Scotland too strong for Wales

By Mark Stevens
26/2/17

Exeter Chiefs prop Tomas Francis suffered more RBS Six Nations Championship heartache as Scotland defeated Wales 29-13 at Murrayfield.

Vern Cotter's side ended 10 years of hurt against the Welsh as they kept alive their own title hopes. Wings Tommy Seymour and Tim Visser scored second-half tries, while 19 points from fly-half Finn Russell saw Scotland post a first victory over Wales since 2007.

Wales' hopes of a 10th successive win in the fixture were thwarted, despite them building a seven-point lead approaching the interval through wing Liam Williams' try, plus two Leigh Halfpenny penalties and a conversion.

But Wales, their hopes of Six Nations silverware in ruins following two defeats on the bounce, could not capitalise after showing early promise as they failed to muster a single point in the second half.

Buoyant Scotland will now head to Twickenham in pursuit of a first Triple Crown for 27 years when they face England on March 11, having beaten Wales by a biggest margin since 1993.

It was a high-class second 40 minutes by the Scots, who as well as keeping Wales scoreless after the break collected 20 points themselves as they thoroughly deserved a victory that backed up their impressive triumph against Ireland earlier this month.

For Wales and Francis, who featured for 51 minutes before being replaced by Samson Lee, it is back to the drawing board, but life is not about to get any easier as their remaining two Six Nations games are against Ireland and France.