Scotland 11-18 Wales: Guinness Six Nations result, scorers and report

Scotland 11-18 Wales

Scotland try: Graham
Scotland penalties: Russell (2)

Wales tries: Adams, Davies
Wales conversions: Anscombe
Wales penalties: Anscombe (2)

Match report: Wales survive Scotland fightback to move closer to Grand Slam title

Wales will be crowned Six Nations Grand Slam champions if they beat Ireland next Saturday after surviving a major scare to beat Scotland 18-11 at Murrayfield.

The unbeaten tournament leaders' fourth successive Six Nations victory - and their 13th of a record-breaking winning run - has teed up a mouthwatering occasion in Cardiff.

But they were pushed to the limit by a resilient Scotland team that dominated the second period as Wales were kept scoreless between the 30th and 79th minutes.

Despite a week dominated by rugby politics about the future template for Wales' professional regional game, though, Warren Gatland's men just about put it behind them.

First-half tries by wing Josh Adams - his third in the last three Six Nations games - and centre Jonathan Davies sent Wales ever closer to a first Six Nations crown since 2013 and seven years on from their last Grand Slam, while fly-half Gareth Anscombe added two penalties and a conversion.

But they lost full-back Liam Wiliams with an arm injury that could make him a major doubt to face Ireland, as Scotland threatened a famous victory through wing Darcy Graham's second-half try and two Finn Russell penalties.

Wales showed an enforced change from the side that beat England a fortnight ago, with lock Adam Beard replacing ankle injury victim Cory Hill, while Scotland boss Gregor Townsend made four switches, including starts for Graham and scrum-half Ali Price.

And Scotland started brightly, sourcing quick ball through their half-backs Price and Russell, but they lost a promising attacking position when skipper Stuart McInally was penalised for foul play.

Scotland, though, took an 11th-minute lead after Wales flanker Josh Navidi infringed and Russell kicked the resulting penalty, yet Wales responded brilliantly.

From their first notable attack, the visitors delivered a superb score as slick passing freed Adams near the touchline and he showed outstanding footwork to round Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn and touch down unopposed.

Anscombe kicked the conversion for a 7-3 advantage after 13 minutes, and although Russell then booted a second penalty, Scotland lost wing Tommy Seymour with what appeared to be a rib injury.

A long-range Anscombe penalty restored Wales' four-point advantage, and they began to move through the gears, utilising outstanding carrying work from the likes of Navidi, Ross Moriarty and skipper Alun Wyn Jones.

And a second try arrived 10 minutes before the break, with Wales patiently going through an impressive phase-game before it was all rounded off by an easy finish for Davies.

The whole move went through 23 error-free phases, and Wales had control - despite Anscombe hitting the post with an angled 25-metre penalty kick - as they led 15-6 halfway through the contest.

Scotland began the second period in front-foot mode, helped by a powerful run from prop Allan Dell, and Wales were forced into a reshuffle when Williams departed injured, with Biggar replacing him and Anscombe moving to full-back.

The Scotland forwards laid siege to Wales' line, and lock Grant Gilchrist was denied a try by some outstanding defensive work as the home side grew in confidence.

And their pressure was rewarded through a fine 58th-minute score for Graham, which owed everything to smart creative work by Russell and replacement Byron McGuigan and concluded a dominant Scottish third quarter that saw Wales' penalty count stack up.

Wales, starved of quality possession and territory, could not get their game going as Scotland continued to dominate during a tense final 10 minutes.

But Scotland could not keep their composure as time ticked down, and a relieved Wales held out as Anscombe kicked a late penalty to set up a huge Principality Stadium encounter in seven days' time.

Reaction

Wales head coach Warren Gatland said: "We were pretty comfortable during the first half but in fairness Scotland came out and put us under a lot of pressure in the second.

"We've lost the second half 5-3 but we've shown some real character. There were a couple of moments towards the end when Scotland were attacking but we drove them back.

"Any team that's won a Grand Slam - and I think back even to last year with Ireland and that Johnny Sexton drop goal - you look back at certain games and know you've had a little bit of luck.

"Maybe from a coaching perspective we needed to be a bit tougher at half-time. We talked at the break about being pretty comfortable and going out to deliver a second-half (performance). As a result, maybe we were thinking about next week and that Irish game."

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend main frustration was the performance of French referee Pascal Gauzere, with Townsend questioning why he did not issue the visitors with a yellow card despite seeing them concede five penalties within their own 22.

He said: "We would obviously have liked to have won that game. We had errors - probably caused by the defence's pressure. But we had chances.

"There were five penalties in the 22, and to not get anything from that seems like their indiscipline was rewarded and our pressure wasn't.

"Was I surprised there was no yellow card? Yes. If teams are giving away penalties close to their own try line through cynical play, then you expect that to lead to yellow cards. That is how international rugby is refereed throughout the world."

Related links

• Six Nations fixtures, results and standings