STUNNING WIN THAT NOBODY DARED DREAM OF ...except for Gatland!
WALES 34 - SCOTLAND 7
ALL THE ACTION, ALL THE REACTION:
WARREN GATLAND predicted the resounding 34-7 thumping of Scotland that got Wales’ Six Nations campaign off to a rip-roaring start.
The Scots had arrived at the Principality Stadium with genuine hopes of a first win at Cardiff since 2002 after beating Australia by a record score and losing narrowly to world champions New Zealand in the autumn.
But despite his team being heavily depleted by injuries, Gatland was always confident the rampant hosts would smash the Scots by at least 20 points and set up a riveting encounter with England at Twickenham next weekend. Gatland’s men ran in four tries for their first Six Nations bonus point and stopped Scotland even getting on the scoreboard until the final minute of the game.
“It was an afternoon I was expecting with the way we have trained the last couple of weeks,” said Gatland.
“There was definitely a quiet confidence in the squad, they have been outstanding in their preparation and we went in the game expecting to win reasonably comfortably.
“I told the chief executive Martyn Phillips that I thought we would win by 20 points at the team run on Friday and he was shocked.
“But that’s how well we’ve trained. The guys have been excellent.
“Getting Scotland up first at home was great for us to get off to a winning start and a lot of the players wanted to make up for last year’s disappointment at Murrayfield.”
Leigh Halfpenny ended a five-year Test try drought as he crossed twice, the full-back providing 24 of Wales’ points. Fellow Scarlets Gareth Davies and Steff Evans also scored.
“Getting the bonus point was pleasing as well and we probably left two or three tries out there on the pitch, so there is some improvement for us to do there,” said Gatland.
“As a squad we can get better for next week.”
Wales’ next test is against defending champions England and Gatland hopes to welcome back Liam Williams and George North.