Scotland survived a late Welsh comeback to record an ultimately convincing 35-29 win in Edinburgh.
Hopes of a Welsh revival suffered a dire blow in Edinburgh. It had been almost exactly two years since Wales last won in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, and that wait now continues.
Despite the visitors drawing first blood with a Gareth Anscombe penalty, it was Scotland who flexed their muscles with two tries in near enough the first ten minutes.
First, it was rangy fullback Blair Kinghorn, leaving Anscombe flailing as he galloped to the corner to score; then Huw Jones combined with midfield partner Tom Jordan for the latter to touch down for the hosts’ second.
Wales showed a glimmer of their form of a fortnight ago – when they went down in an encouraging manner at home to Ireland – after the opening quarter, when Anscombe kicked over the Scottish defence for rapid fullback Blair Murray to pounce and score. The Gloucester fly-half was unable to convert, meaning the hosts held a six-point lead: 14-8.
In very little time at all, however, Gregor Townsend’s team had earned their try bonus point and a 28-8 lead. The Scottish reaction to losing the Calcutta Cup was in full flow.
First, wing Darcy Graham finished a slick team move orchestrated by fly-half Finn Russell, who converted to maintain his perfect kicking record. Moments later, Wales found themselves further in trouble when prop WillGriff John was sin-binned for a cynical trip, allowing Scotland to pile on the pressure.
Jordan then capitalised on Welsh errors to score his second try of the match, punishing a chaotic sequence involving a misguided kick-pass and a fumbled recovery. Russell’s conversion secured the bonus point before halftime, leaving Wales reeling and Scotland in complete control at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
That control became vice-like when Kinghorn crossed for his second try on 47 minutes, and Russell well and truly put his miserable kicking display against England behind him by nailing his fifth conversion: 35-8.
Centre Ben Thomas offered some encouragement for Wales when he took the ball in the Scottish 22 and cut through the Scottish defence to score a try that looked born of frustration. Anscombe converted: 35-15.
Wales needed more, even just to make the scoreline more respectable, and replacement second-row Teddy Williams was the one to provide it with his first Test try. Another replacement, Jarrod Evans, converted: 35-22.
Number eight Taulupe Faletau then showed his class - not to mention pace - to score down the left wing following an astonishing breakout by Murray from his own 22... only for referee, Andrea Piardi to rule it out with the fullback deemed to have jumped out of the tackle. Mark that down as one of the great tries that never was.
Joe Roberts then made a break up the left wing to match Murray's effort. He was eventually brought down in the Scottish 22, but the hosts coughed up a penalty that allowed Wales to kick to the corner with over 80 minutes on the clock.
That then led to centre Max Llewellyn diving over for a try - converted by Jarrod Evans - which gave Wales a losing bonus point.
Scorers:
Scotland: Tries: Blair Kinghorn(2), Tom Jordan(2), Darcy Graham. Conversions: Finn Russell (5).
Wales: Tries: Blair Murray, Ben Thomas, Teddy Williams, Max Llewellyn. Conversions: Jarrod Evans (3). Penalty: Gareth Anscombe.
Teams:
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Tom Jordan, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (c), 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge (), 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman. Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Gregor Brown, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Stafford McDowall, 23 Kyle Rowe.
Wales: 15 Blair Murray, 14 Tom Rogers, 13 Max Llewellyn, 12 Ben Thomas, 11 Ellis Mee, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Jac Morgan (c), 5 Dafydd Jenkins, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 WillGriff John, 2 Elliot Dee, 1 Nicky Smith. Replacements: 16 Dewi Lake, 17 Gareth Thomas, 18 Keiron Assiratti, 19 Teddy Williams, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Rhodri Williams, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Joe Roberts.