All those training sessions when Steve Borthwick brings a bucket filled with slippery, soapy water paid off on Saturday night. England overcame foul weather to beat Scotland.

England captain Owen Farrell revealed the conditions the team's suffered at Murrayfield yesterday were some of the worst of his Test career.

Gregor Townsend has absolved Stuart Hogg from blame despite the Scotland skipper making his second costly mistake in as many Guinness Six Nations games.

NIK SIMON AT MURRAYFIELD: England could not dodge the storm but they at least averted the crisis on Saturday afternoon - thanks to a late try from Ellis Genge.

MARTIN SAMUEL AT MURRAYFIELD - It was at a certain moment, following England's dogged win over Scotland in torrid conditions, that the game's observers received enlightenment.

Officials are investigating ugly scenes at Murrayfield on Saturday where Neil Craig, a member of England's backroom staff, was struck on the head by a plastic beer bottle.

It was fitting that on a wild day in Edinburgh, England won back the Calcutta Cup thanks to a decisive intervention of Ellis Genge. He typified the spirit of defiance which propelled his side to victory.

Townsend has warned exile Russell that he will have to make the same 'sacrifices' as every other Scotland player - or be banished from his squad for the duration of the Six Nations.

The veteran fly-half's kicking was exemplary as he added the extras to tries from Jacques Vermeulen and Stuart Hogg as well as slotting over four penalties.

SIR CLIVE WOODWARD: I try not to be overly partisan in my columns because I love good rugby and admire top-quality play from all teams, but I hope Scotland record a thumping win over Italy.

ROB ROBERTSON IN ROME: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend believes the pressure has been lifted after his side 'zeroed' Italy in an emphatic Six Nations win in the Italian capital.

Russell will not feature in the remaining games, against France on Sunday and Wales in Cardiff on March 14, as it is feared his arrival would detract from preparations for two games only six days apart.

EXCLUSIVE: A Scottish Women's Rugby player being treated for coronavirus spent days training near to Team GB Olympians at their base in Loughborough before she was diagnosed.

Scottish Rugby Union chiefs have set aside £500,000 to help clubs struggling in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak after suspending the domestic season until at least March 29.

The PFA Player of the Year ended last season with no opponent completing a dribble past him in a staggering 64 matches. Liverpool centre back has lifted the lid on what has helped him.

De Jong completed a big-money £65million move to the Spanish giants from Ajax in January and he will be officially unveiled as a Barcelona player on Friday.

United States take on Netherlands for ultimate glory in the Women's World Cup final in France today. Sportsmail will provide you live updates as it happens from the Lyon Olympic Stadium.

After Liverpool wished him happy birthday on Twitter, the club's supporters inevitably took to social media to sing his praises after quickly becoming a fan favourite on Merseyside.

De Ligt became the most sought after youngster in the world after a huge breakthrough season with Ajax, and he has attracted heavy interest from the likes of Juventus and Barcelona.

Ajax have announced their star defender Matthijs De Ligt has been left out of their squad for their summer tour to Austria pending 'a possible transfer'.

Maurizio Sarri views Matthijs de Ligt as a key part of a three-man defensive wall at Juventus this season. The Dutch centre back is nearing the completion of his £63million transfer.

During the latest episode of BT Sport's 'What I Wore' series, Van Persie was asked to talk about the iconic moments from his career as he worked his way through the shirts he donned during his career.

The 35-year-old had been playing for Al-Gharafa in Qatar but images of him attending Utrecht's clash against VVV-Venlo caused a stir after they showed him to be carrying a few extra pounds.

The Dutch, managed by Bert Van Marwijk in 2010, were defeated in the final by Spain following an extra-time winner by midfield maestro Andres Iniesta in South Africa.

October 13, 1976. Best's career was on the wane. He had turned 30 that summer and come back from his first stint in the US with Los Angeles Aztecs.

Georginio Wijnaldum admits Holland's recent absence from major tournaments has been 'painful' as they look set to end that exodus at Euro 2020 next summer.

De Toekomst training complex in Amsterdam was like a scene from Armageddon as Ajax fans let their players know what the fixture means to them while there were similar scenes in Rotterdam.

Ronald Koeman has once again reiterated his desire to take over as Barcelona manager following Euro 2020 after it emerged this month that he is free to leave his Holland contract after the tournament ends.

Despite being just 17-years-old, Liverpool starlet Ki-jana Hoever is making heads turn weekly. On the brink of U17 World Cup glory with Holland, Sportsmail takes a look at the 'new Van Dijk.'

Ruud Gullit (right) treated football fans to a throwback photo of himself posing with fellow Holland legends Marco van Basten and Frank Rijkaard (left).

When Ronald Koeman was shown the door at Goodison Park back in October 2017, it was difficult to imagine a route back to the top for the Dutchman, but now he is a Barcelona candidate.

Dutch footballer Memphis Depay has hit out at racist fans after yet another foul incident caused a football game between FC Den Bosch and Excelsior to be stopped on Sunday.

Holland and Liverpool star Gini Wijnaldum says he would walk from the pitch were he to be targeted with racial abuse, just as Ahmad Mendes Moreira was recently in a Dutch second division tie.

Holland midfielder Gini Wijnaldum backed up his powerful words on racism in football this week, by leading by example for his national team and making a visual statement.

Former Newcastle and Crystal Palace manager Alan Pardew takes the reigns at the Dutch outfit with the club struggling in 17th in the league having been thumped 6-1 by Ajax at the weekend.

MARTIN SAMUEL - CHIEF SPORTS WRITER: Don't we ever learn? The marquee events, the marquee players, don't care about our wish for a northern powerhouse and FIFA will be no different.

Ireland striker Parrott is a loan target for a number of clubs in England but Pardew has now entered the hunt and believes the 17 year-old can help fire second-bottom Den Haag to safety.

Ronald Koeman has revealed he rejected the chance to manage Lionel Messi and Co at Barcelona in order to focus on his job as Holland's head coach.

Ronald Koeman's Barcelona exit clause has been delayed until 2021 after the postponement of the European Championships this summer.

Ronald Koeman was one of the many candidates Barcelona had on their shortlist to replace Ernesto Valverde, but he said he was reluctant to leave the Netherlands so close to Euro 2020.

Barcelona had high hopes for Frenkie de Jong after winning the race to sign him last summer for £65million, but the 22-year-old has so far failed to live up to expectation at the Camp Nou.

Dutch top-flight club FC Utrecht are preparing for legal action to fight the Royal Netherlands Football Association's decision to cancel the remainder of the league season.

Inter Milan forward Romelu Lukaku has sent a message of support to former manager Ronald Koeman after he underwent a heart procedure in Amsterdam. 

The superstar musician's burgeoning domestic empire started in 2012, when he bought a modern farmhouse in the town of Framlingham.

These celebrity lookalikes are so convincing, they've turned it into a full -time career - including a Prince Harry double who has flown business class to China to attend a billionaire's birthday party.

Ed Sheeran recently made headlines by expanding his £3.7m (AUD $6.5m) 'mini-village' in his hometown of Suffolk by buying the home of a fourth neighbour.

The cheeky phrase used by Jamie and Rebekah Vardy,  'chat s***, get banged', has been used in a new song by Rapper Stormzy with Ed Sheeran. 

Taking to Instagram, Ed, 28, thanked his fans for their support and said he will 'never forget' the Divide tour.

The Grammy winner, 28, who is currently on his Divide tour in Hannover, Germany, took to Instagram on Friday to share the devastating news with fans.

It marks the latest addition to Sheeran's housing empire in Framlingham, Suffolk, which has ballooned in size after the pop star, 28, snapped up four of the surrounding properties.