SIX TRY WALES OUTGUN SCOTLAND
SCOTLAND 22 WALES 46
A sensational 40-minute display – with tries from Ryan Jones, Rhys Williams, Shane Williams and two from Kevin Morgan – saw Wales blast past Scotland. And following victories over England, Italy and France, that leaves them just one game away from a remarkable clean sweep.
However, there were clear warning signs for coach Mike Ruddock ahead of Saturday’s last and crucial game against Ireland at the Millennium Stadium. Scotland hit back with three tries of their own in a second-half comeback that meant there is still plenty to work on before the RBS Six Nations title decider in Cardiff. But by the time Scotland rallied, the game was effectively over after Wales had stunned Murrayfield with three quick-fire tries in the opening 14 minutes.
Ryan Jones started and finished the first with less than four minutes on the clock. The Neath-Swansea Ospreys back-row burst through two would-be tacklers, then continued the attack through Morgan, Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Williams and Martyn Williams before receiving the ball 20 yards out for his first Test try.
Just four minutes later and Rhys Williams was celebrating his re-call to the Wales team by galloping 80 metres for the second. Scotland pressed forward, but with men outside, Dan Parks threw a wild pass that Williams plucked from the air for a clear run to the Scottish try line.
Not to be outdone, namesake and fellow wing Shane Williams maintained his stunning scoring record with his 24th try in his 28th appearance. Stephen Jones spotted a welcoming gap between two forwards before off-loading to the prolific wing.
Jones converted all three and added a penalty before Scotland finally got on the scoreboard through Chris Paterson’s penalty on 22 minutes. But that merely interrupted Wales’ remarkable scoring spree as Morgan, returning to full-back in place of injured captain Gareth Thomas, went over twice before the break.
Both were simple finishes under the posts, the first off Tom Shanklin’s tackle-busting break and the second from Dwayne Peel’s delightful ingenuity when nothing looked on. Jones continued to add the conversions for an incredible 38-3 half-time lead.
More quick thinking from man of the match Peel saw Rhys Williams claim his second just nine minutes into the second half as Wales opened up a remarkable 43-3 lead.
Scotland, however, had wrung the changes at half time and soon proved their worth with three unanswered tries of their own before the end of the game. Andy Craig burst over on 53 minutes before Rory Lamont, on his debut, and Paterson both crossed while Wales were down to 14 men following the yellow card for Brent Cockbain on the hour.
Scotland: C Paterson; R Lamont, A Craig (A Henderson, 75), H Southwell, S Lamont; D Parks (G Ross, H-T), C Cusiter (M Blair, 44); T Smith, G Bulloch (capt), G Kerr (B Douglas, H-T), S Grimes (N Hines, H-T) S Murray, S Taylor, A Hogg, J Petrie
Tries – A Craig, R Lamont, C Paterson. Cons – C Paterson (2). Pen – C Paterson
Wales: K Morgan; R Williams (H Luscombe, 68), T Shanklin (H Luscombe, 8-15), G Henson (C Sweeney, 75), S Williams; S Jones, D Peel; G Jenkins, M Davies (R McBryde, 49), A Jones (J Yapp, 63), B Cockbain (J Thomas, 71), R Sidoli, R Jones, M Owen (capt), M Williams
Tries – K Morgan (2), R Williams (2), R Jones, S Williams. Cons – S Jones (5). Pens – S Jones (2)
Referee: J Kaplan (South Africa)
Attendance: 63,431
