Scotland kept their hopes of winning the Triple Crown alive by defeating Wales 26:23 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Despite a commanding lead from the hosts, who controlled the match until the 75th minute, the Scots managed to claw their way back with a series of tries in the second half. For Wales it was their fourteenth consecutive defeat in the tournament, although the team under Steve Tandy's leadership showed a clear improvement in form compared to their previous matches against England and France.

Historic comeback by Scotland

The Scots overcame a 15-point deficit in the second half, scoring the decisive points in the 75th minute following an action by George Turner.

Wales's fourteenth defeat

The Welsh continue their worst-ever streak in the history of their Six Nations Championship appearances, losing their 14th consecutive match.

Fight for the Triple Crown

Thanks to the victory, Scotland remains in contention for their first trophy for defeating all rivals from the British Isles since 1990.

Progress in the hosts' play

Despite the loss, Wales displayed significantly better defense under the leadership of new coach Steve Tandy.

The match at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff provided fans with immense excitement, becoming one of the most dramatic clashes of this year's Six Nations Championship. Wales, tipped by bookmakers for a heavy defeat, surprised experts with their dominance in the first half. The hosts went into halftime leading 17:5, and at one point in the second half, their advantage grew to 20:5. Wales's solid defense, led by former Scotland coach Steve Tandy, effectively contained the visitors' attacks for most of the match. The turning point came in the 58th minute when Darcy Graham's try restored Scotland's hope for a favorable result. In the closing stages, Gregor Townsend's charges demonstrated greater mental resilience and better physical preparation. The key moment was the 75th minute when substitute hooker George Turner broke through the Welsh defensive line, putting Scotland into the lead for the first time in the match (26:23). Despite desperate attacks from the Welsh in the final seconds, the score remained unchanged, extending the hosts' losing streak in the tournament. The Six Nations Championship is the oldest rugby tournament in the world, with roots dating back to 1883. The competition for the Triple Crown takes place exclusively between the four national teams from the British Isles: England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Scotland captain, Sione Tuipulotu, admitted after the match that the victory was "ugly" but extremely valuable in the context of the fight for the ultimate triumph. Scotland managed to win four consecutive matches against Wales for the first time in 99 years. On the other hand, for Wales, despite the bitterness of defeat, the match was a glimmer of hope after earlier heavy defeats (102 points conceded in two matches). Coach Tandy praised his players' progress, emphasizing that mistakes in key moments are part of the process of building a new team. „It's gut-wrenching. We led for 75 minutes and to lose it at the end is hard to take.” — Dewi Lake Scotland's victory puts them in an excellent position ahead of the upcoming clash with France in Edinburgh. If the Scots defeat "Les Bleus," their final match in Dublin against Ireland could become a direct battle for the Triple Crown and a potential tournament victory.

Mentioned People

  • Gregor Townsend — Coach of the Scotland national rugby union team.
  • Steve Tandy — Coach of the Wales national team, previously working in the Scotland coaching staff.
  • Sione Tuipulotu — Captain of the Scotland national team.
  • Dewi Lake — Captain of the Wales national team.
  • Finn Russell — Fly-half for the Scotland national team, a key player in the match.
  • George Turner — Scottish hooker, scorer of the decisive try.