Scotland player ratings vs Wales | 2026 Guinness Men's Six Nations

Scotland player ratings: It ended 26-23 to Scotland, but really, Gregor Townsend’s side did everything to throw this one away with a dire first half. The visitors butchered enough chances to lose twice and were a circus at the lineout for long stretches.

Yet pressure eventually told and George Turner’s late score spared blushes. It was far from vintage. Some were sharp. Some were miles off it.

Here’s our Scotland player ratings:

15. Blair Kinghorn – 7
Spellbinding at times. It was his incision on 13 minutes that opened Wales up before putting Steyn away and his passing game added genuine tempo. Caught in possession once by Botham and threw a loose one, but was supreme in the air and carried with intent. Scotland are better with him in the side.

14. Kyle Steyn – 7.5
Very nearly in on six minutes after a sharp diagonal before being hauled down by a seatbelt tackle. Took his try well on 14 minutes after sustained pressure. Busy without being electric.

22m Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.8

7

Entries

Avg. Points Scored

2.6

10

Entries

13. Huw Jones – 6
A constant threat that never quite delivered the killer blow. Put Wales under serious pressure with his footwork and line breaks and split the line again on 61 minutes. But failed to take a difficult chance in the corner after Duhan’s pass when a finish was on. Fine margins.

12. Sione Tuipulotu – 7
Sucked in Welsh defenders like a Category 5 tornado in midfield. One croc roll penalty on Nicky Smith but responded with a thunderous hit on Louis Rees-Zammit moments later. Carried hard and made the gainline.

11. Duhan van der Merwe – 5.5
Back in the side and into the action early, but starved of quality ball for long periods. Made one trademark surge on 50 minutes as the red sea parted. Otherwise peripheral.

10. Finn Russell – 8.5
Hooked an early conversion but that was a footnote. Some beautiful passing in phase play during Scotland’s waves of attack. Took his try on 54 minutes with a sharp dummy and composure. The restart kick for Graham’s try was outrageous. That moment of vision cracked Wales open. When he’s on, Scotland hum.

9. Ben White – 5
Set up Russell’s try with a sharp assist but also threw a 50:50 that was intercepted when Scotland were queuing up. Questionable grubber after a Kinghorn-inspired counterattack summed up an erratic afternoon. Replaced on 55 minutes.

1. Nathan McBeth – 4
Run over by Dewi Lake and hooked after 34 minutes with no obvious injury. Harsh in one sense as scrum parity wasn’t the biggest issue, but the lineout was a mess and he was part of a pack under strain.

2. Dave Cherry – 3.5
A tough watch. Several lineouts went awry and he spilled a ball in contact five metres out when a score beckoned. It wouldn’t be his last. Replaced on 55 minutes. Looked off well the pace at Test level here.

3. Zander Fagerson – 7.5
Immense defensive workload and anchored a late scrum win on 76 minutes that swung momentum back Scotland’s way his brother’s knock-on. Got through a mountain of unseen graft.

4. Max Williamson – 4
Given the shepherd’s crook on 34 minutes after missed tackles and a malfunctioning lineout. A tough introduction in Cardiff.

5. Scott Cummings – 6
Carried and tackled industriously but part of a lineout unit that malfunctioned badly. Took just one Scottish ball in that set-piece shambles before departing on 66 minutes.

6. Gregor Brown – 6.5
A mixed bag. Pick-pocketed at the lineout in the lead-up to Rhys Carre’s try and dropped it on 25 minutes. Took a high shot to the face from Joe Hawkins early on. Yet found rhythm as it wore on, claiming six lineout takes and adding physicality.

7. Rory Darge – 7
Blown past by Carre for the opening Welsh try and initially outshone by Alex Mann. Improved markedly. Won a turnover on 43 minutes and carried with more venom in the second half.

8. Matt Fagerson – 8
Excellent. Won a turnover inside two minutes and was Scotland’s most consistent forward. One late drop on 76 minutes was unfortunate after a tireless display. Led the physical tone.

Replacements

16. George Turner – 7.5
Arrived on 55 minutes and made the difference. Picked the perfect time to score his 13th Test try on 74 minutes from close range. Threw accurately and brought bite.

17. Pierre Schoeman – 7.5
Added ballast. Involved in that huge late scrum win and carried with more punch than the starter. A case to start next time.

18. Elliot Millar-Mills – 6
On for Zander at 55 minutes and steady enough without fireworks.

19. Grant Gilchrist – NA
On at 66 minutes. Not long enough to rate.

20. Josh Bayliss – 7
Injected manpower and dynamism. One costly spill off a lineout drive when Scotland were primed to strike, but largely positive.

21. George Horne – 7
An electric addition. Broke the line on 61 minutes and lifted tempo immediately. Looked an upgrade on White.

22. Tom Jordan – NA
Late cameo.

23. Darcy Graham – 7.5
On at 55 minutes and alert to Russell’s genius restart. Took his try sharply and ran with purpose. Was very in amongst it.