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:
France 13-7 Ireland, 32 minutes
France’s attack isn’t quite clicking. Gael Fickou finds his options limited and so tries a chest-pass, which dips on Damian Penaud. The French winger hits it on the volley like Zinedine Zidane in the 2002 Champions League final to ensure Ireland will throw a pressure lineout inside their 22.
Or not. France close the gap and are free-kicked.
France 13-7 Ireland, 30 minutes
Ireland’s first attacking gambit is to send Bundee Aki up the middle, and Romain Ntamack’s attempt to go high is given particularly short shrift by the Connacht centre. But France’s line speed is strong, and Caelan Doris is unable to use his trademark footwork through contact to make metreage.
Anthony Jelonch appears to be leaning on the ruck, and thus not supporting his body weight, but Angus Gardner is happy with the legality of the French flanker’s jackal. Another penalty to the home side.
France 13-7 Ireland, 29 minutes
The battle in the air at the lineout is intense. Both teams are throwing up defensive jumpers at every opportunity and forcing inaccurate or untidy set-piece ball. Julien Marchand’s latest dart drifts to hit treble one and is rightly ruled not straight.
France 13-7 Ireland, 28 minutes
New hooker Dan Sheehan and his clutch of lineout lifters don’t quite get their timing right, with Tadhg Beirne not quite able to claw the ball back. But France knock on, and Joey Carbery kicks deep and long, and safely for touch.
France 13-7 Ireland, 27 minutes
Joey Carbery tests Melvyn Jaminet’s head for heights with a high bomb of alpine amplitude. Jaminet claims the mark with limited fuss.
France 13-7 Ireland, 25 minutes
Ronan Kelleher receives some medical attention but is back amongst things for this French lineout, which will be thrown about 30 metres from the Ireland line.
France are properly charging into every contact, but Ireland stand firm. Tadhg Beirne jackals, and a clearing French player has come in from the side.
Kelleher won’t be continuing - I think this might be a Head Injury Assessment. Dan Sheehan is on, perhaps temporarily.
France 13-7 Ireland, 24 minutes
But Ireland again miss their interchange in midfield, knocking on for a third time in similar manner inside this first quarter and a bit. Melvyn Jaminet arrives like a locomotive, taken around the top of the chest by Bundee Aki, drawing questioning boos from the crowd who think it might have just strayed high. It looks ok.
France then stall slightly, but Romain Ntamack cannily drops the ball on to his right toe, turning Hugo Keenan and allowing the French shirts to envelop the Irish fly-half. Keenan is delivered over the touchline.
France 13-7 Ireland, 23 minutes
Another lineout miscue from France allows Ronan Kelleher a chance to deliver some punishment to Romain Ntamack, who is biffed away having been second to the bouncing ball against a stodgier man.
Ireland play to the left after another bouncing ball tumbles favourably for the visitors. Mack Hansen is just about clung on to.
France 13-7 Ireland, 22 minutes
First point to France at scrum-time. Andrew Porter flicks back his hair and shakes his head as he is penalised for driving with an improper angle and going to floor under the rigours of Uini Atonio.
France 13-7 Ireland, 20 minutes
Cameron Woki is some sight in full flight at the lineout, thrown high into the sky to contest Irish ball and nearly winning the ball back.
That is less pretty from the flanker-cum-lock. After Ireland knock-on, Woki hacks a horrible kick upwards that is so bad, and travels so little distance, that referee Angus Gardner does not deem there to have been any advantage gained. France scrum.
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