At midday on Saturday, Finn Russell sat sipping a latte in a hotel coffee bar on Edinburgh’s George Street, a picture of relaxation ahead of a crunch Six Nations clash.
Russell is one of rugby’s coolest customers and just a few hours later, he pulled the strings to relieve the pressure on Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend and deepen Welsh misery.
Scotland’s star playmaker and Townsend have had their moments over the years. But after losses to Ireland and England derailed hopes of a title bid before it had even started, Townsend would have been thankful to Russell for orchestrating this win.
It should really have been far more one-sided and it would have been were it not for a late Wales rally and a significant Scottish drop off. Russell always seems to save his best for Wales.
It is particularly unfortunate for those of a Welsh persuasion. Red supporters travelled in large numbers to Edinburgh.
But after showing real promise in their defeat by Ireland, this provided a dose of reality for Wales and their interim coach Matt Sherratt, even if they did never stop trying.
Blair Kinghorn was heavily involved as Scotland won 35-27 against Wales in the Six Nations
Darcy Graham scores a try for Scotland while under pressure from Wales’ Blair Murray
Tom Jordan of Scotland attempts to get away from Wales’ Gareth Anscombe
Wales shipped four tries in the first half and their winless Test run is now at 16 matches. Their defence was permeated all too easily in the first half here.
Before this game, Wales assistant coach Adam Jones had said all the pressure was on Scotland and he was not wrong in that assessment. Saturday was Jones’ birthday.
But it’s not one he will remember too fondly.
Russell was given an armchair ride. Scotland flatter to deceive too often and can never seem to compete for the Championship’s crown despite boasting a golden generation of players. But there can be no doubt that when they get on the front foot, they have attackers fleet of foot who can cause real problems. A side of Wales’ current status simply couldn’t stop them.
This completed a miserable weekend for Welsh rugby in Edinburgh as their Under-20’s side was also surprisingly beaten by Scotland on Friday evening.
Wales moved into an immediate lead, Gareth Anscombe nailing a penalty after Jamie Ritchie was penalised at a line-out. But that was almost as good as it got for them. Scotland responded immediately to take control and had a bonus point wrapped up by half time.
Townsend’s side scored with their first attack. Russell went this way and that, putting blue shirts into space. Player of the match Blair Kinghorn finished in the corner.
Scotland’s field position for the try came after Tomos Williams’ box kick clearance had been slightly deflected. Russell nailed the difficult conversion from wide out.
Jarrod Evans scores a conversion for Wales during his side’s defeat against Scotland
Scotland’s Kyle Rowe is tackled by Dafydd Jenkins of Wales during the Six Nations clash
Wales lost wing Tom Rogers to a head injury assessment and soon conceded again. Hulking Scottish wing Duhan van der Merwe shrugged off rookie Ellis Mee, sending Huw Jones clear.
Jones’ centre partner, the Bristol-bound Tom Jordan, had the easiest of finishes.
The returning Scottish wing Darcy Graham had a lively start and was heavily involved in Kinghorn’s opener after missing the Calcutta Cup loss due to a head injury.
Wales were under big pressure and had an early scoreboard deficit to deal with.
Captain Jac Morgan relieved some of the heat with a rip and boot clear and then two breakdown penalty wins.
Morgan has led a struggling Welsh team with aplomb in this Six Nations and must be a part of the Lions tour to Australia this summer, even if he plays in a very competitive position.
Morgan’s interventions were crucial. Because they gave his team a platform to attack from which, out of nowhere, Anscombe kicked to Blair Murray who scored.
Anscombe’s conversion came off the upright. Russell wasn’t having that.
Finn Russell made five conversions as he helped Scotland to overcome Wales
There was frustration for Wales interim coach Matt Sherratt as his side were beaten again
His delightful, delayed pass outfoxed his opposite number Anscombe and sent Graham over for a third after a Ben White snipe. Wales then imploded, the game falling away from them in a matter of minutes. First, their prop WillGriff John was yellow carded.
Then, deep inside their own 22, Wales overplayed in criminal and terminal fashion. Ben Thomas attempted to kick to Murray. It was too long, forcing Murray to leap to collect.
Murray flung the ball back inside, Thomas couldn’t sweep up, and Jordan was handed a second on a plate. It was a farcical score to concede at international level.
After being justly criticised for missing conversions that cost Scotland victory against England, Russell was bang on the money, ending the first half with a perfect kicking record.
Wales were never going to come back from 20 points down at the break. They conceded seven first-half penalties. And their only chance to save what has been another poor Championship is at home to old rivals England on Saturday. Lose that and Wales will have finished bottom of the Six Nations and without a win for the last two years.
Such a statistic would reflect the fall from grace of a proud rugby nation.
Kinghorn, who ruled the skies and was outstanding throughout, made it five with his second when the game resumed.
Kinghorn should be another Lions certainty. The assist?
Max Llewellyn was left dejected at the final whistle, with Wales’ winless run continuing
Mee, Blair Murray and Rhodri Williams of Wales express their frustration after the defeat
Well, of course it came from Russell. With the game won, Russell started to run through his full attacking playbook. One long pass to Graham drew gasps of admiration from the crowd.
Wales didn’t want this to end in embarrassment. Their iconic No 8 Taulupe Faletau picked up a Scottish clearance kick and charged forward, skittling White in destructive fashion.
On the hour, perhaps with boredom setting in, some Scottish fans lit up the stadium with the torches on their phones.
But if any of them were dozing, they were soon woken up by Wales centre Ben Thomas crashing over.
Wales replacement 10 Jarrod Evans converted. Townsend responded by removing Russell, wrapping him in cotton wool with next Saturday’s trip to champions elect France in mind but with him of the field, Scotland didn’t keep the hammer down.
On the basis of France’s 42-27 hammering of Ireland in Dublin, Scotland will have their work cut out in Paris even if Les Bleus are likely to be without the injured Antoine Dupont.
Analysing the challenge of facing Wales and France currently is like comparing chalk with cheese. The atmosphere in the final 15 minutes was as flat as a pancake.
With the game long since decided, Scotland were guilty of allowing Wales some territory and possession. Not that it mattered in the grand scheme of things.
Both teams also rung the changes which didn’t help Scotland’s continuity. But this was a chance missed for Townsend’s side to seal a record victory over Wales.
Their previous best was the 2023 success of 35-7. Surpassing that looked close to certain early in the second half, but Scotland let their foot off the gas. They can’t do that against France.
Replacement Welsh lock Teddy Williams reached for the line after a powerful carry to notch a third for Sherratt’s visitors. Evans improved the effort again.
The fact Wales didn’t throw in the towel is something for them to cling to with England in mind. But really, the nature of the final scoreline flattered those in red.
Murray had a moment of madness in the first half though he remains a source of Welsh hope. He thought he had got Wales a bonus point for four tries when he breezed clear and sent Faletau over. But Italian referee Andrea Piardi checked the score and Murray was judged to have jumped over Scottish replacement prop Will Hurd and the try was ruled out.
Wales, however, did go home with something eventually. The nature of Scotland’s last quarter would surely have left Townsend very disappointed.
Scotland took five points and deservedly so, but Wales’ defence in the final throes was impressive as they withheld late pressure.
And when they stole back possession, Rogers’ replacement Joe Roberts raced down the left wing.
From there, giant Wales centre Max Llewellyn did the rest ensuring they had the last laugh.
