For once, Scotland actually followed up on the hype.
While it was not a stellar performance from Gregor Townsend's team against England at Murrayfield, they will be delighted to emerge with a 20-17.
It was a tense affair, with the lead changing hands on a few occasions. England were in front with 15 minutes to go, only for a ridiculous decision from Luke Cowan-Dickie to cost them dearly.
With Scotland launching a cross-field kick in his direction, he opted to intentionally knock the ball forward and out of play instead of attempting to catch it. The result was a penalty try and stint in the sin bin for the 28-year old.
You can watch the incident below.
PENALTY TRY TO SCOTLAND! 🏴
Brilliant kick from Finn Russell!
Luke Cowan-Dickie deliberately played the ball out.
Penalty Try. Yellow Card. GAME ON!
🏴 17-17 🏴#SCOvENG #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/CAZ5iqqawh— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 5, 2022
While Cowan-Dickie can have little argument about the yellow card, not all are convinced that awarding the penalty try was the correct decision.
The Virgin Media panel of Matt Williams, Rob Kearney, and Shane Horgan disagreed on whether the incident merited such a harsh punishment from the referee.
"Very very dumb play!
"However, I've seen some dodgy penalty tries and that's right up there."
Matt Williams on Luke Cowan-Dickie's foul which gave Scotland a penalty try.#SCOvENG #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/AGQ0VkKKLK— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) February 5, 2022
Williams: I've got to say, I've seen some dodgy penalty tries, and that is up there.
I'm not so certain you could say that a try was definitely going to be scored without that. Did the foul play stop the try from definitely being scored? I just don't think if fulfils those requirements...
Kearney: For me it's not a penalty try. I don't think we can say that Darcy Graham was without doubt going to catch that ball in the air under pressure from another defender.
That's my interpretation.
Horgan: I think you have to give a penalty try, even to establish the attacking team's right to an opportunity to score that try. He eliminated that opportunity by his actions that so fragrantly illegal.
I feel with that without that level of illegality there was the opportunity to score a try. For that reason, and to discourage that type of play, it was right that a try was awarded.
Williams: I think it is a very, very harsh penalty try. If I'm Eddie Jones, I'm filthy.
Of course, Scotland may well have scored from the resulting penalty in any case, although England had defended their line well up until that point.
In any case, it was certainly a bad day at the office for Eddie Jones and his team.
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