Scotland 6 - 24 Wales
Wales beat Scotland in a interesting encounter at Murrayfield with Shane Williams scoring two tries. For Wales Andy Powell was injured so Ryan Jones replaced the London Wasps Number 8. For Scotland the impressive Richie Gray doesn't make the 22 after an injury therefore Nathan Hines moves from flanker to second row with Richie Vernon moving to flanker.
First Half
The first 5 minutes were slow, well compared to last year's Six Nation's match. On the 6th minute the game burst onto the scene with James Hook exploiting a gap with his gliding speed and who is on his shoulder? Shane Williams who else? James Hook kicks the conversion over to make it Scotland 0 - 7 Wales. Jamie Roberts makes an excellent tap tackle on Dan Parks but Scotland are offside and James Hook knocks the penalty over Scotland 0 - 10 Wales.
Roberts wraps up Kelly Brown again, Jamie Roberts was giving everybody a tackling lesson. Ross Ford gives away a penalty for entering the ruck from the side. James Hook knocks it over. Scotland 0 - 13 Wales. Hugo Southwell punts the ball in the air runs and collides with Lee Byrne in a nasty looking manner. Hugo Southwell has to get treatment for Byrne's boot going into his face, to everyone's surprise Southwell didn't get a yellow card but instead left the field with Sean Lamont coming on. Another penalty gets kicked over by James Hook who said he couldn't be a fly half? Scotland 0 - 16 Wales. Bradley Davies gets sent to the sin bin for 10 minutes relaxation for obstruction, the big second row isn't happy with the decision. He is soon joined by Welsh Fullback Lee Byrne for a high tackle on Max Evans.
Scotland try to take advantage of their extra 2 players with Dan Parks kicking a cross field ball for Nikki Walker with his superior height advantage over Shane Williams, but Phillips turns the ball over and soon enough the Welsh cheer as possession is with Wales. Scotland finally get some points on the board after Dan Lydiate hangs on to a Scottish Player, Dan Parks knocks the ball through the posts to make it Scotland 3 - 16 Wales. Nothing much before the half time, poor Scottish pressure not breaking the gain line and a few handbags threw around.
Second Half
Hook restarts with Dan Parks replying with a kick to touch, very scrappy start to the 2nd half with many failed attacks. 16 phases from Scotland then Dan Parks decides to kick another cross field ball but Shane Williams gathers with time and space, very poor from Scotland. Scrum resets shows their head again with George Clancy getting fed up with Wales's front row and awarding Scotland a penalty which Dan Parks slots over with ease Scotland 6 - 16 Wales. Scotland get another chance with a 2 men advantage on the wing but mess it up so Andy Robinson decides to punch the wall(interesting tactic). Jamie Roberts breaks free with no one seeming to stop him but Sean Lamont comes through and stops the Giant Cardiff Blues centre, what a tackle! Wales get a penalty and fly half James Hook kicks it through with ease. Scotland 6 - 19 Wales .
Wales get turnover ball again and the impressive Davies kicks the ball into space where the full back should of been and Shane Williams wins the race to get the ball and it's good night Scotland. Jones misses the conversion to make the score Scotland 6 - 24 Wales.
Full Time
A good win for Wales, i'm sure Warren Gatland is relieved that the duck has finally ended.
Man of the match - Jamie Roberts
Scotland :
Tries - none
Penalty Goals - Parks (2)
Conversions - none
Wales:
Tries - Williams (2)
Penalty Goals - Hook (4)
Conversions - Hook (1)
Thoughts:
Good to see some of Wales stars joining the race again with Jamie Roberts and James Hook making good impressions, Shane Williams had a quiet game but still got 2 tries out of the match. With regards to Scotland all the positive work from the match against France disappeared with no punch in their attacks and stupid mistakes + decisions affecting the teams morale. Richie Gray was a major miss and they will want him back to full fitness for the next Six Nations match.
.jpg "Henry Pollock, who was part of the England U20s set-up last term, scored two tries off the bench")