Scotland player ratings - vs Wales
A tale of two halves for Scotland.
They were blown off the park in the opening 40 minutes, with Wales looking odds on for a convincing victory in the Scottish capital. The second half was a different affair however.
Here’s how we rated the Scottish players.
15. Blair Kinghorn 4
Kicked loosely in the opening quarter and was found badly wanting in a one on one with Worcester’s Josh Adams, having been out of position when Wales found some space on the Scottish flanks. Got up gingerly after knocking the ball on in the 25th minute and was replaced by Adam Hastings six minutes later. A game to forget for the otherwise in form youngster.
Continue reading below…
14. Tommy Seymour N/A
In his 50th start for Scotland, the Lion’s day came to an abrupt end with what looked like a serious upper limb injury in the 20th minute.
13. Nick Grigg 6
A couple of solid carries for Grigg marked him out in the secondhalf. However the midfield was an area dominated by the Welsh today.
12. Pete Horne 5
Fell off a tackle on Jonathan Davies for Wales’ second try. Will have to take his share of the blame for Scotland’s patchy, passive defending. Was stripped in the 48th minute (Davies again), but was saved by the whistle.
11. Darcy Graham 8
Looked electric with ball in hand in opening exchanges and a stunning break in the 20th minute brought the subdued Scottish crowd into the game. A livewire all day in attack and solid in defence. Deserved his try and was missed when he left the field injured in the 64th minute.
10. Finn Russell 7
Returned from his HIA layoff, and looked a tad rusty. Found himself defending on the wing for Wales’ first try. Starved of anything resembling a platform in the first half, the Racing playmaker never had an opportunity to show his remarkable wares. The secondhalf was a different story, with a lovely inside ball to McGuigon for Graham’s try a highlight.
9. Ali Price 6
Brought the increased tempo to Scotland that was expected following his selection over incumbent nine and captain Greig Laidlaw. His attempts to add urgency to Scotland’s play were not always met with the support of his teammates. Gave away a crucial and silly penalty when tackling Anscombe without the ball in the 75th minute.
1. Allan Dell 7
Won a turnover early on and made nine tackles in a first half spent on the back foot. A fantastic 46th minute carry awoke an up until then justifiably depressed Murrayfield crowd – injuring Liam Williams in the process.
2. Stuart McInally 5
Edinburgh hooker and club captain McInally took on the national team captaincy for the third time in the absence of Laidlaw. It didn’t suit him. Spent the first-half tackling with the rest of the Scottish pack. Conceded two of Scotland’s four first-half penalties. A forgettable turn for the usually excellent Scot.
3. Willem Nel 6
The tighthead scrummaged well on return from injury but his trademark carrying was nowhere to be seen.
4. Grant Gilchrist 6
Carried when he had to in the secondhalf but missed a couple of tackles in a what was a marathon defensive session in the first. Was outshone by the industrious Welsh engine room of Adam Beard and Alun Wyn Jones.
5. Jonny Gray 6
A standard bearer in the physicality stakes – he tackled all day. The Glasgow lock will be disappointed with how much change the Welsh found carrying in and around the ruck area.
6. Magnus Bradbury 7
The brutality of his carrying was a brilliant subplot, although the blindside will want to check his ball security after being stripped in possession by Hadleigh Parkes.
7. Jamie Ritchie 8
Left the field after 9 minutes for a HIA, but returned. He constantly bedeviled Gatland’s men at the breakdown, and was unlucky to concede one of his two penalties. Grabbed Adams by the collar in an attempt to get his team pumped up, but no one else seemed too interested.
8. Josh Strauss 6
The big number eight carried with his usual workmanlike efficiency when he got a chance with the ball in hand but was utterly outshone by opposite number Ross Moriarty.
Substitutes
16. Fraser Brown 6
Got straight in the action when replacing McInally and played his part in a bright finish, although was also part of two lineout mauls which failed to make their way over the line.
17. Gordon Reid NA
Came on too late to rate.
18. Simon Berghan 6
Came on in the heat of battle and didn’t look out of place in the thick of things.
19. Ben Toolis 6
Came on for a knackered Gray on 65 minutes but didn’t impose himself in the short time he had on the pitch to shine.
20. Hamish Watson 9
Came on as HIA replacement for Ritchie before leaving as a blood injury. Returned in the 65th minute with two thunderous runs, beating six defenders. The very definition of an impact substitution.
.@HamishWatson7 is having a stormer ??#SCOvWAL #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/JefdPuSX2u
— Guinness Men's Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 9, 2019
21. Greig Laidlaw
Was slow when Scotland needed speed in the final quarter. He didn’t do much wrong but you felt the timing of his entry into the battle wasn’t ideal.
22. Adam Hastings 8
Made a try-saving hit on Josh Adams in the 38th minute and looked sore afterward. Made excellent contributions anytime he got near the play.
23. Byron McGuigan 7
Looked scatty at times, bright at others. Took a quick lineout in the 56 minute which lead to a penalty on the other side of the pitch. Ran a stunning line for Darcy Graham’s try.
Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks 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?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
45 Go to comments