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Two years ago, this fixture was one of the bleakest days in recent memory for Welsh rugby fans, as the Dragons turned in one of their most inept performances of the modern era and were clinically dispatched by an average Scotland side 21-9.
But two years on and the Scots are on their way to shedding their average status and Frank Hadden's men are proving that they are no pushovers at home, beating England and pushing South Africa and New Zealand all the way at Murrayfield in the last 12 months.
For Wales, things have come full circle, and they are once again the Grand Slam champions and will have to deal with the traditionally difficult favourites tag. But with a settled squad and the rigorous demands of Warren Gatland and Shaun Edwards they'll hope to avoid the collapse of 2006.
The main talking point around the match has been around team selection. Wales' perma-tanned centre Gavin Henson was a late injury withdrawal, replaced by Tom Shanklin, and Mike Phillips was given the number nine jersey over Dwayne Peel despite the Ospreys man only recently coming back from long-term injury. Another big blow for the Dragons was the very late withdrawal of captain Ryan Jones who's suffered a calf injury, replaced by Dafydd Jones of the Scarlets.
For Scotland, losing Northampton prop Euan Murray and Edinburgh lock Nathan Hines will be keenly felt in the pack, while Frank Hadden raised many eyebrows by leaving Chris Paterson, Scotland's leading points scorer and the man who was responsible for all of their points against Wales two years ago, riding the pine as a substitute.
Will the Welsh prove that they're still the best team in the Northern Hemisphere, or will Scotland demonstrate that they're ready to step up to the big leagues? Join us at 15.00 GMT to find out.
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| 1 |
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Chris Paterson gives Phil Godman a few words of encouragement before he comes onto the field to take the kickoff which he sends up towards the Welsh pack. Phillips fields and Jones clears long. The return from Godman is knocked on and it's a Scottish scrum.
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| 2 |
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Aggressive first scrum from the Scots, trying to set down a marker, it's reset and Blair is given a talking to for delaying the feed. Third time lucky and it's shipped out to the centres.
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| 3 |
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Byrne sends a kick up from Godman returned aerially by Godman, they manage to recover the kick but it's knocked on after some promising moves by Webster.
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| 4 |
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Solid scrum from Wales and Byrne clears, Godman slices the kick and Byrne returns it and Wales start to put it through the phases thanks to good work from Shanklin and Powell. It's ended by a knock on and Wales continue to press from the scrum and they are up to the 22.
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| 5 |
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Wales go wide and Shane Williams and Byrne link up to gash into the 22, but the pass to Halfpenny on the right touchline is knocked on. Scottish scrum.
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| 6 |
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Solid scrum from the Scots and Blair's box kick is gathered by the Scots at the 22. Another kick gives Byrne space and he scythes through to the 22. Scots commit at the breakdown though and it's slowed down.
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| 7 |
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Shanklin breaks through in the centre and Wales ship it to the the left thanks to a Halfpenny break, but they are penalised for holding on and Southwell clears up to halfway.
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| 8 |
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Ford finds his man at he lineout and the Scots keep it tight Welsh defence is solid though Robinson hacks on an errant pass which goes out inside the 22 with Shane WIlliams bearing down.
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| 9 |
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Box kick from Blair is collected by Jones and Wales are knocking on the door again. A half break from Williams sees them five metres out. But a huge hit by Webster on Martyn Williams in midfield causes a knock on. But Webster's come off the worse, he looks to be unconscious on the field. Worrying for Scotland as the medics come on.
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| 10 |
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Webster's back on his feet and dismisses the worried looking medics, Chris Paterson is warming up on the touchline. Scotland scrum is pressured from Wales and they get the turnover thanks to superb work from the Welsh pack, Phillips is all over Taylor, massive boost for Wales. Penalty to Wales.
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| 11 |
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Jones lines up the kick in front of the posts.
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| 12 |
0 - 3 |
Easy kick and the Welsh get some reward for their early pressure. 0-3
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| 13 |
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Lamont knocks on as the Scots return the Welsh kick but Wales take the advantage and press in midfield. A loose pass gives the Scots a great attacking chance but some good pressure is wasted by Scotland after Godman's kick over is comfortably grounded by Byrne and it's a 22 drop out.
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| 14 |
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Great work by Southwell as he spots a gap and powers through, bringing the ball up to the Welsh 22 and the Scots are really pressing. They go out wide right but Ben Cairns is brought into touch.
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| 15 |
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Scotland win the lineout against the throw and it's trouble for Wales, Shanklin is down injured.
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| 16 |
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Adam Jones gets the turnover from the breakdown and it's cleared.
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| 17 |
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Scotland attempt to counter from Shanklin's kick over the top and have an overlap out on the right but Welsh cover is there. The ball moves up inside the Welsh half but a looping pass from Southwell is sent straight into touch. Wasted opportunity.
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| 18 |
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Wales get the lineout and Lamont calls the mark from the ensuing kick, which he clears impressively to halfway.
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| 19 |
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Rees is successful again and this time Wales run it through Roberts, but the kick through goes straight to Southwell and it's cleared by Blair. Geoff Cross flies up to Lee Byrne who takes the kick and takes him in the air. But the débutante looks to have yellow, if he wakes up.
Qualified doctor Cross is getting treated and is up on his feet but the referee has indicated that he's getting a Yellow Card should he manage to wake up. No nonsense from Alain Rolland.
Webster is in a bad way after the big hit earlier and Rolland indicates that he wants the winger off the pitch, time for Paterson to come on.
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| 20 |
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Cross has been stretchered off as a precaution and Dickinson will come on after 10 minutes for Cross' yellow card has expired. Stephen Jones kicks the penalty to the 22. Lineout is secured and Wales look to take advantage of the extra man.
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| 21 |
0 - 8 |
Try Wales ship it wide and overload the left side. Williams puts a lovely inside ball to Byrne who makes another great offload to Shanklin who runs it in for a great score.
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| 22 |
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Jones shanks the extras and it stays 0-8
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| 23 |
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Byrne's booming clearance is collected by Godman, it's shipped wide, but Wales are up quick and stifle the move. But Dafyydd Jones is penalised for going in at the side.
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| 24 |
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Good Scottish lineout secures possession but Hogg is penalised for not releasing under pressure from Rees.
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| 25 |
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Wales go long at the lineout and the ball is out to the backs quickly. Halfpenny makes half break and manages to force a knock on from the Scots. Phillips tries to take it quick but the Scots aren't five metres and the Scots need to make a front row replacement for the sin binned Cross.
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| 26 |
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Wales exert some dominance at the scrum and force a turnover and the penalty. Jones kicks to touch inside the Scottish 22.
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| 27 |
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Good lineout from Wales but Shanklin tries to do too much out wide and ends up knocking it on, with numbers around him.
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| 28 |
0 - 13 |
Welsh dominance at the scrum continues, they push the Scots off the ball and it's quickly shipped out, Stephen Jones runs down the 10 channel and he's just hauled down short, but support arrives and Alun Wyn Jones hauls himself and the Scottish tackler over the line for a great try,
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| 29 |
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Jones misses another simple kick and the score stays the same.
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| 30 |
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Byrne shows his skill under the high ball and secures another dangerous kick, Roberts looks to be in trouble but batters through from his own 22. Phillips gets into a bad position though and is penalised for not releasing. SIn bin is over and it's time for White to come back on.
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| 31 |
3 - 13 |
Paterson has an easy shot at goal and shows Jones how it's done to give the Scots their first points of the afternoon.
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| 32 |
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Powell is strong from the restart and the Welsh backs are starting to fizz as the ball moves easily through the hands, great offloading.
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| 33 |
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Byrne over cooks a kick into space and it's out on the full, lineout to Scotland at the halfway line.
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| 34 |
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Byrne rockets back a kick over but Godman calls the mark and pings a huge kick down to the Welsh 22.
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| 35 |
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Botched Welsh lineout gives Scotland the ball but the Welsh defence is stifling. The ball is unplayable at the ruck and it's a Scottish scrum just 10 metres out.
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| 36 |
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Scotland scrummage well and ship it to the backs, but they can't get through the wall of Welsh shirts.
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| 37 |
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Scots are getting quick ball and inching forward, Paterson is hauled down just short they get the ball over but it's held up. Scottish Scrum.
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| 38 |
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Welsh shove the Scottish off the five metre scrum and that's just magnificent work from the forwards. Powell picks up and gives Jones a platform to clear.
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| 39 |
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Southwell gets caught by Martyn Williams and is put into touch, the Welsh have another chance before halftime.
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| 40 |
3 - 16 |
Silly from the Scots as they are penalised at the breakdown and Jones will have a shot at goal from out wide to the right.
Jones slots over his hardest kick of the afternoon. It just has the legs to get over the crossbar and it's 3-16
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| 40 |
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Sloppy at the restart and Wales can counter easily, Roberts powers through to just short of the line, shipped out to the backs, great slight of hand from Shane Williams whose backhand pass is received by Halfpenny, he puts it over in the corner but we'll go to the TMO.
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| 41 |
3 - 21 |
No problems with that and Halfpenny gets his third Welsh try. Jones misses the kick from out wide.
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| 42 |
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Byrne clears the restart and Paterson tries to counter but he runs into his own man and it's a Welsh scrum.
Comfortable from Wales and they ship it out.
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| 43 |
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Wales really coming out strong in this opening phase and they're up to the Scottish 22. Alun Wyn Jones receives the ball out wide in acres of space but he hasn't got the legs and his offload is knocked on by Jones.
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| 44 |
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Scotland scrummage well and its cleared by Blair but Byrne runs it back to start another attack. Wales keep it well waiting for the gap.
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| 45 |
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Jacobsen strips the ball and Scotland look to be off, but a great tap tackle on Southwell by Jenkins and the ball is knocked on at halfway. Wales scrum.
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| 46 |
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Jones clears long to Paterson, who clears to touch, the lineout is taken quickly but a mistake from Lee Byrne as the ball goes out on the full. Back it comes for a Scottish lineout.
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| 47 |
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Scottish lineout is solid but the Welsh are up so quickly and they can't get anywhere. The ball is spilled by Jacobsen and Jenkins snaffles a turnover. No advantage though and it's a Welsh scrum.
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| 48 |
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Jones clears but knocks on the return from Southwell and Scotland have the advantage, they play on and ship it wide, only to lose the ball forward after the advantage is over. Welsh scrum on their 22.
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| 49 |
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Box kick from Phillips is countered well by Paterson who makes up great ground before offloading superbly to Taylor. Wales are penalised at the breakdown and it's a penalty in front of the posts.
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| 50 |
6 - 21 |
Paterson easily converts the penalty and it's 6-21
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| 51 |
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Scotland clear the restart to Byrne and the defence is up quickly this time, slowing the ball down. They compete well at the breakdown and Gough is penalised for going in off his feet at halfway
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| 52 |
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Godman brings play up inside the Welsh half but the lineout is fumbled and the Scots are smothered in midfield. Another knock on this time from Hamilton brings the attack to an end.
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| 53 |
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Wales ship it wide from the scrum and Byrne's dodgy pass puts the Welsh on the back foot, but they hold onto it and they keep going forward.
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| 54 |
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Phillips tries to go around the fringes but is caught. Jones takes it on but Rees is penalised for going in at the side. Southwell finds touch inside the Welsh half.
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| 55 |
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Poor Scottish lineout and Wales steal, it breaks down in midfield but the Scots are penalised and it's a Welsh penalty.
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| 56 |
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Powell is tackled high at the scrum and Wales have the advantage, they break through midfield thanks to Roberts, support arrives and they ship it out. Paterson nearly intercepts but Williams recovers. It goes from side to side, Jones is nearly over on the right.
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| 58 |
6 - 26 |
A ruck on the Scottish line is passed out to Williams who has too much pace and agility to be denied that far out and wriggles over for a try.
Jones once again misses the extras but the lead is looking daunting.
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| 59 |
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Scotland bring the kickoff over halfway and all of a sudden seem to have some drive as they push up to the Welsh 22, but a turnover is snaffled at the ruck and cleared into space.
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| 60 |
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Paterson does well to avoid the Welsh cover, but he's eventually caught and is penalised for holding on and Wales have a penalty which Halfpenny will kick.
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| 61 |
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Halfpenny lets the Scots off again and misses, but it's mass substitution time for Wales.
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| 62 |
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The kickoff is straight to Powell who takes it comfortably and Scotland are under the kosh. New man Bishop makes some ground in the centre,
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| 63 |
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A turnover leads to a half chance but Lamont's kick over is seized upon by Halfpenny. Another turnover gives Scotland possession only for Hook to strip the ball and Wales counter. The counter comes to an end as Williams is stripped in the tackle and it's a Scottish scrum.
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| 65 |
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Wales look dominant at scrum time as they put the Scots under all sorts of pressure on their own feed.
New boy Max Evans shows some quick feet out wide and offloads nicely in the tackle, but an errant pass puts them back under pressure.
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| 66 |
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Scotland look to run it through the backs but Martyn Williams slaps Godman's pass down and is sin binned for his trouble.
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| 67 |
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Scotland look to capitalise now and desperately move it through the hands, Godman looks to have knocked it forward but Wales are penalised for hands on the floor and Scotland have a lineout seven metres out.
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| 68 |
11 - 26 |
Great lineout ball gives the Scots a platform. The ball is passed out from a centre field ruck and Max Evans evades Williams and Byrne with a lovely step to finish well for his first international try.
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| 69 |
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Paterson takes the kick from out wide and makes no mistake.
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| 70 |
13 - 26 |
Scotland look to run it from their 22 but Halfpenny covers well, and it's slowed down. Shane Williams has gone off injured and Wales are without back cover. Powell looks to be playing in the centre now
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| 72 |
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The Scots are really pressing now and Wales are on the back foot for the first time, but a poor pass to Jacobsen leaves him isolated and Hook will kick the penalty to touch.
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| 73 |
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Wales make a mess of the lineout and Halfpenny is turned by Gray, Godman kicks into space. But Shanklin is there and clears it from the 22
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| 74 |
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Gray breaks through and offloads to Cusiter who's nearly through only for Peel to get there just in time, the ball is knocked on as support arrives and Wales get a let off.
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| 75 |
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Wales' captain for the day Martyn Williams is about to come back on and not a moment too soon for the Welsh, who are under the hammer.
Pressure on the Welsh scrum and the Scots get a free kick inside the 22. Nervous moments as Evans nearly powers through but Wales start to push them back.
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| 76 |
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Scotland throwing everything at Wales now, the ball going from side to side as Wales soak up the pressure, but the Scots are really knocking on the door now.
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| 77 |
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Dreadful mistake from Lee Byrne, the he hesitates touching down the kick over and Paterson looks like he may have touched it down. We'll go to the TMO.
The replays show that Paterson knocked it on and it'll be a Welsh scrum.
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| 78 |
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Wales taking their time with this scrum, as they seek to run down the clock. It goes down and a reset is ordered.
Powell is under pressure from the next scrum and Powell is isolated and holds on.
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| 79 |
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Hamilton tries to take it quick but is called back, Scotland send it out wide to Lamont, but Byrne is there and takes the ball into touch.
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| 80 |
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Scotland win the lineout and it's one last throw of the dice for them to try and get a consolation try, but Max Evans receives a poor pass around his ankles and knocks it on to end the game.
A comfortable win for Wales in the end to get their Grand Slam defence off to the best start. They took their foot off in the second half and some of the sloppy play towards the end will no doubt infuriate Gatland and Edwards, while Jones' goal kicking will no doubt come under scrutiny.
Scotland will be heartened by their display at the end of the game and will be pleased with the try, but they will need to sort out the lack of invention and handling errors.
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