Wales v Scotland LIVE rugby: Result and reaction from Six Nations as thrilling Wales comeback falls short
Wales 26-27 Scotland: Wales roar back from 27-0 down but come up one point short as Scotland win in Cardiff for first time in 22 years
Scotland rugby ended 22 years of hurt in Cardiff after they thwarted a spectacular Wales rugby fightback to win an extraordinary Six Nations clash 27-26.
It was Scotland’s first win in the Welsh capital since 2002 – ending a run of 11 successive defeats – to set up a mouth-watering Murrayfield encounter against France next Saturday.
But Wales made them fight every inch of the way after the Scots had breezed into a 27-point lead after 42 minutes, with wing Duhan van der Merwe scoring two tries including a virtuoso long-range effort while prop Pierre Schoeman also touched down. Captain Finn Russell kicked three conversions and two penalties, but it only told half the story.
Flanker James Botham’s try sparked the Welsh recovery then he was followed over the line by Rio Dyer, Aaron Wainwright and debutant Alex Mann, with Ioan Lloyd kicking three conversions. Scotland found themselves on the rack after hooker George Turner and centre Sione Tuipulotu were sin-binned during the second period, yet they successfully closed the game out and left Wales wondering what might have been.
Relive all the action from Cardiff below. You can get all the latest Six Nations odds and tips here.
Wales 26-27 Scotland
77 mins: Wales steal the lineout! Possession in Scottish territory. Keeping it with the forwards but solid defence by Scotland. Pushing them back into their own half.
And Wales pinged for the ball going forward. scrum to Scotland. Big defensive set!
Wales 26-27 Scotland
76 mins: The lineout goes astray for Wales at the worst possible moment! It leads to a kicking battle and eventually Winnett finds touch int he Scottish half, where the visitors will have a lineout.
Can they see this out?
Wales 26-27 Scotland
74 mins: Tuipulotu with half a yard of space to make a few metres but then Wales win the penalty! It comes after Russell tries a little kick through, it bounces back to Horne and three Welshmen get over the ball to win the turnover!
Scotland have now conceded 14 penalties in a row. Welsh lineout outside the Scottish 22.
Wales 26-27 Scotland
73 mins: Both sides all but emptying their bench. Scotland wina scrum in midfield and will try to take the sting out of things, go through a few phases to restore control.
They probe down the right side and make decent ground through Rowe. Still outside the 22 though. Solid defence by Wales.
WATCH: Second-half tries
It has been a breathless second half as Wales roar back. Here are the tries:
Wales 26-27 Scotland
71 mins: Scotland have had no ball since things started to turn. Wales have been absolutely sublime - they were so bad for the first 45-odd minutes but have been free-flowing, exciting and brilliant since.
Tuipulotu comes back on after his sin-bin, so it’s 15 vs 15 again. But Scotland now have no margin for error.
TRY! Wales 26-27 Scotland (Alex Mann 68’)
AND WALES HAVE ANOTHER! It’s too easy from the lineout as the maul marauds forwards, splinters the Scottish pack and Alex Mann, on debut, dives over the line.
Incredible, incredible stuff. Tough conversion for Lloyd but he nails it! Wales are within a point, having been 27-0 down!
Wales 19-27 Scotland
67 mins: Wales charging down the left flank and Rio Dyer skips past defender after defender. He twists and turns into the 22 and then finds the pass to Cam Winnett. Cardiff roaring now!
Scotland pinged for being off their feet, so a Welsh penalty, just inside the 22 on the left touchline to come. They kick to the corner.
Wales 19-27 Scotland
64 mins: Reffell cuts inside a man and takes Wales into the 22. They’re flowing forward again as Hymns and Arias rings round the Principality Stadium.
Scotland turnover, and Huw Jones on the run but is brilliantly tap-tackled. Russell can hoof clear though to relive some pressue.
Ex-England international Alec Hepburn on in the front row for his Scotland debut.
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