Six Nations 2025: Why have Townsend’s Scotland had hex on England?

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Six Nations 2025: Why have Townsend’s Scotland had hex on England?

Despite Scotland’s recent dominance, the past seven meetings have been largely tight affairs.

The average final score across those matches is 23-19 in Scotland’s favour. Five of the seven meetings have been decided by a score or less.

Crucially, Scotland lead the combined try count 19-13 and only once in the sequence have England managed to score 25 points or more – in the extraordinary 38-38 draw at Twickenham in 2019.

“It’s almost like Scotland have very much looked forward to this game more than England have in the last number of years,” Laidlaw said.

“Scotland have been on the front foot and it’s almost like England have just tried to defend their way to a win rather than using their attack.”

BBC pundit and former England international Chris Ashton – who won four from four against Scotland during his Test career – says Steve Borthwick’s current side will be desperate to avoid a record fifth consecutive defeat.

“I can’t really comprehend being beaten by Scotland four times in a row,” Ashton told the BBC’s Scotland Rugby Podcast.

“That is not something I would want hanging over my head. But there’s not too many in this England team who have experienced all that – maybe three or four.

“So I don’t know how transferable it is. But, no matter what, if they get beat, it’s a hell of a tag to have against your name, isn’t it?”

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