Welsh slay ill-disciplined Scots
Wales took advantage of Scotland's lack of discipline to move to the top of the Six Nations standings with a 27-13 win in Cardiff on Sunday.
Like lemmings, the Scots rushed to their death in the Millennium Stadium. Three errors inside five playing minutes cost them dearly and after 15 minutes in the second half they had coughed 24 points in a match they eventually lost by 14 points. It was so sad for a side that otherwise played manfully and contributed to a thrilling, energetic game played by two enterprising teams.
The first error happened just before half-time when Rory Lamont dashed down the left and the Scots bashed at the line, getting closer and closer. But Allan Jacobsen, bending to pick up the ball knocked on. The half ended 3-all
The second error occurred right at the kick-off to start the second half. Rhys Priestland of Wales kicked off. David Denton looked the likely man to catch the ball but he stood still and silent, and at the last minute Chris Cusiter stuck out a foot at the dipping ball, but it bounced off his foot to give Wales a line-out. They mauled, Ryan Jones drove forward. They went wide left with Jonathan Davies close and then went far right where massive Alex Cuthbert swatted little Greig Laidlaw aside and scored. 10-3 after 42 minutes.
The third error followed soon afterwards. The suicidal Scots fumbled and Jonathan Davies footed the ball a long way forward and set off after the ball. From behind, Nick De Luca tackled Davies, far from the ball. He did not just impede him - he tackled him. For that he was sent to the sin bin. Halfpenny kicked the penalty. 13-3 in 45 minutes - 10 points in five minutes. And in the next 10 minutes Rory Lamont was also sent to the sin bin and Wales scored another 14 points. The match was won and lost.
The afternoon started under the closed roof with a massed male voice choir singing the anthems That was brilliant. And from the start both sides ran and passed and ran some more. The half ended 3-3 but it was not at all boring or negative rugby. The two defences were outstanding.
On 15 minutes, Max Evans went off with an ankle injury and teenager Stuart Hogg replaced him, the youngest player to play for Scotland since Gregor Townsend. Near the end of the half big George North was also helped off, replaced by James Hook.
There was some exciting running by Cuthbert,, Jonathan Davies and Ross Rennie before Laidlaw opened the scoring with a penalty after Ian Evans had been penalised at a tackle. 3-0 after 22 minutes. Halfpenny levelled the scores six minutes later when Alasdair Strokosch was unfortunate to be ruled offside.
Then came that 10 minutes burst in the second half when Wales took the score to 13-3 and those who had possibly not been to chapel in the morning sang Bread of Heaven in the afternoon. Three minutes later Laidlaw made it 13-6.
But the Scots had only 14 men and the Welsh were battering at their line. They went wide left and bashed close. Then they went wide right and Halfpenny scored with effortless ease. 20-6.
Jamie Roberts had a break and as the ball came back quickly to Wales from the tackle/ruck, Rory Lamont, falling back but still offside, jumped on Hook before he got the ball. Off Rory Lamont went to the sin bin. Luckily for Scotland De Luca came back at this stage but they were still down to 14 men.
Wales had a five-metre scrum. Scotland packed with eight but without a wing on the right. Wales went left - Toby Faletau to Mike Phillips to Halfpenny who was then left wing. Halfpenny easily scored his second try. 27-6.
In the 20 minutes Scotland were down to 14 men, Wales scored 17 points.
During the rest of the match Scotland, with Mike Blair at scrumhalf and Hogg at fullback started playing at speed. Bless them, they were not in the least negative.
Blair tapped a penalty and the Scots had the Welsh on the hop as Sean Lamont rushed ahead till they had an overlap of two on the right but the pass to Hogg was low. He got the ball and fell over the line but the referee ruled that he had knocked on - to the anger of the Scots, but it did not have a massive bearing as they tapped and ran. Hogg seemed to be over the line but the Welsh drove him back just into the field of play where Laidlaw picked up the ball and dabbed it onto the goal-line for Scotland's first try in four matches.
They carried on attacking but time ran out.
Man of the Match: For Scotland there were Ross Rennie and Richie Gray. For Wales there were Alex Cuthbert, Jamie Roberts and out Man of the Match Dan Lydiate, not long back from injury.
Moment of the Match: Perhaps the unequal contest between big Alex Cuthbert and small Greig Laidlaw, 1,98m and 104 kg vs 1,75m and 80 kg.
Villain of the Match: Nick De Luca whose infringement seemed so deliberate and was a serious disfavour to his side.
The scorers:
For Wales:
Tries: Cuthbert, Halfpenny 2
Cons: Halfpenny 3
Pens: Halfpenny 2
For Scotland:
Try: Laidlaw
Con: Laidlaw
Pens: Laidlaw 2
Yellow cards: Nick da Luca (Scotland, 45 - professional foul, tackling the man without the ball), Rory Lamont (Scotland, 54 - professional foul, tackled player from offside), Gethin Jenkins (Wales, 76 - repeated offences at the breakdown)
Teams:
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Ryan Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Lou Reed, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 James Hook, 22 Scott Williams.
Scotland: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Sean Lamont, 11 Max Evans, 10 Greig Laidlaw, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 David Denton, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford (captain), 1 Allan Jacobsen.
Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Ed Kalman, 18 Alastair Kellock, 19 John Barclay, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Duncan Weir, 22 Stuart Hogg.
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
TMO: Giulio De Santis (Italy)