Scots sink Wales, Ireland top France
Stuart Hogg and Finn Russell shone as Scotland staged a rousing comeback to beat Wales for the first time in 10 years in an absorbing 29-13 Six Nations victory in Edinburgh yesterday.
After an early exchange of penalties Wales wing Liam Williams crossed in the corner for an eyecatching opening try as the visitors opened up a 13-9 halftime lead.
Scotland wings Tommy Seymour and Tim Visser finished tries set up by sublime Hogg passes after the break while Russell kicked 19 points with a perfect seven-from-seven record with the boot.
Victory was Scotland’s first against Wales since 2007 - ending a run of nine successive defeats - as they scored 23 unanswered points for their second win in three matches.
‘‘We knew how tough Wales were going to be,’’ man-of-thematch Russell told the BBC.
‘‘We knew if we were in the game, we’re good enough to get a couple of tries. We dug deep. Credit to the boys. We kept the scoreboard ticking over and at this level that’s what you need to keep doing. I was happy with my kicking.’’
The hosts showed great impetus after the break with winger Seymour scoring a converted try in the corner following sublime linkup play between Hogg and Visser.
Ireland also chalked up a win, beating France 19-9 thanks in large part to the boot of five-eighth Johnny Sexton.
Returning to the side after a slew of injuries, Sexton hit two penalties, converted the only try, and struck a 40-meter dropped goal before leaving in the 68th minute of his first match in five weeks.
France mounted a quality firstquarter attack to lead 6-0 on two Camille Lopez penalty kicks before Ireland seized momentum with a try from close range by Conor Murray. Sexton’s conversion put Ireland up 7-6.
The Irish failed to convert sustained pressure into more first-half points, twice turning the ball over inside France’s five-meter line.
With a couple of penalties and a drop goal from Sexton putting Ireland up by 10, Lopez converted a 73rd-minute penalty to pull France within 16-9.
However, substitute Irish flyhalf Paddy Jackson hit his own three minutes later to deny France a losing bonus point.