Wales vs Scotland LIVE: Six Nations rugby result and score after Russell yellow card and Biggar drop-goal
Wales 20-17 Scotland: Follow live reaction as the hosts edged a Six Nations thriller in Cardiff to dent the visitors’ title hopes
Follow live reaction from the Six Nations as Wales defeated Scotland in a thrilling match in Cardiff to put a dent in the visitors’ title ambitions. The Scots arrived buoyed their opening win over England but were edged by a Wales side who were in need of a response following their heavy defeat to Ireland last weekend.
The match turned in the closing stages as Finn Russell was shown a yellow for a deliberate knock-on as Wales pushed for a winning try, with Dan Biggar opting for a drop-goal to move Wales into a 20-17 lead. Scotland, who were pushing for rare back-to-back wins to open the Six Nations, could not strike back as Wales ensured that they returned to winning ways in front of their own fans.
In the first half, Biggar kicked Wales into an early lead before Darcy Graham scored the opening try of the match as he finished in the corner from a Russell pass. Russell extended Scotland’s lead from the tee before Biggar cut the lead and then Tomas Francis powered over from a Wales lineout to level the scores at the break. There was little to separate the teams and it remained close after half-time, with Russell and Biggar exchanges penalties to set up a nervy finish at the Principality Stadium.
The crucial spell of the match came after Biggar’s long penalty effort hit the post and Wales stayed on the attack. Alex Cuthbert had a try in the corner overturned by the TMO before Russell’s yellow card was followed by Biggar’s drop-goal to seal a result that sets up a huge clash between France and Ireland later in the day in Paris.
Follow all the reaction from the Principality Stadium in the live blog below:
Until tomorrow...
That just about does us for our LIVE coverage of an enthralling day of Six Nations action. Does this tournament ever fail to deliver?
We’ll have a load more reaction to Wales and France’s wins tonight and over the next few days, as well as how Scotland will look to bounce back having had their title hopes punctured.
Tomorrow’s business is the clash of the winless sides in Rome - Italy will be hoping to follow the lead of their Under-20s, who knocked off England’s best age-group players on Friday night. Can Eddie Jones’ side get their tournament up and running after the disappointment of Murrayfield? Do join us to find out, but until then, thank you for your company, and farewell!
Ireland see winning run ended as France triumph in thrilling Six Nations clash
Antoine Dupont’s try just 67 seconds in set the tone for a breath-taking encounter.
How the table sits
Well that was a breathless day of Six Nations action, which leaves the table looking like this:
Irish standouts
That’ll sting a little for Ireland - they were right amongst things in the second half and given the strength of the maul for their second score they may rue not looking for the corner when they narrowed the French lead to three inside the final ten minutes.
They are far from out of the tournament, of course, and Joey Carbery went very well in place of Johnny Sexton against some ferocious French linespeed. The pack stood up strongly in that second half - Tadhg Beirne had an excellent evening, and Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier as workrate warriors too.
A word for Dan Sheehan, as well. The 23-year-old was pressed into early action after Ronan Kelleher’s injury but was brilliant as a carrier and defender in 55 excellent minutes. He’s a player of outstanding potential.
France 30-24 Ireland
France had loaded up their bench to provide exactly that sort of physical impact in the final quarter. The French sides of old might have continued to slide after that Irish fightback but the injection on 55 minutes of a new tight five was crucial. Demba Bamba and Jean Baptiste-Gros, two young props who were driving forces of a very strong French side at Under-20 level, both made massive contributions, as did Romain Taofifenua and Thibaud Flament.
That was probably Melvyn Jaminet’s Six Nations coming out party. Brilliant from the tee, outstanding with the boot in open play and rock solid under the high ball. Antoine Dupont outstanding, too, obviously.
Gregory Alldritt hails the impact of the French bench
“To have the stadium full like this, it is always a great moment. We knew we would need a lot of support to beat Ireland and we had a magnificent crowd today.
“Really physical game. Honestly, it was a win made with 23 players. All the guys coming off the bench were awesome today. It was the whole team today.
“This tournament is the best tournament in the world. Every weekend is a really tough game. We have a huge, huge game away in Scotland in two weeks so we will take it step-by-step and not think about a Grand Slam.”
F/T: France 30-24 Ireland
An extraordinary contest played at incredible intensity throughout, and in the end it is France who keep their Grand Slam hopes alive. A courageous fightback from Ireland, who looked early in the second half to be ceding their winning run and crumbling to the French might, but were able to draw back within a point with two quick-fire scores.
The game really could have swung either way, but that is a huge win for this French side, who close out a massive, tight game and now look very much Six Nations favourites.
FULL TIME: FRANCE 30-24 IRELAND
France 30-24 Ireland, 79 minutes
Ireland have the ball! They get up in the air and tap back the restart.
Jack Carty is on at fly-half, and has the ball. That’s ambitious at this juncture - a long, floated pass, and it drifts forward...and is knocked on too! France have it back with less than a minute to run.
Kicked down to Andrew Conway, who sends one for the heavens and chases after it. His prayer is not answered. France tap the ball back their way. That might be that...
PENALTY! FRANCE 30-24 Ireland (Melvyn Jaminet penalty, 78 minutes)
Six points. Two minutes. Down to the wire.
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