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 10-7 Ireland, 9 minutes
We are averaging about a point every half-a-minute so far, and Ireland show ambition after a French knock-on in the air, Garry Ringrose jiving, juking and jumping.
Gael Fickou rushes up to try and prevent Andrew Porter distributing at the lie, and the centre is rightly pinged for a deliberate knock-on after referee Angus Gardner spies a replay on the big screen.
TRY! France 10-7 IRELAND (Mack Hansen try, 7 minutes)
A bolt out of the blue - Mack Hansen takes the restart and is over!
My, oh my, what a start to this game! Joey Carbery’s kick hangs invitingly like a blown kiss in the Paris evening air, and Hansen extends his hand aloft to snatch it from between bemused would-be French catchers and score.
Joey Carbery converts superbly.
PENALTY! FRANCE 10-0 Ireland (Melvyn Jaminet penalty, 6 minutes)
A breathless start, but Melvyn Jaminet takes a moment to suck in some oxygen, composing himself before extending the French lead.
France 7-0 Ireland, 5 minutes
Ireland try to reset but their forwards are blowing having been forced to retreat some 70 metres at speed. Like so many ex-sevens players, Gabin Villiere is excellent over the ball, and the French wing jackals expertly to win his side a kickable penalty on the left.
France 7-0 Ireland, 4 minutes
Here come Ireland! They turn over French ball inside the 22 and can start to paint their first attacking pictures, Bundee Aki weaving and then stinging up the middle. Joey Carbery jumps past a tackler, but is eventually felled.
A loose pass, and the ball bounces from the hands of an Irish forward. Antoine Dupont has it and France kick long.
TRY! FRANCE 7-0 Ireland (Antoine Dupont try, 2 minutes)
What a start for France! Little more than 60 seconds on the clock and Antoine Dupont races over!
It’s brilliant attacking play. Thee two props are at the heart of it, Cyril Baille pulling back a pass at the line for Romain Ntamack, who allows all 24 stones and change of Uini Atonio a chance to deliver some punishment on the carry from midfield.
Baille’s clearout ensures the ball is quick, and Dupont draws the close-in defence. Romain Ntamack fades to the outside on his scrum-half’s pass, swatting aside a tackler and getting his arms free to lift an offload back towards the French captain, and Dupont makes unimpeded passage over the try line.
Melvyn Jaminet converts, and that really is the perfect beginning for the hosts.
France 0-0 Ireland, 1 minute
France in royal blue, Ireland in green, with white shorts, as you would expect.
Intent from France! Antoine Dupont throws a lineout quickly and Yoram Moefana then leaves a defender in a different postcode with a shimmy.
KICK OFF!
Romain Ntamack hoists into the Paris evening and France against Ireland has begun!
Here we go!
With the whistle this afternoon will be Angus Gardner of Australia; Wales’ Ben Whitehouse is the TMO.
France are going to kick things off. Ireland’s lifters and leapers ready themselves to receive.
The ball, as it was at the Stade de France last week, will be brought to Romain Ntamack by a little electric car:
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments