Scotland vs. Wales: Score and Twitter Reaction from 2015 Six Nations Round 2
Wales picked up their first win of the 2015 Six Nations at the expense of a dogged Scotland team, triumphing 26-23 at Murrayfield.
The result was shared by the Welsh Rugby Twitter account:
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Tries from Rhys Webb, Jonathan Davies and 16 points from the boot of Leigh Halfpenny did the damage for the Welsh. Scotland went in front thanks to an early try from Stuart Hogg, while skipper Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell kicked a collective 11 points for the hosts. Jim Hamilton went over in the dying stages for Scotland, but it was too little too late.
After both nations suffered defeats in their respective opening games, the pressure was on coming into this one. And Wales centre Jamie Roberts admitted in his column in The Independent this week that it was going to be a difficult 80 minutes for his side:
"Like us, they could have won their opening game but didn’t. And like us they can’t afford to lose another game. If either side does in Edinburgh we’re pure and simply dead and buried in the Championship.
They’ll no doubt fancy their chances, looking at the way we played in the second half against England, and Vern Cotter has given them tremendous self-belief as a side. Plus, it’s always special playing at Murrayfield, with the bagpipes, “Flower of Scotland” and the whole emotion of the occasion.
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Despite Halfpenny putting over an early penalty to put the visitors in front, it was the hosts who thrived in the opening stages backed by a raucous Murrayfield crowd.
Russell turned the play over superbly for the Scots and got the ball into the hands of Hogg out wide. The 22-year-old then showcased scintillating pace to burn past the Scottish defenders around the outside and tap down for a try. Laidlaw converted to put the Scots 7-3 in front.
Hogg has been in prolific form recently. As noted by OptaJonny, the youngster is clinical when he gets opportunities:
A Laidlaw penalty made it 10-3, but Wales didn’t look flustered despite the hosts increasing dominance. Another two Halfpenny penalties either side of a yellow card for Russell cut the deficit to one point, and not long after the visitors were in front.
Liam Williams was the architect for the Welsh, as they made use of their personnel advantage in the best possible fashion. After a swift counter-attack Williams drew in the Scottish defender before a brisk pass gave Webb a clear run to the try-line; Halfpenny insouciantly slotted a difficult conversion to push Wales 16-10 ahead.
As noted by the Welsh team’s Twitter account, Webb has also been in fine try-scoring form as of late:
Wales were also reduced to 14 men ahead of the half-time interval as Davies was temporarily dismissed. That prompted the hosts to push forward in search of a try, and as noted by Simon Thomas of the South Wales Echo, only a stunning tackle from Halfpenny prevented Hogg from getting his second of the day:
Scotland carried that momentum into the second half as a thunderous scrum yielded a penalty which Laidlaw subsequently slotted to make it a three-point match. Halfpenny was on hand to quickly restore Wales’ advantage with a penalty of his own, but after another powerful scrum the Scotland skipper made it 19-16 to the Welsh.
The visitors were the team in the ascendency once the second half settled into a pattern, however. Williams had a try chalked off for obstruction while Halfpenny uncharacteristically scuffed a penalty. But just when it looked as though Wales had let the Scots off the hook, Davies struck.
Halfpenny was involved again in helping Wales turn the ball over and it was worked through to the centre, who slalomed through a weary Scotland defence to touch down under the posts. A simple conversion was added and suddenly Wales had a 10-point advantage at 26-16.
Mick Cleary of The Telegraph thought that the gulf in class between the teams was beginning to show as an arduous contest began to take its toll:
Scotland looked to heap some late pressure onto the Welsh defence, but with the final whistle edging ever closer the visitors were steely in their determination to cling on. And Despite a late try from Hamilton, they eventually notched a crucial victory.
For Wales, getting the first win on the board was vital. There were plenty of questions asked about the direction of this team in the wake of the loss to England, and to respond with this kind of display was hugely encouraging for their lingering tournament hopes.
The pressure will be on Vern Cotter’s Scotland team after two consecutive defeats. There were some positive signs here, but once again they were unconvincing in this match and failed to showcase the clinical edge required to accrue wins at this elite level.
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