Wales have their revenge as Scots fall a point short
There was a sense of deja vu as the Women’s Six Nations began under Friday-night lights in Colwyn Bay with a one-point win for Wales over Scotland. The Welsh will view the 18-17 result as sweet revenge for a tight loss against the Scots in last year’s tournament.
Scotland were hoping to atone for not qualifying for last summer’s Rugby World Cup with a number of professional players in their ranks, including the Lille-based trio of Jade Konkel, usually a back row but playing at prop due to front-row injuries, full-back Chloe Rollie and outside-centre Lisa Thomson.
However, the young Wales side, featuring four Test debutants, started brightly, gaining territory through set-piece dominance which would lead to a try for wing Jess Kavanagh-williams.
The Scots looked somewhat disjointed in the first half but when they did get on the front foot, the Welsh defence held up.
After just missing out on scoring after a mistimed pass, wing Hannah Bluck scored on the stroke of halftime to make her Wales debut a memorable one. The hosts led 13-0 at the interval and did not take long to extend their lead thanks to outside-centre Kerin Lake.
That was the last point the Welsh scored as the Scots began to find their rhythm, Rollie scoring twice to reduce the deficit.
With just over 10 minutes left, Konkel drove over and Sarah Law’s conversion took the score to 18-17.
The final few minutes were tense but Wales clung on thanks in part to Scottish ill-discipline, with replacement scrum-half Jodie Rettie sent off late on.
England men’s Under-20 side got their campaign off to a winning start with a four-try, 27-20 victory over Italy in Gorizia.
Elsewhere, Allister Coetzee has left his post as South Africa coach after two wretched years in charge. SA Rugby said it reached an agreement with Coetzee “to part ways with immediate effect”, with a replacement expected to be named by the end of the month.