The real reason for Scotland’s Six Nations defeat

The confused world of Duhan van der Merwe must seem more confused than usual after last weekend. The Scotland winger with an accent that sounds more Western Cape than Western Isles found himself crowned man of the match despite Scotland’s defeat by England at Twickenham, while at the same time being scapegoated as the man who lost the game and the Calcutta Cup for his adopted nation.

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Van der Merwe, who at 6ft 4in and nearly 17 stone could easily be mistaken for a lock forward, was roundly criticised for cutting away from the posts rather than towards them when he ran in the try right at the end of the match that took Scotland to within one point of England. Had Finn Russell been able to land a much easier conversion, rather than the difficult kick from far nearer to the touchline than he would have liked, then Scotland would have won. But he missed and they lost. And therein lies the real reason for Scotland’s defeat by a single point.

Russell has gone from hero to zero when it comes to kicking from the tee this season. His erratic form has cost more points than any other front-line kicker in this year’s Six Nations according to Opta stats. In last season’s tournament he missed only one of 24 kicks, but has landed just three from eight in Scotland’s three matchesso far this campaign.

Daylight robbery seems to be the most apt description of England’s showing, assuming members of the daylight robbing community don’t mind being associated with events at Twickenham.

This year’s championship race has turned into a battle of very fine margins between the four nations who were given any chance of winning the title – Wales and Italy regarded, sadly, as no-hopers.