TITLE JOY!

PIVAC’S MEN WIN SIX NATIONS

WALES have been crowned Six Nations champions after Scotland beat France in Paris.

Wayne Pivac’s side were watching from their sofas as Les Bleus played out their final match against the Scots after it had to be rescheduled following a Covid outbreak among French ranks last month.

To win the championship, France had to claim a four-try bonus point and win by at least 21 points or win by 20 points, scoring at least six tries.

But, on a damp night at the Stade de France, tries from Brice Dulin, Damian Penaud and Swan Rebbadj were not enough and Wales finished four points clear at the top of the table

Scotland took an early lead through Duhan van der Merwe and the boot of Finn Russell, and conceded just five points while captain Stuart Hogg was in the sin bin in the middle of the match.

A second-half score from replacement hooker David Cherry put Scotland back in a commanding position before Rebbadj’s 65th minute effort.

Then came the cards. Russell was sent off for making contact with the throat of Dulin with his forearm and replacement French scrum-half Baptiste Serin was sin binned in the 74th minute.

Amid dramatic scenes, van der Merwe crossed for his second try in the 85th minute – with Adam Hastings adding the extras – to seal Scotland’s first win in Paris since 1999 and send the Six Nations trophy to Cardiff.

Wales faced an anxious wait, despite a betterthan-expected campaign, after letting the Grand Slam slip through their fingers in a heartbreaking 32-30 defeat to France last Saturday.

But their clinical brand of rugby, which saw them score more tries and points than they have ever managed in a Six Nations, was enough to see them clinch the title and, in the end, it was more comfortable than expected.

Their resounding 40-24 victory over England and bonus-point win at Murrayfield will now be viewed as the crucial matches in a tournament that was won by the finest of margins.

Wales will now receive the Six Nations trophy at their training base today, though some players based in England will be missing as they are in action for their club sides.

Speaking to the BBC after the match, Wales coach Wayne Pivac said: “It was a hell of a game wasn’t it?

“It reminded me of last week at times with cards and people coming and going.

“Penalties, missed opportunities – it had everything and it was a great game to watch.

“Following last week, what a tournament it has been.

“From a Welsh point of view we’re over the moon and very happy to have won the championship.

“It’s just a shame we couldn’t have done it together as a group last week.”