Guinness Six Nations | Scotland Survives Rampant Welsh Comeback
Guinness Six Nations | Scotland Survives Rampant Welsh Comeback
Scotland holds off Wales' late comeback to win 35-29, showcasing dominance early but struggling to finish strong. Wales shows resilience.
Scotland held off a late Welsh resurgence to claim a convincing 35-29 victory at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday, securing the Doddie Weir Cup and marking a third consecutive Six Nations triumph over Wales for the first time in tournament history.
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Despite a spirited comeback from the visitors, Scotland’s dominant first-half display provided an insurmountable foundation.
Gregor Townsend’s side ran in four first-half tries, establishing a commanding lead that ultimately proved just enough to withstand a late surge from Matt Sherratt’s team.
Wales struck first with an early Gareth Anscombe penalty, but Scotland quickly took control. Fullback Blair Kinghorn broke through in the fifth minute, brushing aside Anscombe to score in the corner.
Minutes later, Huw Jones and Tom Jordan combined to put the latter over the line, pushing the hosts to a 14-3 lead.
Wales responded in the 24th minute through Blair Murray, who latched onto an Anscombe chip to touch down. However, the Gloucester fly-half failed to convert, leaving the score at 14-8.
Scotland’s reaction was emphatic.
Winger Darcy Graham capitalized on Finn Russell’s precise playmaking to score Scotland’s third try in the 27th minute. Russell’s conversion kept his perfect record intact.
The visitors’ situation worsened when prop WillGriff John was sin-binned for a cynical foul, allowing Scotland to pounce.
In the chaotic moments that followed, Jordan seized on a fumbled Welsh recovery to claim his second try of the match, securing the crucial bonus point before halftime. Russell’s kick made it 28-8 at the break.
Scotland extended its dominance shortly after the interval, as Kinghorn crossed for his second try in the 47th minute. Russell, recovering from a poor kicking display against England, continued his flawless form, nailing his fifth conversion to stretch the lead to 35-8.
Wales, however, found renewed energy.
Center Ben Thomas weaved through Scotland’s defense in the 60th minute, cutting the deficit to 35-15 following Jarrod Evans’ successful conversion.
Seven minutes later, second-row Teddy Williams powered over for his first international try, with Evans again adding the extras to make it 35-22.
The visitors thought they had clawed even closer when No. 8 Taulupe Faletau finished a scintillating breakaway sparked by Murray deep inside his own 22. However, the try was disallowed after referee Andrea Piardi ruled that Murray had jumped into a tackle during his audacious run.
Wales refused to relent, and in stoppage time, Joe Roberts burst through Scotland’s defense, before Max Llewellyn finished off a sweeping attack. Evans converted, reducing the deficit to just six points and securing a losing bonus point for Wales.
Scotland Still Struggling To Play a Full 80 Minutes
Scotland dominated for the first hour, racking up a commanding 35-8 lead. However, Scotland once again showed vulnerability in the closing stages, allowing Wales to score three unanswered tries in the final quarter.
While the early dominance was enough to secure victory, Scotland's inability to maintain intensity for the full match remains a concern.
Wales Lacking The Power To Win Tight Battles
The visitors were second-best in the physical exchanges, particularly in the first half when Scotland’s sharp attacking play and dominance in contact saw the Scots race ahead.
John’s yellow card exposed Wales’ struggles, and the team's inability to impose itself physically allowed Scotland to dictate much of the contest.
Wales Refuse To Stop Playing, Even When Behind
Despite trailing by 27 points early in the second half, Wales continued to play at full tempo, launching a late surge that nearly snatched an improbable comeback.
Wales' three late tries and relentless attacking intent earned the Welsh a losing bonus point and proved they won’t go down without a fight - something to build on in the rest of the tournament.
Final Thoughts
While Scotland’s final quarter left much to be desired, the team's first-hour dominance ensured a return to its winning ways following a Calcutta Cup loss to England.
For Wales, the defeat extended its winless Six Nations streak to two years, though the late surge showcased a resilience the team will hope to build on.
“It’s a big win for us,” Scotland’s Finn Russell said post-match. “We played some great rugby in the first half, but we’ll need to be better at closing out games.”
Wales will rue its slow start but will take encouragement from the late fightback as they look ahead to springing an upset on England back home in Cardiff in the final round.
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