Six Nations 2024: Scotland v England – Gregor Townsend on Calcutta Cup memories

Gregor Townsend says he got “too pumped up” when facing England as a player and coach – and it led to Scotland’s first-half mauling in the 2019 Calcutta Cup.

“I was too emotional with the players before the game and we were loose early on,” said the Scotland coach.

“I got too pumped up about the fixture from my playing experiences and how I’d always be too emotional. I didn’t enjoy Twickenham. All I had were defeats.”

Townsend revealed Scotland’s second-half fightback was sparked by tactical input from fly-half Finn Russell at half-time.

Only George Ford’s late converted try denied Scotland a first Twickenham win since 1983.

“I had no real hope or thought that we’d win the game, we just said ‘let’s leave with some respect and win the second half’,” Townsend told the Rugby Union Daily podcast.

“Finn led the discussion – we had a good discussion. And I like that in a player – to say ‘no, maybe we should do this’.

“What ended up happening was amazing. We did play a bit more structure at the beginning of the second half and we scored then scored again straight off the kick-off.

“You could see the confidence growing in our team and the reverse happening with England. They started to hang on.

“It was 31-31 and still 20 minutes to go when Sam Johnson scored. You think ‘this is it’ [a win at Twickenham]. In the end, it’s one of the best ever games in history.

“How how the guys played in the second half, Finn in particular, it was Scotland at their best for about 20 minutes.”

Townsend describes the 25-13 Calcutta Cup win in 2018 as “one of the great days at Murrayfield” given the year before Scotland had been dismantled 61-21 at Twickenham.

But the back-to-back victories at Twickenham, where Scotland had not won since the early 1980s, stand out most in his mind – with a special place reserved for the 2023 triumph.

“Twenty twenty one is one of the best wins I’ve been involved in whether as a supporter, player or a coach,” recalled Townsend, who has been part of 20 Calcutta Cups, 10 as a player and 10 as a coach.

“It was just one of those great days when the team won through playing rugby and also defending really well. It was a very well-deserved victory and it inspired and engaged our supporters.

“We didn’t grind it out, we didn’t win by two points, we won by playing excellent rugby and continuing that in a physical second half.

“But last year meant so much to me from a personal point of view – I thought it was going to be my last Six Nations, so I was probably more emotional after that game than others I’ve coached.”

The former British and Irish Lions playmaker’s first involvement in the Calcutta Cup was in 1993, when he came on as a replacement for Craig Chalmers at Twickenham.

Townsend admits his overly emotional attachment to the game – sparked by the iconic Grand Slam decider of 1990 – was evident back then too.

“It meant too much to me when I first started playing. It wasn’t just playing for Scotland in the Calcutta Cup. It was the memories of being a supporter in 1990 and the years around it,” he said.

“I was there in 1990 and also 1984 [another Grand Slam for Scotland]. That 1990 game meant so much to Scottish rugby supporters – it’s got iconic moments for us such as the walkout [by David Sole]the tap penalty by Finlay Calder, Tony Stanger’s try.

“I was playing for Scottish Schools at the time and I used to get so pumped up playing against England, the old ‘hitting yourself in the face’ and all that.

“Before Craig came off I was stretching on the sideline just looking up at the high stands at Twickenham and the blood started to just drain out of me.

“For 10 minutes when I got on, I was hopeless. Martin Bayfield ran through me. That’s how bad it was. Martin Bayfield. Then a high tackle on Will Carling. And I thought, ‘oh, I’m not ready for Test rugby’.

“But then the 40 or 50 minutes after that I loved it and I couldn’t wait to get the opportunity again, which would happen the following season.”