CARDIFF, Wales — An astonishing comeback by a novice Wales rugby side fell one point short and allowed Scotland to end a 22-year hoodoo in Cardiff to start the Six Nations on Saturday.
Scotland won 27-26 after blowing a 27-0 lead and triumphed at Principality Stadium for the first time since 2002.
The Scots satisfied pre-match predictions by leading 20-0 at halftime, their most points in a first half in Cardiff. When captain Finn Russell set up wing Duhan van der Merwe again for his second converted try of the match, Scotland was cruising at 27-0 after 43 minutes.
To that point, Wales’ younger, new-look side was making it easy for the visitors with a dismal, error-ridden effort. Then complacency by Scotland and the injection of replacement scrumhalf Tomos Williams sparked life and urgency in Wales, and the home side streaked in four successive tries, carried along by a capacity crowd of 74,000 that had been silenced under the roof.
In 19 wild minutes, tries to flanker James Botham, playing his first test in more than two years, wing Rio Dyer, No. 8 Aaron Wainwright and debutant back-rower Alex Mann — three of them converted by three-cap replacement Ioan Lloyd — had Wales within a point with 12 minutes to go.
But Scotland’s experience and recovered poise managed the end better, and it finished on the Wales try-line. The Scots hammered Wales for 14 phases and van der Merwe reached out for a hat-trick try but was denied by Dyer’s leg.
Still, the Scots ended a run of 11 consecutive defeats at the home of Welsh rugby.
Scotland’s Finn Russell clears the ball from pressure during their Six Nations rugby union match at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024. Credit: AP/David Davies
Russell, under no pressure from Wales in the first half, was given an easy ride by a dominant pack and conducted his side’s attack professionally.
They were 10-0 up after 11 minutes after prop Pierre Schoeman reached out under a pile of bodies to dot down between the…
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