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

Wales player ratings: Heartbreak. There’s no other way to put it. Wales led until the final five minutes before Scotland snatched a sensational and unexpected win.

In front of a defiant Cardiff crowd at the Millennium Stadium, Wales refused to fold. They looked unstoppable in the opening half thanks to the efforts of Sam Costelow, Rhys Carré, Alex Mann and Dafydd Jenkins, giving a Scottish side little room to settle.

Although Steve Tandy’s team suffered another defeat, this display at least offered a foundation to build on.

1. Rhys Carré – 8
Like a man possessed, Carré was immense, producing several superb carries that maintained momentum and made ground even with multiple tacklers clinging on. He crossed for Wales’ first try, but his finest attacking moment came later. An unexpected offload inside Scotland’s 22 unlocked the second score, disorganising the defence and freeing space out wide for the winger to finish. Solid at scrum time, one of Wales’ standout performers.

2. Dewi Lake – 7.5
Accurate at the lineout, forceful in the tackle and tireless off the ball. His leadership drove Wales forward. The first try was a case in point, opting to tap and go when many expected a shot at goal.

3. Tomas Francis – 7
Not as eye-catching as Carré, but his experience steadied the front row and matched Scotland’s early intensity. His scrummaging forced quicker ball from Scotland, limiting Finn Russell’s time and space. Departed on 51 minutes to warm applause.

4. Dafydd Jenkins – 7
Much of his impact came in the unseen work. He disrupted at the breakdown and made life difficult for Ben White with slow ball. Defensively industrious throughout.

5. Ben Carter – 6
A tidy outing from the Dragons lock. Initially credited with ten tackles before finishing with 18, along with four lineout takes. Supported the carriers well and added work rate across the 80 minutes.

6. Taine Plumtree – N/A
Forced off before the 10-minute mark through injury.

7. Alex Mann – 9
Outstanding. The Cardiff openside hunted relentlessly at the breakdown, timing his interventions superbly.  Finished with four breakdown steals, 15 tackles, two dominant hits and a lineout steal. Even an early penalty did little to dent a commanding display.

8. Aaron Wainwright – 8
Wales’ most prolific carrier. Physical and direct, he consistently drove Scotland backwards. While Mann grabbed the headlines, Wainwright did the hard graft that wore down Fagerson, Darge and company.

9. Tomos Williams – 6
Kicked less than last week and combined more with Costelow and the backline. Sharp around the fringes in the first half, but the final quarter lacked control as Wales drifted.

10. Sam Costelow – 8.5
Added ambition and structure, shaping attacking lines and varying the kicking game intelligently. A long kick isolating Blair Kinghorn led to three points. Four from four off the tee before departing with what looked a serious injury.

11. Josh Adams – 7.5
Influential early, first with a cover tackle to deny Huw Jones, then an intercept from a wide pass. Finished well in the corner and delivered a composed performance.

12. Joe Hawkins – 3
Yellow-carded early for a high tackle on Gregor Brown. Wales survived that spell well. Struggled defensively thereafter, with Russell and Sione Tuipulotu finding space too easily. Another penalty proved costly.

13. Eddie James – 6
A stronger showing than his midfield partner. Won the gain line on three of five carries and kept pressing defensively despite two missed tackles.

14. Gabriel Hamer-Webb – 4
HIA inside two minutes but returned. Limited involvement with ball in hand, finishing with two carries. Did well to narrow Duhan van der Merwe’s angles, though a slow return at a restart opened the door for Darcy Graham to score.

15. Louis Rees-Zammit – 5
Looked uncomfortable at full-back. Struggled for rhythm in open field and was contained too easily. Two handling errors, three missed tackles and a penalty that preceded Scotland taking the lead summed up a difficult outing.

REPLACEMENTS

16. Ryan Elias – 5
Steady without imposing himself.

17. Nicky Smith – 6
Immediate impact with a turnover and solid work at scrum time.

18. Archie Griffin – 5
Held his own in contact and prevented WP Nel and Elliot Millar-Mills from gaining an edge.

19. Freddie Thomas – N/A
Introduced for the final five minutes.

20. James Botham – 6
Won a crucial turnover and blocked a Russell kick that led to Jarrod Evans’ first penalty. Partly at fault, alongside Hamer-Webb, for Graham’s try after a slow retreat.

21. Kieran Hardy – N/A
Unused replacement.

22. Jarrod Evans – 5
Took a penalty well but could not replicate Costelow’s control or spark.

23. Blair Murray – 5
Limited opportunity to influence proceedings in attack.