Wales snatch late win
13 Feb 2010
Shane Williams scored a last-minute try to secure Wales a 31-24 win over Scotland at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Scotland, inspired by pivot Dan Parks, were the better team for most parts of the match and deserved their 10-point lead seven minutes from time. However, they reduced to 13 men and Wales score two late converted tries and a penalty to steal victory.
Before the kickoff, there was already a controversial point. Wales head coach Warren Gatland requested the stadium’s roof to be closed, but his Scottish counterpart Andy Robinson refused as he believed it would give the home side an extra advantage.
The decision went Robinson’s way, as the ruling is that both coaches must agree for a closed stadium, but Wales were still the favourites no doubt. With nine British and Irish Lions in their starting line-up, Wales looked the stronger side on paper.
However, on the field it was a different story as Scotland had the upper hand in the early exchanges on a chilly afternoon in Cardiff.
Wales were poor in defence and attack from the outset as they slipped several tackles and poor handling scuffed vital try-scoring opportunities.
This allowed Scotland to steal the early momentum and they took full advantage of Wales defensive flaws as flank John Barclay burst through centre James Hook and scrumhalf Gareth Cooper for the opening score. Fullback Chris Paterson added the extras for a 7-0 lead.
Wales dominated the scrums throughout the match as the Scottish front row faltered, and this allowed the home side to score their first points from a resulting penalty moments later. Flyhalf Gareth Jones on target for the hosts.
But the influential Parks then helped Scotland surge into a 12-point lead. First Parks cancelled out Jones’ three-pointer with a drop goal and minutes later, put a clever grubber through Wales’ flat defence for replacement wing Max Evans to touch down in the corner.
Jones and Parks, who took over the kicking duties from Paterson as the injured fullback suffered a premature end to his 100th Test cap, then traded penalties in the last quarter to leave the score 18-9 at the break.
Scotland had the perfect start to the second stanza as they were awarded a penalty from the restart. Parks kicked the three-pointer to extend the visitors’ lead. However, Gatland’s charges came out a more inspired side after half-time.
This saw Wales hit back through a Lee Byrne try. From a set-piece in the midfield, Wales passed the ball wide and the fullback found space in the wings to score in the corner, but Parks put Scotland 10 points ahead with a long range drop goal.
With 10 minutes remaining, Scotland were under pressure to maintain their lead. The situation worsened for the visitors as replacement hooker Scott Lawson was sinned bin in the 74th minute, giving Wales a one-man advantage which sparked their comeback.
First Wales overlapped Scotland’s defence out wide as wing Leigh Halfpenny ran in at the corner. Jones kicked the conversion..
From the restart Wales were on the attack again, this time kicking the ball into space. Scotland were penalised for illegally obstructing the home team’s chase and were reduced to 13 men. Jones then levelled the scores, with one more play remaining.
It seemed that a draw was a satisfying result for the home side as Gatland and co clearly looked relieved in the stands, but that wasn’t the end of the match as Wales did the unthinkable.
From the kickoff, Wales gathered possession. Jones then kicked the ball out wide and Halfpenny secured possession in the Scots’ 22. After three phases, Wales had men extra in attack and wing Williams scored the match-winning try under the posts.
By Gareth Duncan
108 Comments
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13 Feb 2010, 15:35 pm
Dragons vs Scotland
13 Feb 2010, 15:56 pm
would like to see the Scots win just to make gatland squirm so more..
13 Feb 2010, 16:00 pm
@poppa69: Yep…a squirming Gatland is a sight to relish
13 Feb 2010, 16:13 pm
Go Scotland!
13 Feb 2010, 16:25 pm
Jocks killing them
13 Feb 2010, 16:27 pm
@Big Hit: you have a link for this game BH? cant seem to find one
13 Feb 2010, 16:34 pm
Yeah Scotland! What on earth is going on with the Welsh?
13 Feb 2010, 16:37 pm
@poppa69: nothing for the 6N pops, it’s free to air on tv and bbc website
13 Feb 2010, 16:48 pm
@poppa69: French stream justin.tv/eddy6305#r=sN7m0ug
13 Feb 2010, 16:48 pm
@Big Hit: cheers BH..
13 Feb 2010, 16:50 pm
whatever happened to the mighty welsh? Bunch of inconsistent pretenders
13 Feb 2010, 16:59 pm
Go now Scotland!
13 Feb 2010, 17:00 pm
UP THE JOCKS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
13 Feb 2010, 17:02 pm
Wales should come back in the second half. Scots must just keep on playing, not go in defensive mode!
13 Feb 2010, 17:12 pm
Ryan wake up you lazy WPian! where is the Lions match thread.
13 Feb 2010, 17:13 pm
@RedLion: He is saving the embarrassment of a beating;-)
13 Feb 2010, 17:13 pm
Gret kick Carlos
13 Feb 2010, 17:14 pm
Straight through the pole by Rose 3 all … 5 min
13 Feb 2010, 17:14 pm
good kick Duvie.
Go Jocks by the way.
13 Feb 2010, 17:14 pm
anyone got a link for the Stormers Lions match
13 Feb 2010, 17:15 pm
@Black Panther: No need for a Link … RL is here.
13 Feb 2010, 17:17 pm
No we shall see, first scrum of the match and the Lions are licking their lips.
C T P Engage – the WP chicken out free kick Lions.
13 Feb 2010, 17:17 pm
what happened to the lions/stormers thread?
13 Feb 2010, 17:17 pm
No way 57m. Wow. Steyn MkII.
Vermulen & Burger combo is very very good.
13 Feb 2010, 17:18 pm
wow easily had the distance. Man that’s a big kick for quite a little guy.
13 Feb 2010, 17:19 pm
BP justin.tv/bom72#r=nrfZqG8 working for me
13 Feb 2010, 17:19 pm
Pygmy Pietersen is no Steyn … little fellow has no power in his legs and he misses the 57m kick.
13 Feb 2010, 17:19 pm
@poppa69:
suddenly disappeared for me too
13 Feb 2010, 17:20 pm
Dof.
Stormers pace & continuity is good.
De Jongh looks great.
13 Feb 2010, 17:20 pm
@Black Panther: ‘ello Pinky.
13 Feb 2010, 17:21 pm
@poppa69:
cheers Poppa
13 Feb 2010, 17:21 pm
where’s the lions thread gone,i’m pretty sure there was one earlier.
13 Feb 2010, 17:21 pm
@RedLion: Bet you’re eating those words. Had all the distance and some.
13 Feb 2010, 17:22 pm
@SodaJoe:
de Jongh was superb on EOYT
and he was supposedly a ‘quota’
if he was, I say ditch the blonde boets and bring on the quotas.
13 Feb 2010, 17:22 pm
@SodaJoe: altitude dude
6-3 WP
13 Feb 2010, 17:23 pm
Carlos is so clever, he’s going to be a master. Bloody great to have him in my team.
Pieterson is playing very well.
13 Feb 2010, 17:23 pm
one 5 meter break and dejong looks great?
please
13 Feb 2010, 17:23 pm
Gio nearly rumbled over Earl.
13 Feb 2010, 17:24 pm
@SodaJoe: he does have great vision, kick was a metre or two too long
13 Feb 2010, 17:24 pm
@SodaJoe:
hey Soda
how was your journey to Mud Island ?
did ya check out any of these indy-muso stores I told ya ?
am working my way thru that Replacements book. Not the best to be honest, its all ‘quotes’ from people. Not the in-depth anaylsis & anecdotes that I like.
still…
13 Feb 2010, 17:24 pm
Lombaard and Stoltz are looking good at lineout time. It helps having 2 bean pole locks.
Yip there we stole another lineout.
13 Feb 2010, 17:24 pm
Gio Aplon is the bravest rugby player in SA.
13 Feb 2010, 17:25 pm
Now here is a scrum for a WP knock on
C T P Engage – Lions killed the WP just there.
13 Feb 2010, 17:25 pm
Stormers going to struggle all season with Burger as captain, the flank is half the player he was before his neck injury and is playing purely on reputation, and is no captain imo. Bekker would be a better bet to see the season out because I doubt Burger does.
13 Feb 2010, 17:27 pm
bit of feeling in the game..
13 Feb 2010, 17:27 pm
come on ref he was on his feet and can play the ball.
13 Feb 2010, 17:27 pm
dont let it go Jocks !
13 Feb 2010, 17:28 pm
wikus blaauw folded already.
13 Feb 2010, 17:28 pm
lions getting blown off the park.
13 Feb 2010, 17:29 pm
@Black Panther: Pinky there are a lot of “Mats books. That’s why the anecdotes work.
I just was in and out so no music.
I have quite a bit of new stuff: Tinariwen, 7 World’s Collide, new Vamoire Weekend, Florence & the Machine, Low Anthem.
Lions need to watch the penalties now.
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