Scotland produced a performance of breathtaking intensity to demolish England’s twelve-match winning streak and reclaim the Calcutta Cup with a comprehensive 31-20 bonus-point victory at a riotous Murrayfield. On a Valentine’s Day in Edinburgh that saw no love lost between rugby’s oldest rivals, Gregor Townsend’s side silenced their critics with a display that combined clinical attacking brilliance with ferocious defensive resolve.

Key moments

4′ – PENALTY SCOTLAND: Finn Russell opens the scoring after England are penalised for failing to roll away following a thunderous Scottish assault on the gainline. Sione Tuipulotu’s probing grubber had set the tone moments earlier, forcing Alex Mitchell into a hurried clearance. Russell slots the straightforward kick from in front of the posts (Scotland 3-0 England)
8′ – YELLOW CARD ENGLAND: Henry Arundell is shown yellow for failing to release at the breakdown after Scotland’s scintillating attack down the right flank involving Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Ben White and Rory Darge. A harsh call on replay — Arundell appeared to release — but referee Nika Amashukeli is unmoved. Scotland kick to the corner with the numerical advantage (Scotland 3-0 England)
10′ – TRY SCOTLAND: Huw Jones opens his account with a moment of magic from Finn Russell. With Tom Roebuck bearing down on him and seemingly no options available, the fly-half produces an outrageous volleyball-style tip-on pass without even catching the ball. Jones receives it in space and shows devastating pace to round the covering Maro Itoje — briefly deputising on the wing — and score in the corner. His seventh try against England extends his remarkable record in this fixture. Russell adds a superb touchline conversion to send Murrayfield into raptures (Scotland 10-0 England)
15′ – TRY SCOTLAND: Jamie Ritchie strolls over for Scotland’s second as England’s defence is carved apart once more. The build-up is breathtaking: Jamie Dobie is put through a gap by Russell, Kyle Steyn receives and barrels past three defenders on the right before being hauled down. From the recycle, Tuipulotu finds himself with an enormous expanse of pitch and only Ritchie outside him on the left touchline. Unperturbed, the captain takes a step and flings a raking pass off his right hand to the unmarked blindside flanker, who touches down in the corner amid pandemonium. Russell’s conversion from wide makes it a point-a-minute start (Scotland 17-0 England)
19′ – ENGLAND ATTACK REPELLED: England finally gain a foothold in Scottish territory but Tom Jordan marshals the defensive line superbly. Freddie Steward is held up over the line as Scotland defend for their lives — a statement of intent from Gregor Townsend’s men (Scotland 17-0 England)
22′ – TRY ENGLAND: Henry Arundell responds just minutes after returning from the sin-bin. England’s dominant scrum — their one area of superiority — wins a penalty which George Ford kicks to the corner. The resulting maul establishes momentum before the ball is recycled through multiple phases. Ford delays his pass beautifully with Russell bearing down on him, selling a dummy before slipping the ball to Arundell on his outside shoulder. The Bath wing trots over untouched beneath the posts for the easiest of finishes. Ford converts to give England a lifeline (Scotland 17-7 England)
26′ – PENALTY ENGLAND: George Ford reduces the deficit further after Jamie Ritchie is penalised for offside. The kick is right in front and Ford makes no mistake. Suddenly England are within a converted try of levelling the scores as momentum appears to be shifting (Scotland 17-10 England)
28′ – TRY SCOTLAND: Ben White capitalises on a catastrophic Ellis Genge error to restore Scotland’s commanding advantage. The try originates from another moment of Russell brilliance — the fly-half evades two poor tackles including one from Sam Underhill before managing to chip the ball forward while in the process of falling over under immense pressure. Genge retreats to cover, seemingly in complete control, only for the ball to squirt loose as he attempts to dive on it. White pounces on the gift with glee, touching down for his third try in five Calcutta Cup appearances. Russell nails the superb touchline conversion to restore the fourteen-point cushion. Murrayfield erupts (Scotland 24-10 England)
32′ – ENGLAND SCRUM DOMINANCE: The visitors’ pack establishes crushing superiority at scrum time, with Zander Fagerson in particular struggling against the force of Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes. England win another penalty and Ford kicks to the corner in search of a second try (Scotland 24-10 England)
34′ – SCOTLAND MAUL DEFENCE: Scott Cummings produces a pivotal intervention as England’s lineout maul threatens the Scottish line. The Glasgow lock wraps up the ball illegally but successfully disrupts possession, with Luke Cowan-Dickie knocking on in the chaos. A let-off for the hosts (Scotland 24-10 England)
38′ – RED CARD ENGLAND: Henry Arundell’s afternoon ends in ignominy. When Ford hoists another high ball, the Bath wing fails to compete fairly for the aerial contest, taking out Kyle Steyn while the Scottish wing is airborne. Arundell does not leave the ground and his knee makes contact with Steyn’s face as the Scot comes down. Referee Amashukeli has little hesitation in producing a second yellow card — which under the twenty-minute red card trial effectively ends Arundell’s match. England will play the next twenty minutes with fourteen men before a replacement can enter (Scotland 24-10 England)
Half-time: Scotland 24-10 England
Scotland statistics: 60% possession, 55% territory, 10 clean breaks, 3 tries. England: 20 missed tackles (75% completion), 3 entries to Scottish 22 with only 10 points scored, Henry Arundell two yellow cards.
41′ – HALF-TIME CHANGES: Both coaches make tactical adjustments. Matt Fagerson replaces the injured Jamie Ritchie for Scotland, while Tom Curry enters for the ineffective Sam Underhill for England. Ritchie hobbles off with what appears to be a knee injury sustained in the final minutes of the opening period (Scotland 24-10 England)
44′ – PENALTY ENGLAND: England’s scrum dominance continues as Zander Fagerson is penalised for collapsing under pressure. The Scottish tighthead is placed on an official warning — the next scrum infringement will result in a yellow card. Ford kicks the straightforward penalty to narrow the gap to eleven points (Scotland 24-13 England)
49′ – ENGLAND PROFLIGATE: Ellis Genge makes good ground carrying into the Scottish 22, but the loosehead prop knocks on with the line at his mercy. England’s third handling error in prime attacking position — a recurring theme of their afternoon (Scotland 24-13 England)
50′ – SCOTTISH FRONT ROW CHANGES: Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry and Elliot Millar Mills enter the fray to shore up Scotland’s struggling scrum. The decision to replace Zander Fagerson, who was on a yellow card warning, proves sensible management from Townsend (Scotland 24-13 England)
53′ – TRY SCOTLAND: The match’s defining moment arrives from a piece of individual brilliance and English catastrophe. Ford retreats into the pocket for what appears to be a routine drop-goal attempt, but fatally he does not stand deep enough. Matt Fagerson, who had replaced Ritchie at half-time, comes charging through like a runaway train and blocks the kick sensationally. The back-rower shows remarkable composure to gather the loose ball before looking up and spotting Jones on his shoulder. The pass is perfect and Jones sprints sixty metres unopposed to score his second try — his eighth against England, a Six Nations record against a single opponent. Russell’s conversion from in front of the posts extends Scotland’s lead to eighteen points and secures the bonus point. The contest is effectively over (Scotland 31-13 England)
56′ – ENGLAND EMPTY BENCH: Steve Borthwick unloads his replacements in desperation. Jamie George, Bevan Rodd, Alex Coles and Henry Pollock enter the fray as Maro Itoje, Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Guy Pepper make way. Fin Smith also enters to replace the departed Arundell, slotting into inside centre with Fraser Dingwall moving to outside centre and Tommy Freeman shifting to the wing (Scotland 31-13 England)
57′ – DARGE TURNOVER: Rory Darge produces a crucial intervention as England threaten to mount a late rally. The openside flanker jackals superbly at the breakdown to win a turnover penalty inside his own 22. Flower of Scotland rings around Murrayfield as Scotland successfully repel another English attack (Scotland 31-13 England)
60′ – MITCHELL DENIED: Alex Mitchell produces a snipe around the fringes and appears certain to score, but Elliot Millar Mills produces a remarkable try-saving tackle just inches from the line. England’s fourth promising attack ends without reward (Scotland 31-13 England)
68′ – SCOTLAND DEFENSIVE STAND: Scotland survive a sustained twenty-phase assault on their line. The forwards put in heroic tackling before Ben Earl is eventually penalised for sealing off at the breakdown. The defensive stand epitomises Scotland’s transformed attitude from Rome (Scotland 31-13 England)
74′ – GRAHAM’S HEROIC TACKLE: Darcy Graham, introduced from the bench, produces the defensive moment of the match. Freddie Steward receives a crossfield kick from George Ford and appears certain to score with a clear run to the corner, but the diminutive Edinburgh wing comes out of nowhere to crunch the much larger full-back into touch. A try-saving intervention that draws rapturous acclaim from the home supporters (Scotland 31-13 England)
77′ – EARL HELD UP: Ben Earl crashes over the Scottish line from close range but is brilliantly held up by Jones. England’s fifth attempt to breach the Scottish defence in the final quarter is thwarted — though they will not have to wait much longer (Scotland 31-13 England)
78′ – TRY ENGLAND: Ben Earl finally gets his reward for a tireless display. Henry Pollock bursts down the right touchline before the ball is worked through multiple pairs of hands across the width of the pitch. Earl receives in acres of space on the left wing and trots over for a consolation score. Ford adds the conversion to narrow the final deficit to eleven points, but there will be no dramatic comeback (Scotland 31-20 England)
80′ – RUSSELL SEALS VICTORY: Tom Roebuck inexplicably knocks on inside the England 22 as the visitors chase a losing bonus point. Scotland win the scrum, work through several phases to wind down the clock, before Russell triumphantly hoofs the ball into the stands. Murrayfield erupts as Scotland reclaim the Calcutta Cup for the fourth time in five years (Scotland 31-20 England)
Full-time: Scotland 31-20 England

Just seven days after the humiliation of Rome, where a shock defeat to Italy had plunged the hosts to tenth in the world rankings and intensified scrutiny on Townsend’s position, Scotland were utterly transformed. Orchestrated by the magnificent Finn Russell, who delivered perhaps his finest Calcutta Cup performance, the hosts raced into a stunning 17-0 lead inside the opening quarter and never truly looked back.

Blistering start leaves England shell-shocked

Captain Sione Tuipulotu had spoken in the build-up of the “desperation” within the Scottish ranks, and that intensity was evident from the opening whistle. The atmosphere at Murrayfield had been strangely flat before kick-off, perhaps reflecting the anxiety that had gripped Scottish supporters following the Rome debacle, but within minutes the stadium was bouncing as Townsend’s men delivered a whirlwind start.

Russell opened the scoring with a fourth-minute penalty after England were penalised for failing to roll away, and the hosts never relinquished their stranglehold. When Henry Arundell was shown a harsh yellow card for failing to release at the breakdown eight minutes in, Scotland seized their opportunity with ruthless efficiency.

The first try came from a moment of vintage Russell magic that will be replayed for years to come. With Tom Roebuck bearing down on him and seemingly no options available, the fly-half produced an outrageous volleyball-style tip-on pass — barely touching the ball as it passed through his hands — that found Huw Jones in space. The Glasgow centre still had work to do but showed devastating pace to round Maro Itoje, who found himself temporarily deputising on the wing, and score in the corner. Russell’s touchline conversion extended the lead to ten points and sent Murrayfield into raptures.

Five minutes later, Scotland struck again with a try that exposed the gaping holes in England’s defensive organisation. After Kyle Steyn had barrelled past multiple defenders on the right, the ball was recycled quickly to Tuipulotu, who spotted Jamie Ritchie unmarked on the opposite flank. The captain’s raking pass found the blindside flanker with acres of space, and Ritchie strolled over untouched. Russell’s second conversion from the touchline made it 17-0 after just fourteen minutes — a point-a-minute start that left Steve Borthwick’s side utterly shell-shocked.

England respond before Genge calamity proves decisive

To their credit, England rallied through the one area where they consistently held the upper hand — the scrum. Their powerful pack established crushing superiority at set-piece time, with Zander Fagerson in particular struggling to contain the force of Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes. After winning a penalty and kicking to the corner, England’s forwards established a driving maul that took them to within metres of the Scottish line.

When the ball was recycled, George Ford demonstrated the composure that has defined his international career. With Russell bearing down on him, the veteran fly-half delayed his pass beautifully, selling a dummy before slipping the ball to Arundell — back from the sin-bin — on his outside shoulder. The Bath wing trotted over untouched beneath the posts, and Ford’s conversion narrowed the gap to ten points.

Ford added a subsequent penalty to make it 17-10 after Ritchie was penalised for offside, and briefly it seemed England might claw their way back into the contest. Scotland, however, had other ideas — and Russell was about to conjure another moment of magic that would prove decisive.

The fly-half, showing remarkable composure under immense pressure, evaded two poor tackles — including one from Sam Underhill that will haunt the Bath flanker — before managing to chip the ball forward while in the process of falling over. Ellis Genge retreated to cover, seemingly in complete control of the situation, only for the ball to squirt loose catastrophically as he attempted to dive on it. Ben White pounced on the gift with glee, touching down for his third try in five Calcutta Cup appearances. Russell’s superb touchline conversion restored Scotland’s fourteen-point advantage, and the momentum had swung decisively.

Arundell’s red card compounds English misery

The first half’s final act proved decisive in extinguishing any remaining English hopes of a comeback. When Ford hoisted another high ball — one of many contestable kicks that had failed to yield territory throughout the afternoon — Arundell failed to compete fairly for the aerial contest, taking out Steyn while the Scottish wing was airborne. The Bath wing did not leave the ground, and his knee made contact with Steyn’s face as the Scot came down.

Referee Nika Amashukeli had little hesitation in producing a second yellow card, which under the twenty-minute red card trial effectively ended Arundell’s afternoon. England would be reduced to fourteen men until the fifty-seventh minute, when Fin Smith finally entered to restore numerical parity — albeit in an unfamiliar inside centre role that required a complete backline reshuffle.

England headed to the dressing room 24-10 behind, having been outplayed in virtually every department. They had missed twenty tackles to Scotland’s eleven, made just three clean breaks to Scotland’s ten, and entered the Scottish 22 on three occasions for a paltry return of ten points. The statistics painted a damning picture of English inaccuracy and Scottish clinical finishing.

Fagerson charge-down seals Scotland’s triumph

Steve Borthwick made changes at the interval, introducing Tom Curry for the ineffective Sam Underhill in a move that raised eyebrows — particularly given Underhill’s reputation as one of England’s most reliable performers. The tactical adjustments failed to ignite an English revival, though their dominant scrum continued to cause problems, earning another penalty which Ford converted to make it 24-13.

England repeatedly entered the Scottish 22 without reward. Genge knocked on with the line at his mercy. Alex Mitchell was denied by Elliot Millar Mills’s remarkable try-saving tackle just inches from the whitewash. The visitors averaged a woeful 1.4 points from their twelve entries into opposition territory — a damning indictment of their attacking execution.

The match’s defining moment arrived in the fifty-third minute, and it encapsulated everything about England’s chaotic afternoon. Ford retreated into the pocket for what appeared to be a routine drop-goal attempt — the kind of pressure kick that should narrow deficits and shift momentum. But fatally, the veteran fly-half did not stand deep enough, his deliberate routine lacking the snappiness required against an onrushing defence.

Matt Fagerson, who had replaced the injured Ritchie at half-time, came charging through like a runaway train and blocked the kick sensationally. The back-rower showed remarkable composure to gather the loose ball before looking up and spotting Jones on his shoulder. The pass was perfect, and Jones sprinted sixty metres unopposed to score his second try — his eighth against England, establishing a Six Nations record against a single opponent. Russell’s conversion from in front of the posts secured the bonus point and effectively ended the contest.

Defensive heroics and Earl’s consolation

Scotland’s defensive resilience in the final quarter was exemplary. They survived a sustained twenty-phase assault on their line, with forwards putting in heroic tackles before eventually winning a turnover penalty. Rory Darge was immense at the breakdown, while replacement Darcy Graham — controversially overlooked for the starting fifteen — produced the defensive moment of the match when he crunched the much larger Freddie Steward into touch after the English full-back appeared certain to score.

Ben Earl was held up over the line by Jones before finally breaking through for a late consolation, capitalising on good work from Henry Pollock down the right before receiving the ball in acres of space on the left wing. Ford’s conversion narrowed the final margin to eleven points, but the scoreline still flattered the visitors. Scotland had thoroughly outplayed their oldest rivals.

As the clock ticked into the eightieth minute, Tom Roebuck knocked on inexplicably inside the England 22 as the visitors chased a losing bonus point. Scotland won the scrum, wound down the clock through several phases, before Russell triumphantly hoofed the ball into the stands. The celebrations that followed were unreserved — Scotland had secured their fourth victory in five years over England, and Townsend’s position, so precarious just seven days earlier, now looks considerably more secure.

Reaction

England captain Maro Itoje was candid in defeat: “It was a tough day at the office. We didn’t get firing in the way we wanted to, but that is the nature of the beast. We have to learn our lesson and move forward. In the first twenty minutes we gave away penalties and field position, and when we got into their end of the pitch we didn’t convert. We need to start our game with accuracy and precision — we didn’t do that today.”

Scotland captain Tuipulotu reflected on the dramatic turnaround from Rome: “We spoke about desperation this week and the boys delivered. It’s a game that means everything to this country, and to do it in front of these supporters makes it even more special. We knew we had to start well to show who we are, and I thought the players executed brilliantly.”

Townsend, marking his 100th Test in charge with a memorable victory, paid tribute to his players’ character: “The feeling of losing is worse than the distraction around when people are giving their opinions to the group or to me as a coach. We channelled that disappointment into this performance. The players showed what they are capable of when they combine intensity with accuracy.”

For England, this chastening defeat raises serious questions ahead of their crucial clash with Ireland at Twickenham next weekend. Their twelve-match winning run, which had promised so much, lies in tatters on the Murrayfield turf. Scotland, meanwhile, travel to Cardiff revitalised, their championship hopes very much alive after a performance that reminded everyone why this fixture continues to confound conventional wisdom.

Teams

Scotland: Tom Jordan (Darcy Graham 68); Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Jamie Dobie (Adam Hastings 74); Finn Russell, Ben White (George Horne 57); Nathan McBeth (Pierre Schoeman 48), George Turner (Dave Cherry 50), Zander Fagerson (Elliot Millar Mills 50); Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings; Jamie Ritchie (Matt Fagerson 40), Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey (Max Williamson 56).

England: Freddie Steward; Tom Roebuck, Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell (red card 38, Fin Smith 57); George Ford, Alex Mitchell (Ben Spencer 68); Ellis Genge (Bevan Rodd 56), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Jamie George 56), Joe Heyes (Trevor Davison 67); Maro Itoje (capt) (Alex Coles 56), Ollie Chessum; Guy Pepper (Henry Pollock 56), Sam Underhill (Tom Curry 40), Ben Earl.

Scoring summary

Scotland: Tries: Huw Jones (10′, 53′), Jamie Ritchie (15′), Ben White (28′). Conversions: Finn Russell (4). Penalty: Finn Russell (4′).
England: Tries: Henry Arundell (22′), Ben Earl (78′). Conversions: George Ford (2). Penalties: George Ford (26′, 44′).

Match officials

Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

Match details

Guinness Player of the Match: Kyle Steyn (Scotland)

Scotland 31-20 England | Six Nations 2026, Round 2 | Scottish Gas Murrayfield
Attendance: 67,144

Ireland survived an almighty scare to claim a hard-fought 20-13 victory over Italy at the Aviva Stadium, but this unconvincing performance will do little to silence the growing concerns surrounding Andy Farrell’s side ahead of next week’s trip to Twickenham.

Key moments:

11′ – YELLOW CARD ITALY: Louis Lynagh is shown yellow for a deliberate knock-on after flinging out a hopeful arm to intercept Sam Prendergast’s looping pass. James Lowe was unmarked behind him with a clear run to the line, making the decision straightforward for referee Hollie Davidson (Ireland 0-0 Italy)
17′ – TRY IRELAND: Jamie Osborne opens the scoring after patient phase play. Stuart McCloskey spins through contact and produces a sublime offload just before hitting the deck, finding the onrushing full-back who coasts over untouched. Prendergast inexplicably misses the conversion from directly in front of the posts (Ireland 5-0 Italy)
20′ – PENALTY ITALY: Paolo Garbisi gets the Azzurri on the board after Cormac Izuchukwu is penalised for hands in the air at a lineout. A cheap penalty to concede immediately after scoring (Ireland 5-3 Italy)
25′ – ITALY REPRIEVE: Lorenzo Pani demonstrates his attacking threat, chipping over the Irish defence and beating Sam Prendergast’s tackle before racing into the 22. His offload to the unmarked Michele Lamaro is fumbled with the try line begging — a moment that will haunt the Italian captain (Ireland 5-3 Italy)
32′ – YELLOW CARD IRELAND: Craig Casey is sin-binned for an upright tackle that results in head contact with Lorenzo Cannone. The diminutive scrum-half comes off worse in the collision, sporting a bloodied nose, but the letter of the law is applied. The bunker review confirms no upgrade to red (Ireland 5-3 Italy)
33′ – TRY ITALY: The Azzurri capitalise immediately on their numerical advantage. From the resulting lineout, Italy’s forwards establish a rumbling maul that Ireland simply cannot repel. Giacomo Nicotera breaks away from the back to touch down as Italian celebrations erupt. Garbisi converts from the touchline to give the visitors a deserved lead (Ireland 5-10 Italy)
40′ – SCRUM DOMINANCE: Italy win a thunderous scrum penalty on Ireland’s own put-in, the pack marching the hosts backwards with alarming ease. Simone Ferrari and the Italian front row celebrate wildly as tensions flare between the forwards. A statement of intent from Gonzalo Quesada’s men heading into the break
Half-time: Ireland 5-10 Italy
Ireland statistics: 40% possession, 45% territory. Italy: 226 tackles attempted (86% success), 3 scrum penalties won, dominant at set-piece. Ireland: 2 entries to Italian 22 without scoring, 2 missed conversions from Sam Prendergast.
43′ – TRY IRELAND: Ireland respond immediately after the restart. Andy Farrell’s half-time words have the desired effect as Prendergast kicks to the corner from a penalty. Jeremy Loughman is held up twice before Jack Conan spots a gap around the fringes and forces his way over from close range. Prendergast’s conversion drifts wide again — four points left on the tee (Ireland 10-10 Italy)
51′ – TRY DISALLOWED ITALY: Heartbreak for the Azzurri. Tommaso Menoncello produces a moment of magic, bursting through the Irish midfield with devastating footwork before floating a pass to Louis Lynagh on the right wing. The finish is emphatic, but TMO Ian Tempest correctly identifies that Menoncello’s pass drifted forward. The try is chalked off — a pivotal moment that shifts momentum decisively (Ireland 10-10 Italy)
56′ – CROWLEY ON: Jack Crowley replaces Sam Prendergast to the biggest roar of the afternoon. Whether relief at the change or enthusiasm for the Munster fly-half, opinions differ, but Ireland’s attacking tempo transforms almost immediately (Ireland 10-10 Italy)
58′ – TRY IRELAND: Robert Baloucoune marks his Six Nations debut in spectacular fashion. Ireland work overlaps on both flanks with Crowley orchestrating proceedings. Stuart McCloskey produces an outrageous basketball-style pass over the Italian defence, finding Baloucoune in space. The Ulster wing shows devastating acceleration, beating two defenders before stretching over in the corner. Crowley converts to give Ireland breathing room (Ireland 17-10 Italy)
63′ – PENALTY IRELAND: Crowley adds three more after Ireland’s patient phase play earns a penalty in front of the posts. The Munster fly-half is two from two since his introduction as Ireland establish a ten-point cushion (Ireland 20-10 Italy)
66′ – PENALTY ITALY: The Italian scrum continues to dominate as Tadhg Furlong is lifted clean off his feet by replacement loosehead Mirco Spagnolo — a sight rarely witnessed in the veteran prop’s illustrious career. Garbisi makes no mistake with the resulting kick to reduce the deficit to seven (Ireland 20-13 Italy)
70′ – DEBUT FOR EDOGBO: Edwin Edogbo enters the field to warm applause, becoming the first player from Cobh Pirates to represent Ireland. The Munster second row’s remarkable journey — through two ruptured Achilles tendons — reaches its destination with ten minutes remaining
77′ – ITALY AGONISINGLY CLOSE: Paolo Garbisi chips over the rushing Irish defence and Tommaso Menoncello is one bounce of the ball away from scoring under the posts. The ball bobbles agonisingly past his fingertips as Ireland survive another heart-stopping moment (Ireland 20-13 Italy)
83′ – LOWE INTERCEPT SEALS VICTORY: The match-winning moment arrives from Italian error. With the Azzurri camped on the edge of the Irish 22 and desperately seeking an equalising score, Monty Ioane inexplicably throws a pass straight into the arms of James Lowe. The Irish wing sprints 80 metres upfield to earn a penalty that would have set up a bonus-point opportunity (Ireland 20-13 Italy)
83′ – CROWLEY KICKS DEAD: An anticlimactic ending as Crowley, pointing to the corner in pursuit of a fourth try, misjudges his kick and sends the ball dead. The bonus point slips away, but Ireland have the victory. A fitting conclusion to a fitful afternoon (Ireland 20-13 Italy)
Full-time: Ireland 20-13 Italy

The hosts trailed 10-5 at half-time — Italy’s first ever Six Nations lead in Dublin — against opponents brimming with confidence following their opening-round victory over Scotland. It required the introduction of Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park from the bench to inject the tempo and precision that had been sorely lacking throughout a disjointed first-half display.

Robert Baloucoune marked his Six Nations debut with a try that proved decisive, while James Lowe’s intercept in the dying moments finally allowed Ireland’s supporters to exhale after 83 minutes of anxiety. Yet the manner of victory, achieved against opponents who have never won a championship match in Dublin, raised more questions than it answered about Ireland’s title credentials.

Italy, who made 226 tackles against Scotland last week, were even more ferocious in the Irish capital. Their scrum dominated Ireland’s vaunted pack throughout, with Simone Ferrari and the impressive front row earning three penalties and leaving even the legendary Tadhg Furlong struggling when he entered the fray. The Azzurri will rue the disallowed try for Louis Lynagh, chalked off for Menoncello’s forward pass, and Michele Lamaro’s fumbled offload when a try seemed certain in the first half.

Early exchanges promised much before familiar failings emerged

Ireland began with the intent that Andy Farrell had demanded, Robert Baloucoune claiming an early high ball with authority and James Lowe looking dangerous with ball in hand. The hosts won an early scrum penalty when Danilo Fischetti collapsed, and when Dan Sheehan attempted to power over from close range, it appeared Ireland would make their dominance count.

However, Ferrari’s thunderous hit on the hooker — who illegally leapt into contact — set the tone for Italian resistance that would define the afternoon. It was a portent of things to come; Ireland would repeatedly threaten the Italian 22 only to be repelled by desperate defending or undone by their own profligacy.

Louis Lynagh’s yellow card for a deliberate knock-on in the 11th minute, preventing what would have been a certain try for Lowe, should have opened the floodgates. Instead, Ireland laboured for six more minutes before Jamie Osborne finally crossed, the full-back timing his run perfectly to receive Stuart McCloskey’s offload after the Ulster centre had spun through contact.

Sam Prendergast’s missed conversion from directly in front of the posts proved emblematic of Ireland’s afternoon. The young fly-half, under intense scrutiny following his struggles in Paris, endured another difficult outing — his tactical kicking wayward, his defence exposed — before being replaced by Crowley midway through the second half.

Italy seize control as scrum dominance tells

Paolo Garbisi’s penalty reduced the deficit to two points before Italy truly found their rhythm. Lorenzo Pani, earning his first start in almost two years, demonstrated the kicking range that had earned him selection by threatening repeatedly from deep. His chip and chase in the 25th minute saw him beat Prendergast’s tackle and race into the Irish 22, only for Lamaro to fumble the offload with the try line beckoning.

The reprieve proved temporary. Craig Casey’s yellow card for an upright tackle on Lorenzo Cannone — the scrum-half coming off worse in a collision that left him with a bloodied nose — handed Italy the numerical advantage they craved. Within a minute, Giacomo Nicotera had crashed over from a driving maul that Ireland simply could not repel, Garbisi’s conversion giving the visitors a deserved 10-5 lead at the interval.

The Italian celebrations were raucous, their media contingent in the press box reportedly on their feet when Ferrari won a scrum penalty against Sheehan. They sensed history; they were 40 minutes from becoming the first Italian side to win a Six Nations match at the Aviva Stadium.

Farrell’s bench proves decisive as Ireland rally

Whatever Andy Farrell said at half-time had immediate effect. Tadhg Furlong’s introduction stabilised the scrum sufficiently for Ireland to win a penalty from which they kicked to the corner. c powered over from close range after Jeremy Loughman had been held up twice, though Prendergast’s second missed conversion from a kickable position kept Italy within touching distance.

The game’s pivotal moment arrived in the 51st minute. Menoncello, who had been outstanding throughout, burst through the Irish midfield with devastating footwork before floating a pass to Lynagh on the right wing. The finish was emphatic, but TMO Ian Tempest correctly identified that Menoncello’s pass had drifted forward. The try was disallowed, and the momentum shifted irrevocably.

Crowley’s introduction for Prendergast was greeted with the biggest roar of the afternoon. What proved undeniable was the transformation in Ireland’s attacking tempo. Gibson-Park’s arrival added further urgency, and within three minutes of entering the fray, Crowley had orchestrated the try that would seal victory.

McCloskey’s basketball-style pass over the Italian defence found Baloucoune in space, and the Ulster wing showed devastating acceleration to beat two defenders and stretch over in the corner. Crowley’s conversion and subsequent penalty stretched the lead to ten points, though Garbisi’s three-pointer from another dominant scrum ensured Italy remained within a converted try.

Nerve-shredding finale as Italy throw everything at Ireland

The final quarter was an exercise in anxiety management for Irish supporters. Italy’s scrum continued to dominate, with Furlong lifted clean off his feet by replacement loosehead Mirco Spagnolo — a sight rarely witnessed in the veteran prop’s illustrious career. Garbisi’s resulting penalty reduced the deficit to seven with 14 minutes remaining.

Italy threw everything at Ireland in the closing stages. Menoncello repeatedly found gaps in the Irish midfield, while Garbisi’s tactical kicking pinned the hosts deep in their own territory. In the 77th minute, the Italian fly-half chipped over the rush defence and Menoncello was agonisingly close to gathering a favourable bounce that would have put him clear under the posts.

Edwin Edogbo, the Munster second row, was introduced for his Ireland debut with ten minutes remaining, becoming the first player from Cobh Pirates to represent his country. His remarkable journey — through two ruptured Achilles tendons that sidelined him for two years — reached its destination at a moment when Ireland required fresh legs and renewed energy.

Gibson-Park’s box-kicking proved crucial in the final exchanges, repeatedly finding touch deep in Italian territory. But the decisive moment arrived from Italian error rather than Irish excellence.

With the Azzurri camped on the edge of the Irish 22 and desperately seeking the converted try that would level the scores, the ball was worked wide to Monty Ioane. The experienced wing inexplicably threw a pass straight into the arms of James Lowe, who sprinted 80 metres upfield to earn a penalty.

Ireland sensed an opportunity to claim a bonus point that had seemed unlikely for much of the afternoon. Crowley pointed to the corner, seeking one final assault on the Italian line. But his kick sailed too long, drifting into the in-goal area and out of play. The chance was gone, the bonus point squandered, but the victory secured.

“It’s not my fault it was a bad kick,” referee Hollie Davidson could be heard saying as Ireland players questioned why play wasn’t brought back. An unfortunate ending for Crowley, whose introduction had otherwise transformed Ireland’s fortunes.

Verdict: More questions than answers for Farrell

Captain Caelan Doris acknowledged the scale of Ireland’s struggles: “It was a proper battle the whole way through. That last ten-minute period, we defended quite a bit in our own 22, so I’m happy with some of the character we showed. Italy played some very good stuff and tested us throughout. I feel there’s some stuff we left out there, we weren’t clinical enough, some of our discipline was a little bit off.”

Man of the match Baloucoune reflected on a memorable Six Nations debut: “Even to get a chance to get into the Six Nations camp was unbelievable, but to get to play and score on my Six Nations debut has been unreal. Faz told me to go out there and express myself, and I feel like I’ve done that.”

For Italy, despite extending their winless run in Dublin, this was a performance that confirmed their opening victory over Scotland was no fluke. Gonzalo Quesada’s side were physically dominant for long periods, their scrum a revelation against vaunted opposition, and only a forward pass and a fumbled offload separated them from a historic triumph.

The statistics told a damning story for Ireland: physically dominated at the scrum, second best at the gainline on both sides of the ball, and reliant on their bench to rescue a performance that had drifted alarmingly off course. The return of Crowley and Gibson-Park proved decisive, raising inevitable questions about whether Farrell’s starting selections were correct.

Ireland now travel to Twickenham to face an England side who demolished Wales 48-7 earlier in the afternoon, Henry Arundell claiming a hat-trick as Steve Borthwick’s men ran riot. On this evidence, the visit represents a formidable challenge that will expose any recurring frailties. The scrum, in particular, requires urgent attention if Ireland are to avoid another chastening afternoon.

For Italy, a trip to Paris awaits against the defending champions. While victory seems unlikely, this performance suggests Quesada’s side will provide France with a far sterner examination than many might expect. The days of Italy being Six Nations whipping boys are emphatically over.

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast (Jack Crowley 56), Craig Casey (Jamison Gibson-Park 53); Jeremy Loughman (Tom O’Toole 66), Dan Sheehan (Rónan Kelleher 53), Thomas Clarkson (Tadhg Furlong 40); Joe McCarthy (Tadhg Beirne 53), James Ryan (Edwin Edogbo 70); Cormac Izuchukwu (Nick Timoney 59), Caelan Doris (capt), Jack Conan.

Italy: Lorenzo Pani; Louis Lynagh, Leonardo Marin, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Fusco (Alessandro Garbisi 70); Danilo Fischetti (Mirco Spagnolo 60), Giacomo Nicotera (Tommaso Di Bartolomeo 60), Simone Ferrari (Muhamed Hasa 60); Niccolò Cannone, Andrea Zambonin (Federico Ruzza 53); Michele Lamaro (capt), Manuel Zuliani (Riccardo Favretto 66), Lorenzo Cannone (David Odiase 70).
Replacements not used: Italy — Paolo Odogwu.

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)

When Ireland host Italy at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon, the hosts will be seeking far more than merely their twelfth consecutive victory in this fixture. After the chastening experience of Paris, Andy Farrell’s side must rediscover their identity — and quickly — against opponents who arrive in Dublin with genuine belief that an historic upset is within reach.

The Valentine’s Day kick-off adds a romantic flourish to proceedings, though Ireland supporters will be hoping for considerably more passion from their side than was evident in last week’s 36-14 capitulation to France. Italy, meanwhile, are riding the crest of a wave following their stirring 18-15 victory over Scotland in Rome — their first opening-round triumph since 2013.

A rivalry transformed

The historical ledger makes for predictable reading: Ireland have won 34 of 38 meetings between these nations, including 24 of 25 Six Nations encounters. Yet those bare statistics obscure a more nuanced reality. Italy have emerged from the wilderness, winning three of their last four Tests and demonstrating a tactical sophistication that has confounded even the most established opponents.

Last year’s encounter in Rome provided a stark warning. Ireland scraped home 22-17, requiring Dan Sheehan’s hat-trick of tries to survive a ferocious Italian challenge. The margin flattered the visitors; Gonzalo Quesada’s men had them rattled for long periods, and only desperate defending in the final quarter preserved Ireland’s winning streak.

“We’ve had some great battles against Italy in recent years and Saturday will be no different,” acknowledged Farrell this week. The Ireland head coach knows better than anyone that this fixture no longer represents the comfortable outing it once did. The Azzurri have claimed four victories in their last five meetings with Wales and stunned Scotland at Murrayfield in last year’s championship. They fear no one.

Italy have never beaten Ireland in Dublin in championship rugby — indeed, their sole Six Nations victory came in Rome in 2013 — but this may represent their finest opportunity in years. Ireland arrive wounded, their confidence fragile after France exposed structural weaknesses that had been papered over during the autumn. The Azzurri, conversely, possess momentum, belief, and a tactical clarity that has been years in the making.

Farrell’s selection gamble

The Ireland head coach has responded to the Paris debacle with six changes to his starting XV, the most significant of which comes at openside flanker. Josh van der Flier, the 2022 World Rugby Player of the Year, has been dropped from the matchday 23 entirely — a seismic call that reflects both Ireland’s desperate need for change and the depth of their current malaise.

Captain Caelan Doris shifts to the seven jersey, with Jack Conan promoted to start at number eight and the athletic Cormac Izuchukwu earning his Six Nations debut at blindside. The Ulster back-rower, born in London to an Irish mother and Nigerian father before being raised in Offaly, brings raw physicality and lineout prowess to a pack that was bullied in Paris.

Elsewhere, Robert Baloucoune’s recall on the right wing represents a gamble on explosive potential over proven reliability. The 28-year-old has been in scintillating form for Ulster — six tries in six appearances — but has not worn the green jersey since November 2022. James Lowe returns on the opposite flank after being controversially dropped for the France fixture, while Craig Casey replaces Jamison Gibson-Park at scrum-half.

Perhaps the most intriguing subplot concerns Edwin Edogbo, the Munster second row who is poised to become the first player from Cobh Pirates to represent Ireland. The 23-year-old’s journey to the cusp of international rugby — through a second ruptured Achilles tendon that sidelined him for two years — represents a triumph of perseverance that transcends mere sport.

Quesada’s quiet confidence

While Ireland have torn up their team sheet, Italy have done precisely the opposite. Gonzalo Quesada has made just one enforced change from the side that outmuscled Scotland in Rome’s biblical rain, with Lorenzo Pani replacing Juan Ignacio Brex (absent for family reasons) in a reshuffled backline.

The decision to overlook Ange Capuozzo, despite the Toulouse star returning to fitness this week, speaks volumes about Quesada’s faith in his winning formula. Leonardo Marin shifts from full-back to inside centre, partnering Tommaso Menoncello in a combination that the Argentina-born coach has long earmarked as Italy’s midfield future.

“The human side and family — from my point of view — will always be considered a priority,” Quesada explained of Brex’s absence. “We discussed it with him, and the decision made is for the best.” Such man-management has been a hallmark of Quesada’s tenure, fostering a unity within the Italian camp that has translated into results on the pitch.

The Azzurri’s defensive display against Scotland was nothing short of remarkable: 226 tackles at 86 per cent efficiency, including a 29-phase defensive stand in the dying minutes that preserved their precious lead. Niccolò Cannone made 26 successful tackles — more than any other player in round one — while captain Michele Lamaro pilfered two Scottish lineouts to disrupt their opponents’ primary attacking platform.

Team news

Ireland: Jamie Osborne; Robert Baloucoune, Garry Ringrose, Stuart McCloskey, James Lowe; Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Jeremy Loughman, Dan Sheehan, Thomas Clarkson; Joe McCarthy, James Ryan; Cormac Izuchukwu, Caelan Doris (capt), Jack Conan.
Replacements: Rónan Kelleher, Tom O’Toole, Tadhg Furlong, Edwin Edogbo, Tadhg Beirne, Nick Timoney, Jamison Gibson-Park, Jack Crowley.

Italy: Lorenzo Pani; Louis Lynagh, Tommaso Menoncello, Leonardo Marin, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Fusco; Danilo Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Simone Ferrari; Niccolò Cannone, Andrea Zambonin; Michele Lamaro (capt), Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Mirco Spagnolo, Muhamed Hasa, Federico Ruzza, Riccardo Favretto, David Odiase, Alessandro Garbisi, Paolo Odogwu.

Key players to watch

Ireland: Dan Sheehan — The Leinster hooker has become Ireland’s most potent weapon against the Azzurri, scoring a hat-trick in the 36-0 victory of 2024 and adding two more in last year’s narrow escape in Rome. The first forward to reach ten Six Nations tries, Sheehan’s ability to finish from close range and his carrying prowess through the middle third could prove decisive. If Ireland establish their driving maul, he will be central to their attacking threat.

Italy: Tommaso Menoncello — The Benetton centre made 103 metres against Scotland on a waterlogged pitch that should have rendered such statistics impossible. At 22, he has already established himself as one of European rugby’s most exciting talents, combining devastating footwork with the physical presence to break the gainline. His partnership with Leonardo Marin, both products of Benetton’s academy, represents Italy’s best hope of breaching Ireland’s defensive line.
Where the battle will be won

The breakdown: France’s aggressive counter-rucking exposed Ireland’s vulnerability over the ball last week, slowing their attacking tempo and forcing errors. Van der Flier’s omission — the player who has defined Ireland’s jackalling threat for the past decade — represents a calculated gamble that Doris, Conan and Izuchukwu can provide equivalent intensity. Italy will target this area relentlessly, with Lamaro and Manuel Zuliani both excellent at slowing opposition ball.

Discipline: Italy conceded 16 penalties against Scotland, a figure that would prove fatal against an Irish side whose driving maul remains one of their most reliable weapons. Every infringement in the opposition 22 provides Farrell’s men with an opportunity to establish their lineout and generate the kind of close-range pressure that produced Sheehan’s tries last year. Quesada has emphasised this concern repeatedly; whether his players can heed the warning remains to be seen.

The aerial battle: Both coaches have selected full-backs with exceptional kicking range. Jamie Osborne was one of Ireland’s better performers in Paris, while Lorenzo Pani’s promotion to the starting XV comes specifically because of his long-range boot. The territorial battle could prove decisive, particularly given the contrasting attacking philosophies: Ireland seeking to establish field position before launching their multi-phase assaults, Italy looking to counter-attack from turnovers and broken play.

Did you know?

• Ireland have won their last 11 Six Nations matches against Italy, their longest winning streak in the fixture
• Italy’s sole championship victory over Ireland came in Rome in 2013, a 22-15 triumph
• Dan Sheehan has scored five tries in his last two appearances against Italy
• This will be the first men’s Six Nations match refereed by a woman, with Scotland’s Hollie Davidson taking charge
• Italy have won three of their last four Test matches, their best run since 2013
• Ireland have never lost to Italy at the Aviva Stadium in championship rugby

The verdict

This is a fixture that Ireland simply cannot afford to lose. Defeat to Italy would represent more than merely a second consecutive setback — it would confirm the darkest fears of those who believe this squad has peaked and is now in decline. The pressure on Farrell’s men is immense, and the wholesale changes to his selection reflect the urgency of the situation.

Yet Italy arrive with genuine belief, and that makes them dangerous. Quesada has forged a side that competes physically, defends with discipline, and possesses the attacking weapons to punish any lapse in concentration. The Marin-Menoncello midfield combination offers creativity, Louis Lynagh provides a threat on the edge, and the Cannone brothers anchor a pack that has proven itself capable of matching anyone at set-piece time.

Ireland’s superior firepower should ultimately tell. The return of Lowe adds a cutting edge that was sorely missed in Paris, while the McCloskey-Ringrose midfield partnership offers experience and nous in the crucial collisions. If Ireland can establish their driving maul, generate quick ball at the breakdown, and avoid the individual errors that plagued them last week, they possess the class to win comfortably.

The danger, however, is that Ireland’s confidence remains fragile. Another slow start, another period of Italian dominance, and the Aviva Stadium could become a cauldron of anxiety rather than a fortress of support. Farrell must find a way to liberate his players from the weight of expectation while simultaneously demanding the accuracy and intensity that has been their trademark.

History favours the hosts, but history has been rewritten before. Italy sense an opportunity; Ireland must ensure they do not provide one.

Match Officials

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant Referees: Matthew Carley (RFU), Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Ian Tempest (RFU)
Kick-off: Saturday, 14th February 2026, 2.10pm | Aviva Stadium, Dublin