Scotland on Saturday at Twickenham in London, England England : 1-Joe Marler, 2-Dylan Hartley (capt), 3-Dan Cole, 4-Joe Launchbury, 5-Courtney Lawes, 6-Maro Itoje;7-James Haskell, 8-Nathan Hughes;9-Ben Youngs, 10-George Ford, 11-Elliot Daly, 12-Owen Farrell, 13-Jonathan Joseph;14-Jack Nowell 15-Mike Brown Replacements: 16-Jamie George, 17-Mako Vunipola, 18-Kyle Sinckler, 19-Tom Wood, 20-Billy Vunipola, 21-Danny Care, 22-Ben Te'o, 23-Anthony Watson Scotland : 1-Gordon Reid, 2-Fraser Brown, 3-Zander Fagerson, 4-Richie Gray, 5-Jonny Gray, 6-John Barclay (capt);7-Hamish Watson, 8-Ryan Wilson;9-Ali Price, 10-Finn Russell, 11-Tim Visser, 12-Alex Dunbar, 13-Huw Jones;14-Tommy Seymour 15-Stuart Hogg Replacements: 16-Ross Ford, 17-Allan Dell, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Tim Swinson, 20-Cornell Du Preez, 21-Henry Pyrgos, 22-Duncan Weir, 23-Mark Bennett
England beat Scotland 61–21 at London's Twickenham Stadium to retain the Six Nations Championship title. In doing so, they equal New Zealand's record for consecutive test victories.