Wales 23-26 Scotland: Report and player ratings from inspired Cardiff Six Nations comeback after early scare

If Scotland are accused of raising their game when they face England, the exact same can be said for Wales every time Gregor Townsend and co come to Cardiff. In a fixture that has produced so many close encounters in recent years, this one didn’t disappoint.

Wales were yet to get off the mark in the competition but played like a team possessed in the first half as Scotland struggled to cope with the hosts in an electric Principality Stadium. However, some quick thinking from Finn Russell for a Darcy Graham try from a restart when Wales were sleeping proved to be the turning point.

The hard-fought 26-23 result means Scotland have now won two out of three in the Six Nations as they keep their hopes of their first ever Championship alive. But as they found themselves 17-5 down at one stage, they certainly rode their luck in the Welsh capital.

The Scots were given a boost early on as Wales centre Joe Hawkins was given a yellow card under review for a high tackle on Gregor Brown. From the resulting attack, Kyle Steyn looked certain to score but was hauled to the ground by Taine Plumtree as Wales cleared their lines.

While Scotland had an extra man, Wales looked in the ascendancy, when Alex Mann stole a Scotland lineout leading to an attack. As they went through the phases, Dave Cherry gave away a silly penalty for offside. Despite being down to 14 men, the Welsh went for maximum points from the penalty and were successful as Rhys Carre touched down after some nice handling from Wales on the Scotland line. Sam Costelow added the extras to give the hosts a dream start.

Just as it was announced that no further punishment was necessary for Hawkins, the Scots finally took advantage of the extra man after a tidy lineout routine. As the Welsh defence became far too narrow, Kyle Steyn found himself in acres of space on the right hand side. After some nice work from Russell, Blair Kinghorn found the winger for an easy score. The Scotland fly-half missed the conversion to level the score.

As Hawkins re-entered the field of play, a fine kick from Costelow in the Scotland 22 gave the Welsh territory. The visitors cleared but after a few phases found themselves defending deep again. As a few Wales forwards had a bite at the cherry on the Scotland line, they then decided to utilise the backs. Another great pass from Costelow found Josh Adams on the wing for him to touch down in the corner. The Wales fly half once again added the extras with an impressive kick out wide.

There were shades of Italy in week one as Scotland committed several handling errors in the first half with Cherry and Gregor Brown both dropping the ball forward unchallenged. They were also struggling to cope with the physicality of the Welsh who were gaining ground in almost every phase around the half hour mark. As ill-discipline also crept into the Scots’ game, Costelow scored a penalty under the posts to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

Towards the end of the first half Russell broke through the Wales defence, but a few phases later handling errors crept in again. This time Max Williamson was the culprit. Almost instantly, the lock was hooked before half time for Josh Bayliss as Pierre Schoeman also came on for Nathan McBeth, showing exactly what Gregor Townsend was making of the first half display.

Scotland couldn’t have been any more clinical in the first half against England at Murrayfield last weekend, but in Cardiff they were wasteful, hesitant and running out of ideas. Steyn found himself breaking through the Welsh defence but was tackled just before the line. The ball should’ve came out quicker, but instead Wales were given time to regroup. A few phases later Alex Mann won a penalty greeted by a huge roar in the Principality, as the Welsh went into the break 17-5 up.

The visitors started the second half as they ended the first as the contagious handling errors even spread to Kyle Steyn, who’s usually very assured under the high ball, which all occurred after yet another loose lineout. However, this time some great defensive work from replacement Bayliss got them out of jail. Despite this, some early Welsh pressure led to them scoring the first points of the second half through another Costelow penalty inside the Scotland 22.

A great take from a short restart from Kinghorn gave Scotland another chance to score. While Wales had defended valiantly Scotland must’ve broke through at least half a dozen times over the 80 minutes, but this time Huw Jones was unable to collect Duhan van der Merwe’s pass for an easy score.

Scotland simply had to score the next points as the match neared the hour mark and after 27 phases, Russell took matters into his own hands with a score. Scotland forwards and Ben White showed patience on the Welsh line before the half back decided to open the play up by utilising the backs as Russell angled his run nicely to touch down and convert his own try.

What followed was a sorry sight for for the Welsh fans as Costelow was carried off, however it would be a welcome one for Scotland as he was tearing them apart all afternoon. His replacement Jarrod Evans instantly scored a penalty to give them an eleven point lead. However, this was short lived as the quick thinking of Finn Russell took the restart quickly. Either the Welsh defence was sleeping or still celebrating, but the ball bounced perfectly for Graham to touch down in the corner. Russell kicked the conversion after the bizarre try to reduce the deficit to four in what felt as if it could’ve been a turning point for Townsend’s men on the hour mark.

With 10 minutes to go Scotland had a superb opportunity to take the lead with a lineout on the Welsh five metre line but once again handling errors came back to bite them as they lost the ball and Wales cleared. However the pressure continued as this time replacement hooker George Turner gave Scotland the lead through a well worked driving maul. The try meant Scotland would leave Cardiff with at least a bonus point as Russell added the extras to make it a three point lead.

From the resulting restart, a mix up between Matt Fagerson and Grant Gilchrist led to a knock on and Welsh scrum in a dangerous area. But some fantastic work from Elliot Millar Mills in the scrum won Scotland a penalty to relieve some pressure. The Scots closed the game out after the late scare for a hard-fought win at the Principality.