2 February 13, 2022The Sunday Times 2GS
Rugby Union Guinness Six Nations
alty, and Russell was sent to the sin-
bin for a deliberate knock-on.
Did Biggar’s rugby brain fail him
here? Wales decided to go for drives
after two penalties, with the posts in
easy distance. They failed to make it,
but Biggar composed himself and
dropped a goal to give them the lead
with less than ten minutes remaining.
By now, the Welsh replacements
were in the battle. There was some
tremendous resistance from the likes
of Grant Gilchrist and Jonny Gray as
Scotland rallied, but Gareth Thomas
and Dillon Lewis held the red line
against late Scottish surges
All this did not turn a page on the
recent Welsh history. That is up to oth-
ers. But Biggar and his men reached
back into ancient history, stirringly.Star man Dan Biggar (Wales).
Scorers: Wales: Try T Francis. Pens Biggar 4.
Drop goal Biggar. Scotland: Try
D Graham. Penalties F Russell 4.
Wales L Williams; A Cuthbert, O Watkin,
N Tompkins (J Davies, 69min), L
Rees-Zammit; Biggar (capt) (C Sheedy,
78), T Williams; W Jones (G Thomas, 65),
R Elias (D Lake, 65), Francis (D Lewis,
59); W Rowlands (S Davies, 75),
A Beard; T Basham, J Morgan,
R Moriarty (A Wainwright, 57).
Scotland S Hogg (capt); D Graham,
C Harris, S Tuipulotu, D Van der
Merwe (C Redpath, 79); F Russell,
A Price (B White, 62);
P Schoeman (R Sutherland,
44-63), S McInally (G
Turner, 44), WP Nel (Z
Fagerson, 44); J Gray (R
Darge, 62), G Gilchrist; S
Skinner, H Watson, M Fagerson (M
Bradbury 31). Referee N Berry (Aus)to attack consistently, they could not
shake Biggar nor the influential
Tomas Williams at scrum half, or Ross
Moriarty, restored to the back row.
Yet Scotland were still playing con-
vincingly in the dying moments, when
they were trying to find a recovery
score through phase after phase.
Their morale appeared unaffected,
and they have a far more competitive
pack and attitude than before.
There had been no shocking juve-
nile “pre-match war of words” before,
just respect between two teams
deserving of it. After the game, there
was no whining nor pouting nor
insults, the sort of thing we have come
to expect from another camp in this
competition.
There were two key phases in the
game. Scotland were leading 14-9
towards half-time and deservedly so.
They scored a superb try after Ali
Price sent Van der Merwe away with a
long pass. Pierre Schoeman handled
three times in a stirring move, Chris
Harris and Stuart Hogg picked up the
play and Russell came round on the
loop to make a try for Graham with a
long pass. Regal stuff.
But Wales then dominated the rest
of the half, driving almost fanatically,
with Owen Watkin and Moriarty to the
fore. They eventually drove the ball
from a line-out close in and Tomas
Francis, one of the Welsh heroes bur-
rowed his way over to score and it was
14-14 at half-time.
The relentless pace, the selflessthat this was a bad idea. Biggar walked
back on, kicked a penalty deep into
Scotland territory and the visiting
team never quite broke out again.
But it would be preposterously easy
after the outstanding Scotland win
over England, to say that they bottled
this in Cardiff, that they were mentally
frail. They were nothing of the sort.
They played their game and some
basic errors apart, they did it with
their own versions of skill and passion
and frankly, even though they will be
bitterly disappointed they have very
little with which to berate themselves.
They were given a cutting edge by
Finn Russell and the two wings,
Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Gra-
ham — although the former was let
down by his hands later on — but Scot-
land simply could not get enough ballH
ail the rebounders. Welsh
rugby is said to be in a major
depression, and for good
reason. Its administration,
the refusal to allow its
professional club teams a
proper existence, the tortu-
ous nature of the relation-
ship between the professional and
amateur games — they have conspired
so that by the time Wales opened their
programme in Dublin last week, it
seemed that the team themselves
were suffering badly
Any fans of other nations in the
wildly-excited crowd of more than
73,000 might no doubt conclude that
if this is a low then they would like one
in their country as Wales came
through a compelling match to win
one of the great rebound victories.
But the truth is that this victory was
not an outcome driven by the modern
era, good or bad. It was based on
something well over a century old —
the passion of Welsh people for the
sport, and the fighting spirit of Welsh
players on the rugby field, especially
when reacting after a bitter defeat.
Wales are not a great side; they may
struggle to win many more games this
season. But yesterday their commit-
ment, organisation and passion
brought a tremendous victory, one
which they thoroughly deserved and
which reflected well on Wayne Pivac,
the coach.
Dan Biggar typified it, as Biggar
often typifies the goodness of profes-
sional rugby. He has never quite been
forgiven by many for not being a side-
stepping, swerving genius. But he
should be praised for another reason.
Biggar is a colossus, a decent man
with incredible courage and compo-
sure. His durability is beyond belief.
Yesterday, he appeared to have so
many injuries that the medical people
hardly knew which to treat next. But
he stood tall and strong, kicked beau-
tifully, managed his team and their
possession beautifully and engaged in
a fervent conversation with the ref-
eree with debating skill.
Towards the end, he walked off
field towards the bench, royally
applauded. Then someone realisedWELSH FIRE
REKINDLED
BY PASSI0N
STEPHEN
JONES
Rugby Correspondent
At the Principality Stadium20 17
WALES SCOTLAND
YEARS WITHOUT WIN AT AWAY
VENUE IN SIX NATIONS** Does not include ItalyScotland in Cardiff
France at Twickenham
Scotland in Dublin
Wales at Twickenham
20
17
12
10
defending of both sides, lasted the
whole course. Russell kicked a pen-
alty after an outstanding move, well
led by Sione Tu’ipulotu at a time when
Scotland had a posse of fresh players
on against the Welsh starters, but Big-
gar had it back at 17-17 after Williams
and Taine Basham had conspired
around the fringes and a chip by Big-
gar had put Scotland in danger.
Then the second key phase, Wales
kept on coming, with a desperation
not to let things slip. Biggar was limp-
ing noticeably at this time and it
seemed overoptimistic when he
elected to kick for
goal from 48
metres. Somehow,
he managed to get
his leg through the
ball, but watched it
cannon back off the
crossbar and Alex
Cuthbert fol-
lowed up and
caught it.
Wales
attacked, Cuth-
bert returned to the
move and among scenes
of joy, dived over in the
corner. Then the mute
button. He had put a foot
into touch-in-goal. Wales
came back for the pen-Russell was sent to the
sin-bin for a deliberate
knock-on in Cardiff