Scotland v Wales: Five takeaways as hosts learn from ‘self-inflicted issues’ against England but benefit after ‘most marginal call imaginable’

Following a 35-29 victory for Scotland over Wales, here are our five takeaways from the Six Nations encounter at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The top line

Scotland versus Wales has a history of throwing up thrilling displays of open rugby and the 2025 edition didn’t disappoint as both teams played their part in another wonderful instalment of this encounter.

It was largely a game of two halves. The first saw huge Scottish dominance and the only questions being asked at half-time was how many could the hosts paste on their hapless opponents?

But it didn’t play out like that as the Welsh replacements (the Dragon Squad?) played their part in rejuvenating their team in the second, as they powered their way forward to a brilliant display that saw them outscore the Scots by three tries to one, with another disallowed, to grab a worthy bonus-point right at the end.

Blair Kinghorn and Tom Jordan dominated a much-improved Scottish effort as they grabbed a brace apiece, with Darcy Graham also crashing over from short range to give the hosts five tries, a good return for the day.

Wales’ efforts came courtesy of Blair Murray, Ben Thomas, Teddy Williams and Max Llewellyn as they were responsible for much chewing of fingernails at Murrayfield before referee Andrea Piardi called a halt to the manic and highly entertaining proceedings.

Change up for Scots

Scotland had clearly done a lot of work on their attack and carry of ball in hand since their Calcutta Cup loss in Round Two.

Against England, the Scots were so lateral in attack that concerns were expressed that they might find themselves in Great Yarmouth or Newquay on their coach ride home from the fixture in London.

But clearly, the problems had been worked on in detail. This was a wholly different Scottish team in attack and there were two focal points on things they did differently.

Firstly, the pace and angle of carry changed dramatically. Players ran onto the pass rather than trying to accelerate post catch. They exploded into contact positively, and, key to the post-contact metres, they’d clearly worked hard on hitting the tackler low and driving up and through. We saw this time and time again from Jack Dempsey, Zander Fagerson and, when he came on, Matt Fagerson, and this gave Scotland’s backs time to work magic in scramble situations.

Secondly, Finn Russell also played with more depth. He’s a man that likes to pass early, so getting players running angles at pace is key to his success. Standing a tad deeper than against England, it gave him that little bit more time to ensure accuracy and to hit the breadbasket of his targets.

A lot of what Kinghorn and Jordan did well came from Russell’s greater control lying that little bit deeper, demonstrating that Scotland had done a lot of analysis on the self-inflicted issues at Twickenham.

Welsh difference

The difference between Wales in Round Two and Wales in Round Four of the Six Nations is palpable, but in very simple terms Wales with Taulupe Faletau have always been a completely different proposition to Wales without the 107-time capped British and Irish Lion.

The number eight gave his team a focal point of carry, an ability to make dirty metres and a world-class presence either side of the ball. The veteran was outstanding in every aspect, making 22 tackles, some absolutely massive metres and offering a surety of possession from breakdown, link or lineout.

For one moment, it seemed that Faletau may just have pulled off the unthinkable as he galloped down the pitch to score in the 75th minute. However, after a TMO intervention, the try was chalked off, as the officials ruled that Murray had jumped a tackle. It was the most marginal call imaginable. The law says you mustn’t jump over a tackling player, but is hurdling one flailing arm really in the spirit of that ruling? It seemed very harsh, but Piardi, who had an outstanding game otherwise, stuck to a conservative interpretation of the law and the try was disallowed.

With Jac Morgan once again shining and Aaron Wainwright offering huge impact when he came on, the Welsh back-row really impressed all that watched, but it was that man Faletau who shone brightest of all as he makes his bid for his fourth and last Lions tour at the age of 34. What a player.

Wales’ losing streak extends to 16 after shambolic hour as Scotland bounce back from England disappointment

Backline reorganisation

And in the back division, we saw the green shoots of Welsh hope as Gareth Anscombe did his very best to make the most of the callow youths he had alongside him in the back division.

For both centres to get on the scorecard for Wales is an important moment – for so long their team has tried so many combinations and options it’s untrue. They’ve played players out of position, recalled old favourites and blooded new youngsters, but in Thomas and Llewellyn, both pure centres, they appear to have moved forward. Thomas still needs to think about his lines and when to keep the ball alive, but his cutback score sowed his rugby IQ as he realised the need for the conversion kick to be as easy as possible.

Elsewhere, Murray and Ellis Mee both had their moments, Murray getting Wales back into the contest against the run of play in the first half after some great vision from Anscombe.

With Joe Roberts also impressing – his leg weary run for the Llewellyn try was a masterclass of desire over fatigue – Wales have the promise of potential to take forward into their future and it’s encouraging that youth appears to be central to their plans.

Round Five tasks

Wales have their annual meeting with England next weekend and you can expect them to throw everything at their oldest enemies in that final fixture.

Old Mother Serendipity cannot have scripted this better. Wales, desperate to end their 16-game losing streak, are finally on the upslope and walk out of Murrayfield brimming with fire and passion wishing the match could have gone on five minutes longer. England, meanwhile, have scratched around at the batting crease, nudging and edging their way to an unconvincing 50 without middling a thing, yet face the most hostile environment in European rugby next weekend. There’s a certain inevitability about some things in life and the wise betting man might just put his house on the men in red next weekend.

But that’s not said without good rugby logic. Wales’ set-piece is excellent, they have a world-class back-row and they showed in this match they can break down a side as good as Scotland four times in a match.

For the Scots, a trip to Paris awaits them and, despite the absence of Antoine Dupont, you have to worry if they have the sheer poundage to repel not one but two separate mammoth French packs. There’s little doubt they’ve the backs that can unlock anyone and their forward effort was a lot more convincing in this game, but for them to pull off their win of the season, everything must go right for them in a week’s time at the Stade de France.

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