Wales Squeeze Home

This was much better from Wales as they shrugged off the depressing result in Ireland to edge out Scotland in Cardiff. Scotland had been favoured to win by the bookies after turning over England the previous weekend. As usual in the Six Nations Championship home advantage counts for a lot and a full house in the Principality Stadium surely helped Wales to squeeze home.

The match was nip and tuck all the way through with defences ruling the roost in the main. The first half saw the only two tries of the match from Graham for Scotland and Francis for Wales as the rain hammered down through the open roof. The Wales forwards performed much better at set piece and were more competitive at the breakdown than against their Celtic cousins in Ireland who admittedly play a level up from Scotland. It was also good to see the ball being carried up with more conviction and more metres gained. The Scots always looked dangerous and at 14-14 at half time it was anyone’s game.

The second half was much cagier with a lot of kicking and neither side able to create the sustained pressure needed to score a second try. Well into the second half, there had only been an exchange of penalties to leave the score at 17-17 and the result still very much in doubt.

Biggar attempted a long-range penalty that hit the bar and Wales gathered the ball with Cuthbert almost getting over in the corner. In the course of the attack Russell was adjudged to have deliberately knocked on and was shown a yellow card. Wales went for the jugular and after hammering away at the Scotland line finally settled for a Biggar dropped goal to take a narrow lead. The crowd groaned as they would have preferred to see Wales continue to press for a try but it turned out to be a crucial decision.

Wales continued to press and were camped on the Scottish line with only a couple of minutes remaining. A penalty given to Scotland for a high tackle by Basham and the re-emergence of Russell gave the Scots a lifeline and there followed a tense few minutes as they threw everything at Wales. Wales were not about to let this slip and the defence marshalled by Jon Davies repeatedly drove the Scots back until a final turnover sent the Welsh in the crowd into raptures. Wales had squeezed home at 20-17 and the Welsh fans were off to the pubs of Cardiff with smiles on their faces.

There was a great improvement from Wales but few would argue that they are back to their best. It was a much needed win to boost confidence in the camp with tough matches against England (away) and France(home) coming up. The lineout was much improved and the scrum held firm and the forwards with Elias, Moriarty and Rowlands to the fore carried hard. As last season, Wales do find it difficult to score tries against the well-organised defences that they come up against. The backs do not possess the X factor that cracks a defence and their tactics seem rather predictable. The Welsh defence did perform well and never let the Scots play the free running game that they favour. So well done Wales.

Will there be changes for the England game? I think there might be a couple of enforced changes due to injuries but I would expect the team to remain much the same. You would expect Adams to return if fit - maybe for Rees Zammit who is looking a bit subdued and possibly carrying an injury.

We did manage to watch most of the France v Ireland match on the TV. This was up a level for sure and probably be the match that decides the destiny of the Six Nations championship. In another really close game, it was the French who took the spoils 30-24 with the Irish losing bonus point perhaps turning out to be vital by the end of the tournament.  The French looked in command at 22-7 early in the second half but Ireland came storming back to 22-21 with two quick tries before the French pulled away. Another breathless encounter with the French now looking on course for a Grand Slam.

Next weekend the Six Nations pauses so we are back to affairs closer to home and the little matter of Pooler’s trip to Bargoed. This may well be another one that tests the mettle of players and supporters alike. Looking forward to it.

Come on Pooler!