Seventh heaven for Scots with dramatic and rare away victory
SCOTLAND have won seven Tests in a row for the first time, and claimed their first away win in the Women’s Six Nations since 2018 – and only their second since 2007 – in the most dramatic fashion, as they defeated Wales in their opener at Cardiff Arms Park.
Wales took an early lead through scrum-half Keira Bevan, but Scotland hit back straight away with their first attack. It was a well-taken try from winger Coreen Grant, converted by stand-off Helen Nelson.
However, Wales finished the half strongly and a penalty with the clock in the red from Bevan made it 10-6 at the interval.
A try by winger Rhona Lloyd, converted by Nelson, made it 17-6 before a try by Sisilia Tuipulotu was converted by Bevan.
Scotland then had to cope with two injuries before Nelson’s penalty extended the visitors’ advantage to 20-13.
Wales then knocked at the door, back-row Alex Stewart was yellow carded, and back-row Alex Callender’s try for Wales was given after a TMO check. However, Lleucu George, the stand-off, could not convert and Scotland held on for a famous win.
Here are four things we learned from Cardiff Arms Park.
This Scotland team has real bottle
In previous years Scotland may have lost this match, but they have built up resilience and really dug deep.
There were times when they were under the pump, but they did not panic, and while it took a missed conversion to seal the win, the sheer effort they had put into the 80 minutes meant they deserved a bit of luck.
They tackled themselves to a standstill and made some fine lastgasp interventions.
This sets things up nicely
The next two matches for Scotland are world No.3 France and then world No.1 England both at home.
They are daunting fixtures, but this result off the back of the six previous wins means that everyone can now look forward to them.
Scotland will still be the underdogs, but they are likely to draw record crowds to the Hive Stadium and with women’s rugby in Scotland in a good place, it must be capitalised on.
The attack is much sharper
Scotland did blow some chances and could have made things a bit easier for themselves, but there are certainly finishers in this team now and the attack is much sharper.
That transition to a more exciting, risk/reward type of attack started under Chris Laidlaw’s att ack coaching last Six Nations and Matt Banahan has carried that on.
Grant and Lloyd’s finishes showed that, while in outside centre Emma Orr and full- back Meryl Smith Scotland have very competent young attacking talents.
Depth will be tested
Scotland lost key forwards Lana Skeldon and Sarah Bonar to secondhalf injuries and they will likely be out for a spell. They play in important positions and in the past their absence would have really tested Scotland, but now there are players like Elis Martin, Eva Donaldson and Fi McIntosh waiting in the wings.