SCOTLAND 24-25 WALES
Zander Fagerson’s 53rd minute red card ultimately broke Scotland’s stride and Wales are still on course for a Grand Slam.
Gregor Townsend’s side went into the game in top form after they defeated England 11-6 at Twickenham the week before. They led 17-3 after tries from Darcy Graham and Stuart Hogg, but Wales responded with a Louis Rees-Zammit try before half-time.
The hosts pressed to try and build on their 17-8 advantage, after the break, but Wales absorbed waves of attack before responding with a Liam Williams try out on the left wing.
Then came the big talking point as the Scots were reduced to 14 men for the final 27 minutes.
With 53 minutes on the clock, Scotland prop Zander Fagerson went flying into the breakdown to clear out Wyn Jones as he attempted a poach.
Thoughts on that Scottish red card?pic.twitter.com/fzJeHZUNNO
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) February 13, 2021
Referee Matt Carley conferred with the Television Match Official and concluded that he had no option other than giving a straight red card to Fagerson. It was the second game in succession – after Peter O’Mahony was sent off last weekend – that Wales faced a team that would finish with only 14 men.
On BBC, former Wales captain Sam Warburton sympathised with Fagerson as he went to clear out a poaching player who was being rolled out by a teammate as he entered the ruck.
“If they are doing the review on Monday and he doesn’t clear him out, they’ll ask him what he was doing,” said Warburton.
To make matters worse for Scotland, Wyn Jones was able to dust himself down and it was the prop that crashed over, two minutes later, to put Wales 20-17 ahead.
The Scots responded well to that triple blow and their forwards put in the hard yards before the sensational Stuart Hogg bagged his second try of the game. Finn Russell converted and the 14 men led 24-20.
Wales were not finished swinging, however. Back they came and Rees-Zammit got his second try of the night to edge his side 25-24 ahead. The missed conversion, though, meant Scotland could win the game with a late penalty or drop goal.
Duhan van der Merwe threatened to score a stunning try, in extra time, but Ollie Watkins’ tap tackle ended the contest in Wales’ favour.
Our Man of the Match: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
