Scotland survive 87 battling minutes against Wales: Key talking points

Scotland started their new era with a battling 24-19 triumph over Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff on Saturday in a thrilling Women’s Six Nations round one match.

The visitors took the lead after nine minutes when good hands by centres Emma Orr and Meryl Smith and winger Rhona Lloyd set up full-back Chloe Rollie for a try.

It was converted by stand-off Helen Nelson to make it 7-0, but in the 12th minute Wales were level when hooker Kelsey Jones powered over and scrum-half Keira Bevan converted.

Wales were in the ascendancy at that stage and as the end of the first quarter came they scored their second try through tighthead prop Sisilia Tuipulotu from a lineout.

Scotland managed to get their next points on the board in the 34th minute when Nelson kicked a penalty which had been earned after a good break by winger Shona Campbell.

It was 12-10 at the break and Scotland needed something to spark them into life and it came in the 52nd minute when a Nelson kick bounced nicely and Campbell scored.

Following this, replacement Lucia Scott scored a brilliant try when she collected a Smith kick and went over. Nelson converted and it was 24-12.

A late converted try by Wales skipper Kate Williams made it interesting, Nelson then missed a penalty and the hosts chased a winning try. Five minutes past the 80, Swann was yellow carded, but, in hectic scenes, Scotland held on after 87 breathless minutes.

Here are the game’s main talking points…

Few shots fired by Scots in first 40 minutes, but crucially they were still in the game

With a new coaching group at the helm headed up by Sione Fukofuka and some different players involved from 2025 it was always going to take Scotland some time to bed in.

They will know themselves that they were not great in the first 40 minutes, but the fact of the matter was that they were just 12-10 down at that stage despite not firing too many shots which will please them. Also, their ability to hold on when Wales had a sustained period of pressure which lasted deep into extra time will have given the coaching team and players a confidence boost.

Nelson and Smith kicking so key

Player of the match Helen Nelson, the Scotland stand-off, kicked nine points with the boot while from hand she set up Campbell’s try. Centre Meryl Smith, back after a serious knee injury, set up Scott’s try and both of them kicked well into space in the second half to keep Wales on the back foot as the Scottish side fought back into the contest. The fact that Fukofuka now has two world class kicking talents on his hands will be a welcome addition to Scotland’s game plan.

It’s defeat for Wales, but so much to build on

In front of a vocal 10,569 crowd at the Principality Stadium, Wales showed what this Sean Lynn team wants to be about going forward. In defence, in the first 30 minutes in particular, they were in Scotland’s faces and forcing errors and were making some big hits. The next part for an evolving Wales side will now be how to find more of an attacking edge.

Coubrough can be proud of debut

One can only imagine the butterflies that were in Emily Coubrough’s tummy before kick-off at such a famous stadium. The 19-year-old was catapulted into a debut at number eight for Scotland and played the full 87 minutes and did very well. She will have learnt so much from the experience and now may well keep the jersey to take on England in an even bigger game next week at Murrayfield.

Welsh energy

As mentioned, in defence the home side never took a backwards step and even with the clock in the red at the end for seven minutes they kept going and going at Scotland in search of a winning converted try. It was not to be, but the energy and passion they showed should now be bottled up and taken into their round two game at home to France at Cardiff Arms Park next Saturday.