Scotland staged a dramatic second-half comeback to win 26-23 in Cardiff, with Darcy Graham and George Turner scoring crucial tries and Wales reflecting on late defensive lapses
Scotland overturned a 12-point deficit to beat Wales 26-23 in Cardiff, snatching victory in the closing stages of a gripping Guinness Men’s Six Nations encounter. Before a crowd of 70,649, the visitors reclaimed the Doddie Weir Cup and climbed the tournament table after a second-half turnaround.
How the match unfolded
Wales stamped their authority early, squeezing Scotland with sustained phase play and claiming the opening try through Rhys Carre, converted by Sam Costelow. Josh Adams soon added another touchdown and Costelow’s penalties took the hosts into a 17-5 lead at the break.
Scotland responded after half-time. A long spell of pressure near the Welsh line paid off when Finn Russell found space with a sharp show-and-go. Wales replied with a Jarrod Evans penalty, but the momentum shifted dramatically on a fast restart: Russell’s speculative kick landed with Darcy Graham, who pounced on a temporary lapse in Wales’ alignment to score.
That score trimmed the margin and injected real belief into the visitors.
Late drama and decisive moments
The contest was settled in the final quarter when sustained forward play produced a textbook rolling maul finished by George Turner. Russell’s conversions and calm game management in the closing minutes helped Scotland hold on as Wales pressed for a winner. Tactical kicking, physical breakdown work and solid set-piece execution all played a part in the outcome.
Wales: individual fight, team lessons
Despite the narrow loss, Wales had stand-out individual efforts. A replacement back-rower, introduced early, shouldered a heavy defensive workload and finished with 15 tackles; he described the restart that led to Graham’s try as “gut-wrenching” and vowed the squad would turn the disappointment into improvements. The match highlighted how tight encounters often come down to restart recovery, set-piece reliability and finishing in the final phases.
Rory Darge was named player of the match after a dominant showing around the breakdown, proving how one player’s work at the collision area can influence an entire game.
Tactical themes
Both sides displayed hallmarks of contemporary test rugby: long multi-phase sequences, fierce contests at the breakdown and opportunistic kicking that turned defence into attack. The game underlined that a single quick restart or a moment’s lapse in concentration can tilt momentum — and that teams who consistently win territorial exchanges and execute rolling mauls can find late, match-defining scores.
Wider context and reactions
Coaches and analysts will use this fixture as a primer on closing-phase management. Scotland leave Cardiff with two wins from three and a tangible boost in confidence; Wales will treat the result as a diagnostic moment, with restart defence and transitional marking high on the to-do list. Selection headaches and tactical tweaks are sure to follow for both sides as the tournament unfolds.
Meanwhile, the weekend produced contrasting storylines elsewhere. At Twickenham, Maro Itoje celebrated his 100th cap but couldn’t prevent England slipping to a 42-21 defeat; Sam Underhill said the players felt they’d let Itoje down and emphasized that recovery from setbacks is rarely linear. Ireland, by contrast, produced a convincing win at Twickenham, with captain Caelan Doris calling it a new benchmark for the squad.
Where this leaves the Six Nations
Matches are being decided by finer margins than ever. Psychological resilience, precise execution in key moments and reliable restart systems are becoming as crucial as individual brilliance. Expect teams to prioritise rehearsal of high-pressure scenarios, tighten restart protocols, and sharpen halfback-set-piece partnerships.
How the match unfolded
Wales stamped their authority early, squeezing Scotland with sustained phase play and claiming the opening try through Rhys Carre, converted by Sam Costelow. Josh Adams soon added another touchdown and Costelow’s penalties took the hosts into a 17-5 lead at the break.0
How the match unfolded
Wales stamped their authority early, squeezing Scotland with sustained phase play and claiming the opening try through Rhys Carre, converted by Sam Costelow. Josh Adams soon added another touchdown and Costelow’s penalties took the hosts into a 17-5 lead at the break.1
