Scotland v Wales LIVE rugby: Six Nations 2023 score and result as Finn Russell masterclass leads to record win
Scotland 35-7 Wales: Finn Russell’s inspirational performance leads Scotland to a record home win over Wales
Finn Russell ran the show as Scotland blitzed Wales 35-7 at Murrayfield to kick off a Six Nations campaign with back-to-back victories for the first time.
The Racing 92 stand-off was at his magnificent best as he laid three of his side’s five tries on a plate for his team-mates and was also heavily involved in another.
Wales, who had won on six of their previous seven visits to Edinburgh, made things tough for Gregor Townsend’s team in the first half, but it was one-way traffic after the break as the hosts notched 22 points without reply to back up their Calcutta Cup victory in style and claim the Doddie Weir Cup.
Relive the Six Nations clash below:
Scotland 13-7 Wales, 45 minutes
The Welsh lineout really hasn’t functioned well today after all those changes in the back five of the pack. Ken Owens throws in, nobody jumps, and the captain spreads his arms in frustration as Scotland launch a counter.
The gallop of Blair Kinghorn in full stride means Scotland are able to make swift progress up to halfway. Finn Russell’s first attempted kick is blocked by Welsh hands, but his second is excellent, cutting through the Edinburgh night and skipping out ten metres from the Welsh line. It’s a 50:22.
Scotland 13-7 Wales, 44 minutes
Turner’s invovled in another high tackle immediately after coming back on, though it’s Pierre Schoeman’s arm rather than his that has wrapped around the neck of Jac Morgan. Just a penalty.
Luke Crosbie’s return is brief. He appears to be worried about his shoulder as Jack Dempsey comes on in his place.
Scotland 13-7 Wales, 42 minutes
Wales build a promising attack up the left against Scotland’s 14, but Tomos Williams’ ankle is caught, and Liam Williams enters from the side having over-run his scrum-half seeking an offload.
George Turner returns from the sin bin, joined by Luke Crosbie, who had been taken off to allow for the introduction of Fraser Brown.
Scotland 13-7 Wales, 41 minutes
A nervy start from the Scottish players to the second half, too, with the kick fumbled and Ben White then throwing a horrid pass in the vague direction of Finn Russell that Kyle Steyn is instead forced to collect.
George North is back on. Hmm. He has passed his HIA, but he shouldn’t have undergone one if, as did appear to be the case, he had been knocked out.
Second half...
Wales were out early for the second half, with Scotland making their visitors wait a little. It really is anyone’s game, this - there is a slight nervousness to Murrayfield as Dan Biggar prepares to restart things.
H/T: Scotland 13-7 Wales
The Ken Owens score keeps Wales very much in in despite those missed opportunities. Tommy Reffell and Jac Morgan’s work at the breakdown has been, generally, very good, which is preventing Scotland from building up the pitch or in phase play.
I think the hosts could do with simplifying things, though. Finn Russell has thrown a couple of loose offloads, but there are certainly spaces there. George North, you would hope, will not be re-emerging after exhibiting signs of a brain injury after George Turner caught him high - can Scotland get at a Joe Hawkins/Josh Adams partnership that won’t be particularly well grooved?
H/T: Scotland 13-7 Wales
That felt rather familiar - Wales lack of a clinical edge costing them, Scotland rather more effective with fewer chances in advanced territory. It’s been an odd sort of contest, short of flow and fluency with a few too many errors from both sides. Wales have fluffed their lines at least thrice from set piece opportunities five metres out from the Scottish line, but did finally get over with George Turner in the sin bin for Scotland after a high tackle.
Scotland 13-7 Wales, 41 miutes
Through the hands of Rio Dyer with a score certain! Oh, how might Wales rue that? Purpose and punch to their attack as the clock ticks into the red, and space opens on the blindside as Tomos Williams finds Dan Biggar.
Biggar’s hands are deft and delightful, flicking out the back, but his pass is low and slightly in front of Dyer, who can’t collect with not a covering Scottish shirt in sight.
Scotland 13-7 Wales, 39 minutes
Finn Russell now threatens to unlock Wales’ wide defence, drawing two with an angled carry and then trying to drop off for a player on the switch line, though on a different page to his teammates. Scotland manage to sweep up the loose pieces, but Jac Morgan locks over the ball and wins a penalty.
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