by Haydn Evans
WALES slumped to fifth place in the disrupted Six Nations after an uninspiring defeat to Scotland in tough conditions at an empty Parc-Y-Scarlets in Llanelli.
Talismanic captain Alun Wyn Jones made history winning his 149th international cap, breaking the previous record held by All Black legend Richie McCaw.
But the record-breaker didn’t get the win he would have wanted to mark such an historic occasion.
Finn Russell had the chance to open the scoring for the visitors in the 2nd minute but his penalty effort was dragged wide in the swirling Llanelli wind. However, the Racing 92 outside-half atoned for his error eight minutes later, slotting a penalty from in front of the posts after Ryan Elias was caught offside.
After Wales’ first period of real pressure, Cardiff Blues prop Rhys Carre scored his first international try, burrowing over underneath the posts to take the lead, converted by ever-reliable Dan Biggar.
Scotland were struck a cruel blow as Biggar knocked over the conversion as his opposite number Russell limped off with a suspected hamstring problem. His replacement, Adam Hastings, brought Scotland back within a point as the clock turned red after James Davies, who came in late after Wales’ Justin Tipuric was ruled out with tonsillitis yesterday, was penalised for going off his feet.
Half time: Wales 7–6 Scotland.
In an error-filled second half at Parc-Y-Scarlets we were forced to wait 20 minutes for the first points. Substitute Stuart McInally crossed the whitewash on the back of a rolling maul after Hastings kicked to the corner. However, the former Bath man couldn’t add the extras from just right of the uprights.
The Scots were made to pay straight away as Leigh Halfpenny converted the penalty he won himself after catching opposite number Stuart Hogg in possession.
The game ended with Wales trying to force play out of their own 22 when Player of the Match Jamie Ritchie won a penalty at the breakdown and captain Hogg struck over a penalty from in front of the posts to secure Scotland’s first win on Welsh soil since 2002.
The loss adds to the mounting pressure on coach Wayne Pivac, whose only victory in charge of Wales came against Italy before COVID-19 disrupted the campaign. Wales have a week break before playing Ireland in the newly formed Autumn Nations Cup. Scotland travel to Italy in a fortnight to face the Azzuri in the same tournament.
The home side wore black armbands in remembrance of Llanelli, Wales and Lions legend JJ Williams, who passed away this week aged 72.
