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:
Wales 17-17 Scotland, 58 minutes
Ross Moriarty is replaced by Aaron Wainwright in the Welsh back row as Finn Russell gets things baack underway.
Good from Scotland. They charge down the Welsh clearance and Zander Fagerson collects and carries strongly.
Less good from Scotland. A little bit predictable in wide attack and Stuart Hogg is scragged by Owen Watkin, who has had a very good afternoon. Centre partner Nick Tompkins shows his skill over the ball, forcing Hogg to hold on.
PENALTY! WALES 17-17 Scotland (Dan Biggar penalty, 57 minutes)
Dan Biggar squares things from the tee.
Wales 14-17 Scotland, 56 minutes
Close for Wales! Another penalty advantage arrives for a Scottish tackler failing to roll away, as it has done all afternoon when Wales have played through the phases.
Jac Morgan bursts on to the ball nicely. Variation from Tomos Williams! A deft little chip for himself that bounces agonisingly off his fingertips with the tryline nearby. He may have been felled regardless but that wasn’t far away at all for Wales with Alex Cuthbert also in close attendance.
As it is, they’ll have to be content with that penalty...
Wales 14-17 Scotland, 55 minutes
Liam Williams appears to be moving okay as he tries to unleash a trademark in-to-out weave and baffle Chris Harris, but he rather stumbles into the Scotland centre, who leaves him supine with a nasty rib-tickler.
Still, a bit of zip to the Welsh attack, Ross Moriarty carries firmly on the left.
Wales 14-17 Scotland, 55 minutes
But this will be a concern for Williams. He has gone down a minute or so after producing that racy little number, and Dan Biggar doesn’t look to be moving entirely freely, either. Both will continue, but I’m sure Scotland wil try to test the readiness of the ten and fifteen’s legs.
Wales 14-17 Scotland, 53 minutes
A change of approach from Dan Biggar, looking like he is again going to seek the Cardiff heavens but instead unfurling a little chip, which Sione Tuipulotu and Stuart Hogg combine to cover.
Razzle-dazzle! That’s a piece of impudence from Liam Williams, inviting Magnus Bradbury to chase after him as he crabs across field and then blindly flicking a luscious back-door offload to a backfield colleague just before Bradbury smashes him. Saucy.
Wales 14-17 Scotland, 52 minutes
Nic Berry was a scrum-half in his playing days so he is rather used to barking at front-rowers from the side of the scrum. The referee really hasn’t been pleased with their behaviour all afternoon, and the arrival of the Scottish replacements has done little to pacify him.
After another stern chat, Scotland just about hold firm under Welsh pressure and are able to clear.
Wales 14-17 Scotland, 51 minutes
Finn Russell is on the receiving end of the restart, which is well flighted by Dan Biggar. Russell is forced to abandon his initial plans to clear by Louis Rees-Zammit’s speed on the chase, and then hurries a left-footed punt, which strikes Welsh hands.
Wales gather the ball as it spins away, but a forward pass ends their attacking opportunity two metres inside the Scotland 22.
PENALTY! Wales 14-17 SCOTLAND (Finn Russell penalty, 50 minutes)
We’ve seen plenty of boots used in the opening ten second-half minutes, but only one will trouble the scoreboard - Finn Russell’s right footed strike puts Scotland back in front.
Wales 14-14 Scotland, 48 minutes
Finally, Scotland play! And why not when you’ve a player of the attacking talents of Sione Tuipulotu at your disposal, a lovely left-foot step, Tomos Williams smashed aside by the hard charge of the centre, making his first Six Nations start. He plays the bowling ball to Liam Williams’ unfortunate pin as he enters the Welsh 22.
And Wales infringe. Penalty advantage to Scotland for a failure to roll away.
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