Match Report: Scotland 24-25 Wales

13th February 2021 Ben Jones Student Work 0
Pic - James Dodd

by Ben Jones

LOUIS Rees-Zammit stars as Wales maintain one-hundred per cent start to the Six Nations, beating Scotland in a thriller at BT Murrayfield.

After the formalities had finished, where it was arguably the battle of the two best national anthems, Finn Russell got the game underway in what Steve Cotter called ‘minus 49 temperatures’.

It wouldn’t take long for Wales’s line out woes to continue as their first, inside the first three minutes, fell into Scottish hands but nothing came of it.

What isn’t an issue for Wales is kicking and with Dan Biggar and Leigh Halfpenny, and the two combined for the first points of the contest. A penalty in midfield saw the fly half kick for touch, and from resulting phases, Halfpenny kicked the penalty.

It wasn’t long before the scores were level again as prop Wyn Jones was caught offside. Scotland tried to punch it in whilst there was an advantage but in the end had to settle for the points under the posts.

It would be ten straight points for Scotland as they crossed the whitewash first on the 18 minute mark as first Jonny Gray broke through, taking Halfpenny to stop him. Then, after a few phases, a deft chip from scrum half Ali Price landed in the waiting arms of the onrushing Darcy Graham who touched down under the posts. Russell added the extras.

Captain Stuart Hogg, who was praised for his kicking performance at England last weekend, would again produce a kick that would produce a talking point. This one however would turn into a try. His chip and chase over the top had Halfpenny back trailing and his mishandle allowed Hogg to pick up and score. 

Wales looked lost, like they didn’t know how to overturn the confidence the Scots were boasting. A number of errors leading to penalties were met with huge roars from Scottish players both on the pitch and the bench.

If there was the perfect way to sum up the first half and the Scottish domination, the territory was the way to show it. The home side had 33% between the half way line and the 22 metre line, and 42% between the 22 metre line and the try line. 

Then came a bittersweet moment for Welsh fans across the land. Halfpenny was clattered into – and ultimately conceded a penalty in the process – by Graham and on came Willis Halaholo for his international debut. 

It’d be a positive end to the first half for the visitors as Louis Rees-Zammit would cross for his second try in as many games. Quick ball from the line out and some hard work from Nick Tompkins to offload saw the winger beat the last man and touch down. Biggar missed the conversion to make it 17-8 at the half. 

The first five minutes of the second half brought a flurry of penalties against either side for a mixture of not releasing, off the feet and everything in between. Surprisingly, the scoreboard remained the same.

Scotland thought they had a try as the clock ticked towards 50 minutes but it wasn’t to be as Wales got stroke of luck. A penalty advantage resulted in phase after phase of pounding the try line as Scotland piled over but it was pulled back for obstruction in price.

That would click Wales in to gear as they themselves scored a try, and this one would count. Replacement Callum Sheedy was involved throughout as first his kick to touch set Wales up in good field position, and then his offload to Rees-Zammit set up Liam Williams to cross. Sheedy kicked the extras. 

The clear out is a hot topic in conversation in rugby, and it’d be at the forefront again. Prop Zander Fagerson came from a distance to clear  Wyn Jones out but was deemed to use excessive force and contact to the head. It was the second straight week a player had been sent off against Wales. 

In the space of five minutes, the game was turned on its head. Sheedy kicked for the corner and after a few phases – and the help of the TMO – Wyn Jones touched down as the pile came crushing down on him. 

The Bristol fly half couldn’t kick the conversation but Wales were ahead for the first time in the game. 

Just as it had to Ireland last week, the red card had given Scotland a boost. The hosts were parked on the Welsh five metre line, pressing for the go-ahead try but couldn’t seem to find it as Wales stood strong – and conceded a number of penalties.

Their pressure would tell eventually and it would be captain fantastic Hogg again who would score. The Welsh scrum stood strong but quick ball from it found the full back whose speed was enough to beat Watkin and Tompkins. Russell hit the extras as Scotland lead 24-20. 

That lead wouldn’t last long at all as Wales replied almost instantly through Rees-Zammit. Halaholo got the move going and found the winger on halfway, his speed got him away from the Scottish defenders and an inch perfect kick over the top for himself to touch had cheers you could hear all the way back in Cardiff. Sheedy again hooked the conversion wide but Wales were ahead. 

Wales knew they’d be in a game in the last ten minutes as Scotland looked to win it. The hearts of millions of Welsh fans would’ve been racing as Hogg broke through but tripped himself up and the pressure was relieved. 

Tompkins could’ve finished it off for Wales as he ran for the line minutes later only to turn it over for not releasing. 

The heart rate would’ve been through the roof as the game ended, too. Finn Russell found  Duhan van der Merwe on the wing who was clear but Watkin – who himself had quietly gone about his business all game – made a try saving ankle tap to trip the winger. His offload almost found Hogg but he knocked on and Wales escaped with victory, just. 

Man of the Match: Louis Rees-Zammit

SCOTLAND: 15) Stuart Hogg (C); 14) Darcy Graham, 13) Chris Harris, 12) James Lang, 11) Duhan van der Merwe; 10) Finn Russell, 9) Ali Price; 1) Rory Sutherland, 2) George Turner, 3) Zander Fagerson, 4) Scott Cummings, 5) Jonny Gray, 6) Blade Thomson, 7) Hamish Watson, 8) Matt Fagerson.

Replacements: 16) David Cherry, 17) Oli Kebble, 18) WP Nel, 19) Richie Gray, 20) Gary Graham, 21) Scott Steele, 22) Jaco van der Walt, 23) Huw Jones.

WALES:

15) Leigh Halfpenny; 14) Louis Rees-Zammit, 13) Owen Watkin, 12) Nick Tompkins, 11) Liam Williams; 10) Dan Biggar, 9) Gareth Davies; 1) Wyn Jones, 2) Ken Owens, 3) Tomas Francis, 4) Adam Beard, 5) Alun Wyn Jones (C), 6) Aaron Wainwright, 7) Justin Tipuric, 8) Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: 16) Elliot Dee, 17) Rhodri Jones, 18) Leon Brown, 19) Will Rowlands, 20) James Botham, 21) Kieran Hardy, 22) Callum Sheedy, 23) Willis Halaholo.

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