Ben Thomas kicked off at a cacophonous Scottish Gas Murrayfield, and Wales were gifted a penalty within a minute when Jamie Ritchie was adjudged to have contested illegally at the game’s first line-out. Gareth Anscombe dispatched an excellent early nerve-setter from 40m out (0-3, 2 mins).

15 phases later, Scotland had responded in style. A telling dunt in midfield by Pierre Schoeman laid the perfect platform for the backs to kick into life. Darcy Graham popped up on the opposite wing to feed Blair Kinghorn whose elaborate goose-step bought him enough time to power over the line despite the attentions of several Welshmen. Finn Russell’s touchline conversion was an absolute peach (7-3, 6 mins).

Schoeman was in the thick of it soon after, winning a jackal penalty, from which point Scotland really put the foot down. It was a similar story; a couple of heavy trucks into the Welsh pack and then the ball flew out to the magicians.

This time it was Duhan van der Merwe, who offloaded on the left touchline to Huw Jones, who in turn knew he had myriad support as he hared into the Welsh 22.. It was Tom Jordan, with his first try for his country, the beneficiary this time. Russell clipped over the extras (14-3, 12 mins).

Referee Andrea Piardi halted proceedings to look at a potential high leading arm by Ben Thomas on van der Merwe, but after an eternity of investigation, the Wales centre was correctly absolved.

And the visitors were not about to rest on their laurels. Anscombe, who had been brought back into the side for his creative prowess as much as his place kicking, chipped a well-weighted ball over the top of a retreating Scottish defence to give Blair Murray the easiest of tries (14-8, 24 mins).

Scotland need not have panicked, with Darcy Graham back in the side. A snipe from Ben White was popped to Jack Dempsey and from the next ruck, with tighthead prop Zander Fagerson playing scrum-half, Finn Russell delivered a sumptuous dummy to then out Graham over for his 30^th international try. Russell added another two to extend the lead to 13 points (24-8, 27 mins).

Referee Piardi had little doubt to then show Wales’ tighthead WillGriff John a yellow card for a cynical slap-down at the ruck when Scotland looked primed to add another and soon after, the bonus point was wrapped up practically within half an hour.

A comedy of errors featured Thomas’ botched clearance, then Murray trying to clear Welsh lines with a behind-the back pass, but there were no red shirts in the vicinity which allowed Jordan to scamper after the ball and dot down for his second of the game, Russell converting his fourth thereafter (28-8, 33 mins).

The only first-half blot for the hosts was the removal of Rory Darge through injury as the interval approached, but his replacement Matt Fagerson seamlessly took up back-row duties with a timely jackal penalty as the clock ticked towards a half-time lead that had the game seemingly sewn up.

Half-time: Scotland 28-8 Wales

With five tries in a frenetic first half, it was unsurprising that after the restart, things were relatively serene – but you knew something was coming and it was most likely another Scottish try.

When the hosts won a penalty for illegal hands on the deck, 13 of the 15 got involved in an attempted line-out rumble. It didn’t work, but Russell put Kinghorn over for his second try from that maul, converting, to extend the lead once more (35-8, 48 mins).

The contest became dreary as a spectacle with the result seemingly secured, and so life was breathed into it when Thomas scythed his way through for Wales’ second on the hour mark, Jarrod Evans converting (35-15, 60 mins).

And home nerves were fully jangling shortly after when replacement Teddy Williams stretched out to give tangible hope to Wales, whose supporters were now back in full voice (35-22, 68 mins).

Scotland were spooked and sought to address it before things got even tighter, with George Horne’s break wrestling back momentum. Despite a host of dark blue shirts screaming for the ball to come out to the vast left green in the south east of Scottish Gas Murrayfield, they opted to try and bludgeon over from close range and were held up.

Wales sniffed the opportunity and it was veteran Taulupe Faletau who delivered when he ran onto a Murray pass to go over – only for it to be brought back for Murray having jumping a tackle illegally.

Jordan thought for all the world he was through for his hat-trick try only to be brought down by a super Joe Roberts cover tackle as the clock slipped away from Wales. and despite the hosts’ best efforts at keeping the crowd entertained by the 80-minute mark in search of a sixth try, Wales did go over once more through Max Llewellyn’s close-range converted try (35-29, 80 mins).

It was a third win in a row against Wales for Scotland –  for the first time since 1991 – as they secured a second win of the 2025 Guinness Men’s Six Nations championship.

Full-time: Scotland 35-29 Wales

Scotland: Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Huw Jones, Tom Jordan  (both Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby); Finn Russell (Bath Rugby) (co-captain), Ben White (Toulon); Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry (both Edinburgh Rugby), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux-Bègles), Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie (both Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Darge (co-captain), Jack Dempsey (both Glasgow Warriors).

Replacements: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) (for Cherry, 55 mins), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors) (for Schoeman, 61 mins), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers) (for Z. Fagerson, 61 mins), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors) (for Gray, 66 mins), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) (for Darge, 35 mins), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) (for White, 55 mins), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors) (for Russell, 61 mins), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors) (for Graham, 66 mins).

Wales: Blair Murray, Tom Rogers, Max Llewellyn, Ben Thomas, Ellis Mee, Gareth Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Nicky Smith, Elliot Dee, WillGriff John, Will Rowlands, Dafydd Jenkins, Jac Morgan (captain), Tommy Reffell, Taulupe Falatau.

Replacements: Dewi Lake, Gareth Thomas, Keiron Assiratti, Teddy Williams, Aaron Wainwright, Rhodri Williams, Jarrod Eans, Joe Roberts.

Referee: Andrea Piardi (FIR)

Assistant referees: Nic Berry (RA) and Gianluca Gnecchi (FIR)

Television Match Official: Eric Gauzins (FFR)

Fair Play Review Officer: Tual Trainini (FIR)

My Name’5 Doddie Foundation Player of the Match: Blair Kinghorn (Scotland)

Attendance: 67,144