There are victories, and then there are Calcutta Cup victories. Scotland beating England at Murrayfield on February 7th was the latter — the kind of win that makes you forget about the heating bill, the weather, and whatever else was bothering you that week. For 80 minutes, everything was perfect.
After opening the Six Nations with a loss in Rome — which was frustrating but not catastrophic — Scotland needed a response. And they delivered one. At home. Against England. With what felt like the entire nation watching. STV reported huge ratings, and their streaming platform smashed its monthly record. Everyone wanted to see this one.
Why Beating England Matters More Than It Should
I know, I know. Every game is worth the same points. A win against Italy counts the same as a win against England in the final standings. But we all know that’s not how it works in reality. Beating England at Murrayfield is different. It’s personal. It’s historical. It’s the Calcutta Cup, the oldest international rugby fixture in the world, and when Scotland wins it at home, there’s a feeling in Edinburgh that’s hard to describe to anyone who hasn’t been there.
The pubs were heaving. The walk down from Murrayfield into the city was a procession. People who don’t watch rugby the rest of the year were suddenly experts on breakdown technique. That’s what a Calcutta Cup win does.
Wales Next: The Doddie Weir Cup
Now comes the tricky part. Scotland face Wales in the Doddie Weir Cup match, and this is where we find out if this team has genuine Six Nations credentials or if we’re still the “nearly men” of European rugby.
Wales haven’t been at their best, but any Scotland fan over the age of 30 has been hurt by Welsh teams often enough to know that nothing is guaranteed. The Six Nations has a way of building you up after a big win and then knocking you flat the following week.
My heart says Scotland will carry the Murrayfield momentum. My head says Welsh rugby always finds a way to make our lives difficult. My advice? Enjoy the England win for as long as you can. These moments don’t come around as often as we’d like.