Russell is some Finn special for hot Scots
BRILLIANT Finn Russell led super Scotland to victory as sorrywales were left to wonder, ‘Where do we go from here?’. Two 30-point drubbings in a row have left them fighting to find a team to take to the World Cup.
After conceding four tries against a rampant Ireland in Cardiff,warren Gatland’s re-shaped side were walloped by a record margin against a Scottish side that can now bid for a Triple Crown and Grand Slam after 23 years of trying.
The 28-point defeat was the biggest winning margin Scotland had enjoyed since fixtures began back in 1883.
For Gatland it was a first defeat aswales coach against the Scots in what was his 12th game against them. But while his older players had met his standards against the Irish and in this game his young guns came up short as well.
Gatland said: “We gave away 19 penalties and that is not acceptable.we also spent six minutes in their 22 and we didn’t come away with much, which is pretty disappointing.
“This is one of the strongest Scottish sides I have seen and they are playing with confidence.
“We just have to stay tight and find a way to get through this. At half time we talked about putting them under pressure in their 22.
We had some strong carries, but then got turned over.”
Wales were very much in the game at the break after hitting back with a try by skipper Ken Owens, converted off the touchline by Dan Biggar, having gone 13-0 down.
Then the second-half turned into the Russell show as he turned in a majestic performance.
He conjured up two tries for Kyle
Steyn and then ran the show as the Scots turned on the style to score five tries as
Blair Kinghorn and Mat
Fagerson also joined the party. George Turner had scored the first-half try.
Russell said: ‘‘It was a great result for us.the boys put in a good performance.
‘‘I was doing my job out there – making the other boys look good!
‘‘We were all on the same page, which allowed us to attack Wales like we did. It was a good performance all round.’’
Scotland captain Jamie Ritchie added: ‘‘We have belief that if we play to our best, we can beat any team. We have got a lot more in us, and we will be looking to improve when we go to Paris in a fortnight’s time.’’
Gatland, meanwhile, is left to sort out the mess as they build towards a home game with England.
He added: “People called for changes and we did that. Now they’ll be doing the same again – sometimes it’s a lose, lose situation. ”
Wales skipper Ken Owens is still waiting for his first win in charge. He said:“we had a really good first-half performance and were a bit unlucky not to go in ahead at the interval.
“If you give a team like Scotland, especially when they are full of confidence after the win against England, a sniff they are going to punish you – and that is what they did.
“It is early days, with new coaching staff, new players and we just need to work hard over the next two weeks and, hopefully, turn a corner against England.”