Scotland hold off plucky Wales in Edinburgh
MATCH REPORT: Scotland co-captain Finn Russell was back to his best from the kicking tee as the flyhalf orchestrated a 35-29 Six Nations win over Wales at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Russell landed all five of his conversion attempts and starred in open play, with Scotland backs Tom Jordan and the impressive Blair Kinghorn scoring two tries apiece.
It was all in marked contrast to the Bath flyhalf’s troubles at Twickenham a fortnight ago where Scotland outscored England three tries to one only to lose 15-16 after Russell was off target with all three conversions.
Wales, 8-35 behind early in the second half, scored late tries through Ben Thomas, Teddy Williams and Max Llewellyn but their efforts weren’t enough to stop the visitors from suffering a national record-extending 16th straight Test defeat.
Match Summary
Scotland’s second win in four games this championship maintained their hopes of a first top-two finish in the Six Nations era ahead of their tournament finale away to leaders France next weekend.
This was another gutsy defeat for Wales after they gave champions Ireland a scare before going down 18-27 to champions Ireland in interim coach Matt Sherratt’s first game in charge.
Cardiff coach Sherratt’s spell as Wales’ caretaker boss is set to end a week on Saturday when Wales finish their Six Nations at home to his native England.
It took Scotland just five minutes to score the game’s first try, fullback Kinghorn crowning an excellent 14-phase move by going in following returning wing Darcy Graham’s injection of pace and well-timed pass.
Russell then landed a tough conversion from the left touchline – a score greeted by huge cheers from a home crowd delighted to see their hero back on target.
And just six minutes later more fine back play led to another Scotland try.
Powerhouse wing Duhan van der Merwe fended off Ellis Mee to create a two-on-one overlap out wide, with Huw Jones’s inside pass paving the way for fellow centre Jordan to score his first Test try.
Russell again added the extras and Scotland led 14-3.
Wales captain Jac Morgan, however, was winning ruck turnovers and the visitors got back into the game when flyhalf Gareth Anscombe’s precise chip through the defence allowed fullback Blair Murray to score a 24th-minute try.
Anscombe’s conversion attempt bounced off the post and moments later Scotland had their third try of an open first half when Graham crossed after Russell sold Anscombe a dummy before his clever delayed pass sent the wing under the posts.
Attack
Murray jump
Russell’s conversion meant Scotland, who have never finished higher than third in the Six Nations after winning the last Five Nations in 1999, were now 21-8 ahead.
Wales prop WillGriff John was then yellow-carded for cynically sticking out a leg to stop Scotland scrumhalf Ben White from playing the ball.
Scotland made their man advantage count with a fourth try that owed much to a litany of Wales errors.
Ben Thomas was wayward with a hugely ambitious kick-pass inside his own 22 that Murray just kept in play only for centre Thomas to then knock-on before Jordan hacked the loose ball downfield before regathering.
Eight minutes into the second half, Toulouse star Kinghorn had a double of his own, with Jones’ pass out the back to Russell allowing the Bath playmaker to release the fullback into a gaping hole in the Welsh defence.
As Townsend turned to his bench, centre Thomas and replacement Teddy Williams crossed for tries to reduce Scotland’s lead to 13 points.
With Scotland leading 35-22 and three minutes left of normal time, Wales loose forward Taulupe Faletau had a try disallowed after Murray was ruled to have illegally jumped out of the tackle in the build-up.
And with more than the regulation 80 minutes on the clock, Wales had the last word when Llewellyn went over for a converted try.
Man of the match: The award goes to Scotland fullback Blair Kinghorn, who was a constant threat on attack and he scored two tries as well.
Moment of the match: You couldn’t help but cheer every time Wales got some points on the board.
Villain of the match: No one.
The scorers:
For Scotland:
Tries: Kinghorn 2, Jordan 2, Graham
Cons: Russell 5
For Wales:
Tries: Murray, Thomas, T Williams, Llewellyn
Cons: Evans 3
Pen: Anscombe
Yellow card: WillGriff John (Wales, 31′ – cynical play, offside)
Teams:
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Tom Jordan, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (co-captain), 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge (co-captain), 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Gregor Brown, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Stafford McDowall, 23 Kyle Rowe.
Wales: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Jac Morgan (captain), 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Nicky Smith.
Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Joe Roberts.
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant referees: Nic Berry (Australia), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (France)
Six Nations
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