England secured a second consecutive Six Nations title in emphatic style on Saturday by thrashing a supposedly resurgent Scotland 61-21.
England tore out of the blocks with a try after three minutes and never looked back as Danny Care claimed two tries and Anthony Watson and Billy Vunipola one each to go alongside the hat-trick for Jonathan Joseph.
The peerless Owen Farrell, an injury doubt before the game, kicked 26 points as England chalked up their highest score and joint-biggest win in 146 years of the oldest fixture in international rugby.
They 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 when they can also set a record of successive wins after this triumph drew them level with New Zealand on 18.
“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.
Their hopes of ending that barren run, however, were reeling within three minutes, completely sunk before a quarter of the match was played and looked risible by the time Care soared through the air for England’s spectacular seventh try.
Scottish hooker Fraser Brown was sin-binned in the second minute for a dangerous tackle that ended winger Elliot Daly’s afternoon early and in his absence England went 10-up with a razor-fast try by Joseph and a Farrell penalty.
Injuries to in-form fullback Stuart Hogg and his replacement Mark Bennett left Scotland in disarray and their soft centre was exposed again when Joseph, collecting quick ball from a lineout, sidestepped his way to the line for a 20-0 lead.
Scotland got on the board through prop Gordon Reid but it was the briefest of respites as Joseph yet again tore through the middle, this time unloading to Watson, making his first appearance since June, for a 30-7 halftime lead.
It was the first time in the championship that England had led at the break and emphatically erased coach Eddie Jones’ concerns about their slow starts.
England were just as quick out of the blocks in the second half as Joseph waltzed in for his hat-trick within three minutes.
Huw Jones snatched a second try for Scotland but England roared back as Vunipola charged over five minutes after coming on for his first appearance of the championship.
Care joined the fun, then sent Twickenham wild by diving gleefully over the line for the seventh after England had hammered at the door deep into stoppage time.
taylorman
Roar Guru
What's the easy way if that's the hard way?
Hello Everybody.
Guest
I did read it and "everything" is not what you make it. Please dont assume to speak for others and PRETTY PLEASE do not tell me what they mean along with the words "read it again". I did read it and "everything they get" was interperated by myself as "everything they get". I know that might seem crazy to you but I dont like to assume otherwise. "Everything" would include the win record. So thanks but I can do without your help tbh.
chris
Guest
Different Chris to me on the other posts. Just FYI. Unique usernames would be better.
adastra32
Guest
Clearly robert has not read or thought hard enough....
adastra32
Guest
:-)
Old Bugger
Guest
Does that plan involve building the BIL's, around the Rose squad and, matching the ABs in June?? Kinda like a de facto England v ABs, in June......except one side is camouflaged, in red.
Old Bugger
Guest
Chris Sorry mate but your typing, is either being affected by your eager defence of your team or, a couple of glasses, too many.......plus, I don't think its a case of pommie bashing at all. Since 2015, wherever did you get that silly idea. Folks just believed that home advantage on one of the biggest, if not, the biggest stages in rugby, was such a terrible let-down for so many, who had such enormous heights, of belief.
English twizz
Guest
Good group of u20,s coming through this year as well
Chris
Guest
Oh wow, there is lots of pommie bashing from many an Aussie can base on here here, all this talk about engand mit deserving this record and still very distant from the All blacks which i am not tok sure about. In my opinion when comparing the too sides NZ clearly have the better backs while England I would argue now have the better forwards overall. INSTEAD of all this bitterness against the English what all of you should be asking yourselves is if England are distant behind the All Blacks as you say. Where does that live your beloved wallaby who are now a distant away from England.
richard
Guest
Lawes and Launchbury in the second row.Otherwise a good team.
taylorman
Roar Guru
True, latest results suggests they've plateaud. Though they have done enough to stir up the thinking that the Lions should be England plus, meaning better players just may be left behind. Kind of part of my cunning plan...
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
In all fairness, you could argue that England did plateau against Italy and took that next step against Scotland. Just because England was outstanding against Scotland does not mean we shall forget that both France and Wales pushed them to the limit.
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Do you have heat inside your cave Paul?
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
Hello Everybody I reckon we will see a lot more English players in the Lions match day 23. Some Irish players have a chance for a last claim for spots, but if England wins in Dublin I expect close to half of the players in the match day 23 to be English. And why not? I always thought the best way for The Lions to go is pick the bulk of players from one Home Nation and cherry pick the super stars from the other nations.
Marto
Guest
abs need the cash $$$$ as they are a minnow country that can`t afford to keep their players from going up north for the top $$$ ...That £3m they begged for would equate to 5 .3 million New Zulland dollars....haha... abs are popular, but not that popular...Good on the soap dodging pommies for telling the Hobbit islanders to go jump..
JimmyB
Guest
Who says they are peaking?
JimmyB
Guest
Unfortunately Manu is broken.
Paul
Guest
Need Manu Tualagi if you want to beat the AB`S,..No Manu = No win ..Sorry lads
robert
Guest
doesn't matter they are just peaking between world cups, isn't that what the abs were accused of by all the press when they bombed out of world cups, so england are just peaking between world cups cause the world cup is all that matters remember, and the record books show abs 3 aus 2 sa 2 and England 1
adastra32
Guest
Sorry, that's peaked early.....apparently.