Indiscipline so costly for Scots aswales hit back to claim victory
SCOTLAND 24 WALES 25 Scotland were architects of their own downfall at snowy BT Murrayfield.
They were comfortably ahead and looking likely to win their opening two championship games for the first time in a quarter-of-a-century, only to shoot themselves in the foot.
Their discipline was dodgy all game and when prop Zander Fagerson charged recklessly into the ruck, making contact with an opponent’s head, the referee had no choice but to show the red card.
Wales, second-best up until that point, toiled to make their advantage in manpower count but ultimately managed to win by the most slender of margins.
Wales started brightly, stringing the phases together, and Scotland – who only gave away six penalties against England last week – coughed up three in the opening minutes allowing Leigh Halfpenny to kick the visitors ahead.
Finn Russell drew the hosts level, though, when Wales skipper Alun-wyn Jones infringed as Scotland put pressure on the Welsh whitewash.
Blade Thomson, who plies his trade in Wales, was led groggily from the field after a head knock only quarter-of-an-hour into the game and so missed the first try while failing an HIA.
Johnny Gray galloped through the cover seemingly in slow motion and, as the Welsh defence scrambled to reorganise, Ali Price chipped the ball over them with Darcy Graham timing his run to perfection to pocket the kick and scamper over.
Russell added the extras, and did do again barely five minutes later when great Scottish handling shuttled the ball to Stuart Hogg.
Halfpenny guddled the Scotland skipper’s kick and the chasing Hogg gleefully gathered it to score.
Referee Matt Carley was whistling with worrying regularity though, admittedly, Scotland’s discipline was poor.
And they paid the price just before half-time when good hands and a succession of penalty advantages let Wales advance up the pitch, Louis Rees-zammit racing over in the corner for the try.
That saw the sides swap ends with Scotland 17-8 to the good having put in 30 minutes of composed, controlled rugby albeit bookended by brief but costly spells of indiscipline.
And worse was to come. Gary Graham thought he’d notched Scotland’s third but the “try” was chalked off because Scott Cummings had illegally created the hole for him to crash through.
Wales coach Wayne Pivac swapped his half-backs, and it paid immediate dividends when Rees-zammit’s pass put a try on a plate for Liam Williams.
Callum Sheedy’s conversion drew Wales within two points with half-an-hour to run, and wobbling Scotland’s stranglehold on the match was well and truly broken when Fagerson was sent off.
The tighthead prop charged into the ruck, and his tucked arm made clear contact with Wyn Jones’ head.
Wales took just a minute to make the man advantage count and it was Jones who dotted the
ball down to put his side ahead.
But the Scots regrouped and, after an extended spell of pressure on the Wales line, Hogg hared over for his second try which Russell converted.
The lead lasted just five minutes, though, as Man-ofthe-match Rees-zammit kicked ahead and outpaced three chasing Scots to notch his brace.
Scotland fought to the last but the Wales defence held firm.
Scotland – Hogg (Capt.); D. Graham (Nel 57), Harris, Lang ( Jones 72), Van der Merwe; Russell, Price; Sutherland (Kebble 67), Turner (Cherry 67), Z. Fagerson, Cummings, J. Gray, Thomson (G. Graham 13)(R. Gray 57), Watson, M. Fagerson. Unused replacements – Steele, Van der Walt.
Wales – Halfpenny (Halaholo 33); Rees-zammit, Watkin, Tompkins, Williams; Biggar (Sheedy 49), Davies (Hardy 49); W. Jones (R. Jones 78), Owens (Dee 72), Francis (Brown 63), Beard, A-W. Jones (Capt.)(rowlands 72), Wainwright (Botham 63), Tipuric, Faletau.