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'Lamentable non-performance from Scotland. Unbelievably negative and error-strewn'
Scotland are facing the wrath of trial by social media after once again failing to back up a remarkable Test victory.
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The Scots hadn’t won in two decades in Cardiff, but were looking to follow up an opening-round 20-17 win over England and launch a championship with two straight victories for the first time in the Six Nations era.
But they fell 6-0 down after two penalties by Biggar in the opening eight minutes, only to move into an 11-6 lead thanks to Darcy Graham’s well-taken, one-handed try in the right corner and two penalties by Russell.
Russell and Biggar traded more penalties before Tomas Francis burrowed over in the 32nd minute from a maul off a lineout to leave the scores tied at 14-14 at halftime.
The second half was an arm wrestle, with both teams kicking more and showing less attacking endeavour.
Russell’s 50th-minute penalty was cancelled out by one from Biggar eight minutes later, setting up a tension-filled final quarter.
The score was tied at 17-17 with 13 minutes left when Wales captain Dan Biggar’s rival No.10, Finn Russell, was sin-binned for a deliberate knock-on – moments after Biggar had struck an upright with a long-range penalty.
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After turning down kicks at goal for a couple of attacking line-outs, Wales settled for three points via Biggar’s dropped goal from in front of the posts and held on with the extra man.
Social media was unsurprisingly unforgiving, even given Wales’ gutsy performance that has saved their campaign, which looked washed up after their hammering in Dublin last weekend.
Chiefs Sports writer for BBC Scotland, Tom English didn’t hold back in his initial take on the loss.
“Lamentable non-performance from Scotland. Unbelievably negative and error-strewn. Played zero rugby. Well done Wales. Finn Russell’s stupid yellow was the day in microcosm. Two yellows and a red in his last seven Six Nations games.
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Lamentable non-performance from Scotland. Unbelievably negative and error-strewn. Played zero rugby. Well done Wales. Finn Russell’s stupid yellow was the day in microcosm. Two yellows and a red in his last seven Six Nations games.
— Tom English (@TEnglishSport) February 12, 2022
The Scottish Rugby Podcast wrote: “Scotland shot themselves in the foot so many times there. Some utterly brainless decisions particularly in the attack. Russell and Hogg looked average today which is always a bad sign. Fair play to Wales for improvement in defence from last week.”
Scotland shot themselves in the foot so many times there. Some utterly brainless decisions particularly in the attack. Russell and Hogg looked average today which is always a bad sign.
Fair play to Wales for improvement in defence from last week.
— Scottish Rugby Podcast ????? (@ScotRugbyPod) February 12, 2022
Popular Scotland fan and creator Graham Love summed it up thus: “This has Scotland beating France in a game that means nothing now written all over it & finishing the tournament with 2 big scalps & zero actual progress”
This has Scotland beating France in a game that means nothing now written all over it & finishing the tournament with 2 big scalps & zero actual progress
— Graham Love (@glove931) February 12, 2022
Maverick flyhalf Russell has turned from national hero to villain in the space of a week, after coughing up a yellow card which would ultimately see the Welsh take the lead and keep to the end. Russell attempted the intercept, but his one-handed effort was adjudged a deliberate knock on by referee Nic Berry.
And that there is why Finn Russell isn't first pick for the Lions
— UkRandolph (@ukrandolph) February 12, 2022
One fan noted: “Only Finn Russell could get sin binned, miss a conversion, kickoff straight to touch, drop goal effort 10 metres short, kick blocked and miss touch with a penalty and still be talked about on commentary like the Jesus of rugby.”
Only Finn Russell could get sin binned, miss a conversion, kickoff straight to touch, drop goal effort 10 metres short, kick blocked and miss touch with a penalty and still be talked about on commentary like the Jesus of rugby. #WALvSCO ?????
— MountainTopDramer (@liamofaolain) February 12, 2022
It’s back to drawing board for Scotland and Gregor Townsend, who will no doubt lick their wounds and look to bounce back in two weeks time.
– additional reporting AAP
Comments on RugbyPass
🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
29 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
29 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
29 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
29 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
29 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
11 Go to comments