The match between Scotland and England on 27 March 1971 was played one week after their Five Nations meeting.

The record of both teams at the Five Nations tournament was poor: Scotland finishing last, England second-last.

The Scots came back to win the encounter 15–16,[3] breaking their six-year, two-match losing streak at Twickenham Stadium.

Despite both teams' poor records in the Five Nations, it was notably mentioned as unworthy by the news-media.

The twenty-point win was Scotland's biggest victory over England, and remained so for 14 years and 325 days until they met in the 1986 Five Nations.