2024 Guinness Men's Six Nations

Principality Stadium, Cardiff,

Full-Time

wru_whiteout
26 - 27
26
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27
Scotland_whiteout

80

SCOTLAND WIN!

Is there a try here for Duhan? It looks held up.

Kyle Steyn made the line break, and phase upon phase followed before van der Merwe went for the hat-trick. But it seems that a boot got under the ball to keep it up.

Regardless, this will end the game.

FT

A first Cardiff win in 22 years

Yep, held up. And the game comes to an end.

Wow. How do you describe that second half?

Scotland win by a point. Excellent in places, poor in others.

But, it’s a first win in Cardiff since 2002. That can’t be overlooked. Scotland get their 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations campaign underway with a win.

Up next, it’s France at Scottish Gas Murrayfield next Saturday (kick off 4.45pm). We’ll see you then.

76

Scottish lineout

A stressful kicking battle between Finn and the Welsh back three.

It ends with Scotland getting the lineout on our right, just inside our half.

72

Crosbie off

Luke Crosbie will have to come off. Kyle Rowe is actually staying on the pitch, and Sione will go into the back row.

72

Redpath for Rowe

A pause here as Luke Crosbie is treated. We’ll restart with a Scottish scrum.

Meanwhile, Cameron Redpath comes on for Kyle Rowe.

78

Forward pass!

Great line speed!

Wales go through the phases, but there’s a forward pass as Scotland’s defence does brilliantly. Faultless in that passage from the blues.

The Scottish scrum is between the halfway and the 10m line.

75

Another Reffell steal

Reffell charges down Finn’s kick, and then when Redpath grabs it and is tackled the Welsh back row latches on and wins the penalty.

71

More from Rollie in the final 10

Guest contributor, Chloe Rollie, gives us her thoughts on the second half and how we can close out the game.

“Discipline is letting Scotland down here and giving the Welsh momentum. We need create moments that will break the momentum such as slowing down the Welsh breakdown to buy time to get organised when we’re on the back foot.

“Focus needs to be on regaining control through controlled defence and clinical kicking again.”

68

Another penalty

Wales make a massive territory up the left from Dyer, and then Scotland are penalised for tackling on the floor.

The hosts kick into the left corner.

69

Bonus point Wales

Alex Mann scores from the maul on his debut.

71

Horne on as well

George Horne is also off the bench, coming on for Ben White.

63

Hepburn and Dempsey on

Alec Hepburn makes his Scotland debut, on for Pierre Schoeman.

Jack Dempsey is also on for Jamie Ritchie.

70

Prop swap

Elliot Millar-Mills is the second Scotland debutant of the day. He’s on for Zander Fagerson.

65

Hectic

Wales fly up the pitch and chip behind, but Rowe gathers and Huw Jones then scurries up the park.

Russell then hoofs forward, and Dyer returns.

Rowe has a run back but loses it forward in contact. Welsh scrum just inside their own 10m line.

61

Wainwright goes over

Aaron Wainwright crashes over right under the posts.

Scotland’s lead cut to eight.

61

Another yellow

Sione Tuipulotu is now yellow carded, this time for an offside.

Tapped from 5m out.

57

Another excellent exit

Ioan Lloyd chips ahead, but Rowe deals with excellently on the turn.

Then Ben White finds touch on halfway, another great box kick.

59

Penalty count grows

We’re back up to 15, but another penalty in front of the sticks on the 22.

Wales go into the right corner again.

54

Dyer goes over

Scotland hold out for a few phases, but Davies fires it out to Rio Dyer on the left wing who goes over.

The conversion goes over.

56

Mark called

Calm play from Finn there, as Josh Adams finds space on the right and hacks ahead but the fly half catches and calls the mark in his 22 to take some of the tempo out of this one.

52

Penalty conceded

Wales kick it into the corner as Ashman is penalised from the scrum in his first act.

51

Knock on

Good Wales possession and territory made there, but a knock on out left gives Scotland the ball back.

51

Substitution

Scotland will need a hooker for this scrum, so Ewan Ashman comes on. Off goes Luke Crosbie, and Scotland elect to only put seven in this scrum.

53

Held up!

Wales maul for the line, but this time it’s held up by the Scottish pack!

But another penalty for Wales, which is tapped from the deck.

51

High tackle

Sam Skinner penalised for the high tackle. Wales tap quickly.

48

Wales on the board

The maul proves good for Wales, and James Botham grounds it.

49

Turner carded

George Turner was also yellow carded for trying to collapse that maul.

The conversion, incidentally, went wide.

43

IT’S HAPPENED AGAIN!!! OH! MY! GOSH!

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF!

A kick from the opposition in their 22, Kyle Steyn fields it on the right wing, and Duhan runs it in from halfway.

Unlike at Twickenham last year, this one had Finn Russell between Steyn and Duhan, who made half a break and offloaded with one hand. Duhan then sprinted into the right corner before working back towards the posts.

Messi converts.

46

Welsh penalty

Turner penalised for playing the ball in the ruck whilst off his feet. Wales are now just inside our 22, with the lineout on their right.

47

Not rolling

Another penalty, for Zander not rolling after tackling.

To the right corner they go.

40

Rollie reflects on strong first-half from Scotland

Scotland Women and Loughborough Lightning full-back, Chloe Rollie, gives his her first-half reflections.

“I think Scotland can go in at half-time with some confidence. Gregor and the boys will be happy with first half performance and they’ll know what they need to tweak to get in to the next gear.

“Their kicking game has been lethal and that’s been down to stand out Finn Russel who’s kicked fantastically, giving Scotland territory and pinning Wales in their own half.”

HT

Great first half!

Wales win the lineout, but Tompkins knocks on and that’s the break.

20-0 at half time, away from home. Can’t complain there! A fantastic opening 40 from Scotland.

41

Back!

COME ON SCOTLAND!!

HT

Scotland back on the pitch

We’re back out on the grass.

McMessi will restart this contest soon.

38

Scrum penalty

Zander Fagerson accused of pulling down with his outside arm. Wales kick right into the right corner.

39

Lineout pinched!

The lineout goes awry, and from the loose ball George Turner leaps and grabs it first!

White exits.

40

Penalties accumulating

There’s another penalty against Scotland, for going off our feet at the breakdown.

Costelow finds touch this time, on the right side of our 22.

40

Wales pen… but touch missed!

Another Welsh penalty as Reffell gets the jackal once more, but Costelow can’t find touch!

Rowe bangs it back downfield.

36

Escape…

A close one here…

Finn gathers a kick from Wales, and passes to Rowe who’s under pressure in his 22.

His kick is charged down, but Wales knock on and Scotland escape.

34

Wales penalty

Both teams play for a few phases then exit, and then Scott Cummings is caught offside while trying to charge down a box kick.

Wales kick into our 22.

36

TMO check

The referee is looking at a potential head contact from Luke Crosbie on Sam Costelow…

36

Nothing doing

No foul play.

But from the scrum, Wales get the free kick. We’ll scrum again, but it’s now Wales’ put in around 15 metres out.

31

DUHAN VAN DER MERWE

Duhan is in for our second!!!

It’s Finn’s break in midfield, and he finds our left winger on his shoulder for his first try against Wales, his 22nd overall.

Messi converts.

29

Great defensive set!

After defending a few phases, Scotland get the ball back and Russell finds an excellent touch, not far outside Wales’ 22.

We’ve stolen the lineout as well!

33

Sub at lock

Richie Gray has had to go off, and Sam Skinner comes on.

25

Knock on

Costelow hoofs to the sky again, and it goes loose.

Rowe tries to race onto it but knocks on.

Wales’ first put in, just inside their own half.

26

“They look in control, composed and are working to their structure.”

61-time capped Scotland international, Chloe Rollie, joins the match centre, sharing her thoughts on the opening quarter from Scotland.

“I think in the first quarter Scotland have been very direct, running hard at the Welsh defence and getting over the gainline. I think they could tighten up using that positive gainline by playing quicker with the backline and hitting the wider channels.

“Overall first 20 been very positive. They look in control, composed and are working to their structure.”

25

The front rows in trouble…

The scrum goes down again, and both front rows are brought in for a quick chat with our referee.

A mild telling off, nothing more.

27

Reffell steals

Scotland steal the ball and work forward, but Tommy Reffell gets a jackal penalty and Wales will have the lineout in our 22, on our left side.

21

Free kick

The free kick goes Scotland’s way as the scrum goes down twice. Russell hoofs downfield.

23

Messi Messi Messi gol gol gol gol gol!

Another three from Finn!

22

50:22! And a pen!!

A 50:22 from Finn Russell (very Messi-esque from the boot), and Josh Adams launches the ball into the front row of the crowd to stop the quick take.

Referee Ben O’Keefe notices, and gives Scotland the penalty.

Russell will go for three more points on the left…

17

First scrum – solid defence!

Wales go forward through Tompkins and Jenkins, but the Welsh captain knocks on in a thunderous tackle.

Our first scrum of the game will take place six metres from the Scotland line.

19

Scotland turn it over!

A good exit from White once more, and then as Josh Adams carries into contact, Kyle Steyn and Finn Russell create a maul and trap the ball in to get the scrum turnover 25m from our line.

13

Another good exit

A big touchfinder again from White after the restart. Wales lineout on halfway.

9

Wales’ first penalty

Scotland very quickly work right to left for three phases, but a good jackal from the home side gets them the ball back via a penalty on their own 5m line.

15

High tackle

Wales kick long, and Rowe fields it and returns.

Rowe then makes the tackle just inside our half, but it’s a bit high and he’s penalised.

Wales have the lineout 10m out on their right hand side.

8

Another offside

Wales kick high again, and Steyn grabs it.

The reds are offside again, and Russell will use the resulting penalty to get us well into Wales’ 22.

We’re on our right side, about 10m from the line.

11

SCHOEEEEEEEEEE!

Our first try of the championship!

Wales kick their pen to touch, but Richie Gray steals it.

Sione Tuipulotu breaks the line in midfield, and flings it to Steyn on the right wing. He is felled just four metres out.

A few phases later, it’s Pierre Schoeman who fights and squirms and gets the ball to the line! His fourth try for Scotland.

Messi converts from beneath the sticks.

7

Good exit from White

Wales kick off deep into our 22, and Ben White sends it back just inside Wales’ half with the box kick. The hosts’ lineout on their left.

4

First penalty Scotland

We’ve barely had a breath yet!

The ball goes up and down the field, and Russell sends the ball skywards.

It’s not Messi’s best kick, but Kyle Steyn gathers it and is played by an offside Welsh player.

Finn kicks the penalty out just outside Wales’ 22 on our right.

6

Another penalty

Lineout secured, and Costelow is offside in midfield.

Finn will attempt for three points. 19 metres out, just left of the posts.

7

Messi Messi Messi gol gol gol!

No problem!

Scotland get the first points.

16:43

That. Was. LOUD!

The closed roof certainly adds to the volume in this place. A fairly sizeable Scottish contingent too, judging by how audible “Flower of Scotland” was.

Sam Costelow will soon get this one underway.

The 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations begins for Scotland.

2

Rowe’s in the game

An early tester from Kyle Rowe as the high ball comes his way, but he gathers comfortably in his 22, calls the mark, and hoofs downfield.

Gareth Davies returns it into touch, on Scotland’s left near the 10m line in Wales’ half. Scotland go quick.

1

Kick off!

COME ON SCOTLAND!!

16:30

Teams back down the tunnel…

The pitch is bereft of rugby players for now, and instead filled with choir singers.

Wales and Scotland will return soon for the anthems.

16:34

Anthem time!

The teams are out! It’s time for the anthems. This will be special in an enclosed Principality Stadium.

16:22

The GOAT is here!

But enough about Finn, here’s Wales’ mascot…

16:05

The captains meet

Dafydd Jenkins and Finn Russell shake hands as the coin toss takes place.

The outcome is that Wales will kick off this match in 40 minutes time.

16:10

Messi warms up the boot

Finn Russell, who (jokingly) compared himself to football’s Lionel Messi in the Netflix “Six Nations: Full Contact” documentary which was released last week, is out practicing his goal kicking.

16:00

That’s a go for Rowe

Kyle Rowe makes his Guinness Men’s Six Nations debut today, coming in at full back for his second cap.

16:15

Teams reminder

Wales, as announced.

Scotland, as announced.

30, to go.

15:44

Shirts on show

The changing room looking immaculate!

15:45

Weir in it to win it

A reminder of what today means.

A chance for Scotland to retain the Doddie Weir Cup, a year on from Jamie Ritchie lifting it at Scottish Gas Murrayfield after a 35-7 win.

15:40

A choral welcome

Scotland have arrived at the Principality, and were welcomed in style as Loch Lomond rung out around them!

08:10

Game day!

It’s game day in Cardiff! Scotland kick-off their Guinness Men’s Six Nations against Wales at the Principality Stadium at 4.45pm. Join us later for live updates.

 

15:30

What’s occurin’?

Welcome to the Scottish Rugby Match Centre!

Get comfortable, sit back and relax. No need to go anywhere else for full updates from today’s 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations match between Wales and Scotland.

This is the opening game for both sides (as if you needed reminded!), and today’s kick off at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff is at 4.45pm.

We’ll have plenty of build up before that though!

15:10

Wales Team

Here is Warren Gatland’s Wales team to face Scotland at the Principality Stadium.

15:00

Scotland Team

Here is your Scotland team to play Wales on Saturday evening in Cardiff – live on BBC One.

 

 

Kick-off 4:45 pm