The Calcutta Cup, the trophy that has been handed to the winning side in internationals between England and Scotland since 1879, is one of the oldest and most famous pieces of silverware in rugby union.
Calcutta Cup: 5 Famous England v Scotland Test Matches
It is also the symbol of an enduring sporting rivalry that has produced so many amazing games. As the countries prepare to lock horns once more at Twickenham, here are just a few of many Calcutta Cup classics. The Scots have reversed the trend of recent English domination, in one of the most anticipated fixtures every season.
Calcutta Cup Memories: Scotland 13 England 7 (1990)
A game so good they made a video about it. A game so significant they called that video The Grudge. And it was hard to downplay that showdown at Murrayfield in March 1990 when unbeaten Scotland met unbeaten England with the Calcutta Cup, the Five Nations and a Grand Slam on the line.
There was rancour, physicality and an incredible atmosphere surrounding a game of such magnitude, one that the Scots won with Tony Stanger scoring arguably the most famous try in their history.
Calcutta Cup Memories: England 38 Scotland 38 (2019)
For pure entertainment, the 2019 renewal will live long in the memory, a game featuring 11 tries and one of the truly great rugby comebacks. England had a bonus point after just 31 minutes when Jonny May crossed for their fourth try and at that stage they were 31-0 in front as Twickenham rejoiced. Game over? Not a bit of it.
The second half was a complete about-turn as the Scots hit the cabaret button, running in five tries in under half an hour to turn a 31-point deficit into a 38-31 lead. And there was still time for George Ford to convert his own try deep into the red to leave a breathless Calcutta Cup tie all square.
Calcutta Cup Memories: Scotland 6 England 9 (1991)
And to this day there are still Scots asking the same question: how on earth did he miss that kick? It was Murrayfield, October, 1991, the semi-final of the World Cup and neither Scotland nor England had ever played in a final. The stakes could not have been higher. Naturally enough the tension produced a tight, frantic, try-less affair which England led 9-6 as the clock ticked down.
Then Scotland were awarded a penalty in front of the posts, the legendary and metronomic Gavin Hastings stepped up – and missed, slicing it right of the upright. A nation shook its head in disbelief as England moved on to a final showdown against Australia.
Calcutta Cup Memories: England 61 Scotland 21 (2017)
England had rarely looked any finer than they did in 2017 as they prepared to welcome Scotland to Twickenham on a 17-game winning streak. And the Scots were simply no match for Eddie Jones’ men, who produced a record-setting scoreline against their auld enemy at a partying Twickenham to retain the Calcutta Cup for a ninth year in a row. England ran in seven tries with Jonathan Joseph helping himself to a hat-trick, while Owen Farrell converted all seven.
By Tom McGarry
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