Scotland 24 Wales 25
It’s the one that got away as Townsend’s men stumble after Fagerson’s dismissal
THIS was no Scotland hardluck story as a one-point defeat may suggest. This was a case of the team blowing their best chance of mounting a Six Nations challenge through their own indiscipline and some poor decision making.
It really didn’t have to be this way for the Scots who were on a high after their stunning victory over England in last week’s opener at Twickenham.
Until Zander Fagerson pressed the self-destruct button and got himself sent off early in the second half they were heading for their fifth Six Nations win in a row.
It wasn’t a harsh decision to red card him as some may suggest. It was an obvious one. After Irishman Peter O’Mahony was sent off against the Welsh for a similar offence at the breakdown the previous week it was a stupid, reckless challenge to lead with the shoulder from the Scotland prop who should have known better.
His was a dangerous challenge and he should have never flown into the breakdown at such a rate.
The moment he hit Wyn Jones he gave referee Matthew Carley a big decision to make.
Fagerson’s ordering-off was the turning point in a game where Scotland — not for the first time — were architects of their own downfall and there can be no excuses for blowing a 14-point lead at home.
Within a few minutes of that red card, Wales went up the other end and scored a try from Wyn Jones that turned the game in the visitors’ favour.
All credit to Scotland that they didn’t buckle when down to 14 men and it took a tap tackle by Owen Watkin on Duhan van der Merwe in the last minute to stop what would have been a match-winning try but they only have themselves to blame for letting a win slip agonisingly through their fingers.
To the neutral, the game must have been an exciting spectacle but, for Scotland supporters, it was yet another frustrating 80 minutes with them all coming back down to earth with a resounding bump.
The home team’s indiscipline showed early on as they gave away three penalties within the first 13 minutes, with Dan Biggar putting over the third once he got within kickable distance.
The Welsh were in charge up until they scored in the seventh minute, which was when Scotland started to take the upper hand.
After the visitors gave away a penalty on the restart, Finn Russell kicked to the corner. The Scots won the line-out, brought the ball back centre before Wales were caught offside. Russell kicked the easy penalty.
Blade Thomson had to come off after only 12 minutes with a head injury and Gary Graham came into the back row earlier than expected. Six minutes later, Scotland took the lead after some quick thinking from Ali Price.
Russell started the move, Hamish Watson spun out of a tackle and the ball was recycled to Price.
In a silent Murrayfield the scrumhalf heard the shout from Darcy Graham to kick over the top. Price hadn’t time to get the ball onto his preferred left foot but it didn’t matter. His right-foot chip landed into the arms of Graham who took it superbly to run in for the try. Russell put over the extras.
Scotland went further ahead with a try made and finished by Hogg. The ball looked to be bogged down in midfield before the full-back saw a gap in behind the Welsh defence.
Leigh Halfpenny looked to have the ball covered but he fumbled it, then Louis Rees-Zammit fell over his own player. A grateful Hogg took full advantage to go over for a try converted by Russell. Scotland could have gone further ahead from a Price kick but the ball bounced off the chest of Hogg to safety. Halfpenny had to go off after hurting himself in an attempted tackle on Darcy Graham as Scotland continued to dominate.
They should have seen the half out but Gary Graham gave away two penalties in a row that gifted the ball to the Welsh. They took full advantage by kicking to the corner, winning the line-out with the ball being recycled by the backs out wide to Rees-Zammit who scored.
Gregor Townsend’s men thought they had made the perfect start to the second half when second-row Scott Cummings and Gary Graham went over but referee Carley ruled it out for blocking in the build-up.
Wales made the most of their let-off and went up the other end to score their opening try. They won the ball at the breakdown and the backs burst into life, Rees-Zammit playing in Liam Williams to score. Even with Callum Sheedy’s conversion, Scotland were still ahead before the game turned on its head after Fagerson’s red card.
The front-row forward charged into the ruck in a dangerous manner to hit prop Wyn Jones. Referee Carley took his time and talked long and hard with his TMO before dismissing Fagerson.
Wales realised this was their moment and Wyn Jones ploughed over to give them the lead.
Scotland didn’t panic and even although they were a man down, took the game to the Welsh.
Hogg turned down numerous opportunities to go for a penalty as he felt there was a try in his team — and he was so right.
Made by Russell, the Scotland captain managed to brush off two Welsh defenders to score in the corner. Russell’s successful conversion was a superb effort. With 11 minutes left, Rees-Zammit capped a brilliant display with a great solo try, his second of the match. Wales moved from one side of the pitch to the other before the ball ended up in his hands. Showing great initiative, he chipped ahead and caught his own kick to score.
It was a one-point game that the Scots nearly won, with only that tap tackle by Watkin stopping Van der Merwe scoring.
The look on captain Hogg’s face at the end told its own story. After the England win, he was elated.
Now he slumped to the ground and looked closer to tears after the one that got away.