NATIONS2018

Laidlaw drowns out noise

GREIG LAIDLAW had to turn a deaf ear to the Italian Tannoy to ensure Scotland’s Six Nations did not end on a sour note.

The scrum-half was lining up his crucial last-gasp penalty in Rome when an announcement came from the Stadio Olimpico PA system.

But the unwelcome broadcast did not put off the Clermont Auvergne man.

That precious kick handed the Scots their first away win in the championship for two years and Laidlaw, above, said there was no chance he would let himself be distracted.

“That kick is up there with the best I’ve hit,” he said. “But I have already said to the boys I’d prefer they don’t get us in that

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the 32nd minute, having got going through a Liam Williams try and three Leigh Halfpenny penalties.

France struggled to retain possession, conceded 12 penalties and their fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc missed a crucial second-half penalty.

Trinh-Duc had a shocker and Wales were perhaps lucky to come away on top. They were once again thankful to skipper Alun Wyn Jones, who was the game’s stand-out performer.

“We said before the game that only second place would be good enough for us and we had to win,” said Wales centre Scott Williams. “We got the job done. It was a scrappy game We have played a lot better in games and lost.” situation again as I don’t want to have to kick too many of them.

“That’s part of my job as a goal-kicker, though. There is always noise and it’s part of being a goal-kicker that you have to block noise out.”

Gregor Townsend has been heaped with praise for the way his side evolved during the autumn Tests into one of the most thrilling attacking forces in world rugby. The Scots picked up victories over France, England and Italy but defeats by Wales and Ireland remain sore points.

Laidlaw said: “We’ve got areas we still need to work on. We want to win the championship.”

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