Scotland vs Wales LIVE rugby: Result and reaction from Six Nations as hosts hold on after Welsh fightback
Scotland 35-29 Wales: The hosts looked to be streaking away to a big win before a frantic second half turnaround
Scotland survived a fierce Welsh comeback to get back to winning ways in the Six Nations with a 35-29 success at Murrayfield.
Showcasing their vibrant, varied attacking game, the hosts surged to a first-half bonus point and looked to be on their way to a sizeable scoreline when Blair Kinghorn continued the rout with his second try early in the second half. But Wales, enduring a tough evening defensively, found new life thereafter, scoring twice to narrow the margin, and would have come closer still had Taulupe Faletau’s try in the final minutes not been disallowed. As it was, Max Llewellyn’s try, the centre’s first for Wales, in the throes snatched two bonus points.
The contest bore striking similarities to last year’s clash in Cardiff, when Wales roared back from the same deficit to within a point of a remarkable comeback. But while there was plenty to encourage Matt Sherratt again the long losing run extends to 16 matches for the Welsh as they prepare to host England on the final weekend. Scotland, meanwhile, will hope to deny France the title in Paris in the denouement to Super Saturday.
Re-live all of the action from Murrayfield in our live blog below:
PENALTY! Scotland 0-3 WALES (Gareth Anscombe, 3 minutes)
A fine strike, and a fine start for the visitors. Gareth Anscombe gets Wales on the board.
Scotland 0-0 Wales, 2 minutes
An early penalty against Scotland, and Jac Morgan immediately points at the posts.
Scotland vs Wales
Right, two pleasant renditions out of the way - it’s time for action.
Scotland vs Wales
Out the players come to take their places for the anthems.
Scotland vs Wales
Kick off is rapidly approaching at Murrayfield - can these two deliver anything like the spectacle that Ireland and France did earlier? What a win for Les Bleus.
Match officials for Scotland vs Wales
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Ita)
Assistant Referees: Nic Berry (Aus) & Gianluca Gnecchi (Ita)
Television Match Officials: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Foul Play Review Officer: Tual Trainini (Fra)
Scotland v Wales referee: Who is Six Nations official Andrea Piardi?
Gregor Townsend faces biggest match of Scotland reign with his future on the line
If Scotland had forgotten about the expectation that surrounds the squad as they prepare to welcome Wales to Edinburgh this weekend, Adam Jones was keen to remind them.
“There's no pressure on us, there's pressure on Scotland,” said the Wales scrum coach. “This is probably one of the best sides they've ever had, if not the best side they've ever had. They'll be expecting to beat us pretty comfortably at home, against a team that's lost 15 times [in a row]. We haven't put much of an underdog tag on us, but results probably dictate we are.”
Gregor Townsend faces biggest match of Scotland reign with his future on the line
A major weapon: Matt Sherratt warns Wales of threat from Scotland’s back three
Wales interim head coach Matt Sherratt has acknowledged the “major weapon” threat posed by Scotland’s back three ahead of today’s Guinness Six Nations clash at Murrayfield.
Wales are chasing a seventh win from their last nine Six Nations trips to Edinburgh, but it is two years since they last tasted victory in the competition.
Nine successive tournament losses accompanies a record run of 15 Test defeats on the bounce, although Wales showed a major recovery against Six Nations title favourites Ireland last time out.
A major weapon: Matt Sherratt warns Wales of threat from Scotland’s back three
Finn Russell shutting out the critics after Scotland’s Calcutta Cup heartbreak
Scotland talisman Finn Russell insisted he is unfazed by criticism from outside his inner circle as he bids to bounce back from his Calcutta Cup frustration.
The 32-year-old co-captain missed all three of his goal kicks in the agonising 16-15 defeat away to England, meaning he has landed just three of his eight attempts off the tee in this year’s championship.
Russell was cast as the fall guy for the England loss in some quarters and has had his credentials for this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour called into question, but the stand-off is only paying attention to the opinions of those he trusts – such as his father, Keith.
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