[2025 Six Nations] Scotland vs Wales - 8/3/25

[Welsh Exile]

That reverse pass by Murray when he was nearly in touch was stupid but having said that Ben Thomas still 100% should've picked that ball up so the fact he did the cross field kick and couldn't catch a flipping ball, I'll hold him more responsible than Murray for that one.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Considering 2 of scotlands tries were very questionable and we gave them one on a plate, and had our disallowed try, I think we should've won that game in the end. God its so good to not have Gatland and Howley coaching us. I reckon even @dirty harry would have done a better job.

 

[dgc47]

You'd probably need to be a psychologist to figure out that one.

Wal will cling to their comeback, but it's easy to play when you have nothing to lose and the opposition has switched off with the game in the bag. If Wal can use that as a launching pad, then fine but to me they were as poor as ever.

As for Sco, I guess that explains why this group will never be more than a mid table team. Impressive for 50 mins, got the win, but blew the chance to put their foot on Wal's throat and deliver a ruthless statement performance.

But as you say, if "Scotland had switched off with the game in the bag", why would they need to make a statement? The result said it all, they changed things, brought their subs on. Wales took that opportunity.
Scotland's statement had already been made. The Welsh "fightback" looked good only because Scotland chose to play over the 80 mins. If they'd kicked the ball out to end the game, Wales don't score.

 

[Tooting Carmen]

What would have happened had Faletau's try been allowed? Could Wales have conceivably won?

 

[Welsh Exile]

What would have happened had Faletau's try been allowed? Could Wales have conceivably won?

I think so. There was still 4/5 mins on the clock and we get the ball back. Ignoring that fact that one or 2 of their tries were very dubious.

 

[dullonien]

You'd probably need to be a psychologist to figure out that one.

Wal will cling to their comeback, but it's easy to play when you have nothing to lose and the opposition has switched off with the game in the bag. If Wal can use that as a launching pad, then fine but to me they were as poor as ever.

As for Sco, I guess that explains why this group will never be more than a mid table team. Impressive for 50 mins, got the win, but blew the chance to put their foot on Wal's throat and deliver a ruthless statement performance.

I mostly agree with this. It's very difficult to judge the last 20-30min. of that game. Scotland replaced some of theit key players (Russell etc.) and seemed to be in autopilot.

But it does give me some hope. Look Wales were terrible for large parts of that game. Jac Morgan saved our blushes on numerous occasions in the first half, but our defensive organisation was all over the place, our discipline was shocking; and Scotland were playing some good stuff.

At the same time, lots of that stuff is fixable. Mee going high on DvdM to allow an easy stroll in for Scotland is fixable, that clusterfuck by Thomas/Murray is fixable etc.

We need more ball carriers in the starting pack. Lake made a difference when he came on, as did Teddy Williams who took the ball at pace rather than standing still like Rowlands. Reffell is surplus to requirements, we need someone more dynamic and explosive at 6 and on the bench.

 

[Flankers' paradise]

Did Taine Basham sleep with Nigel Walker's wife or something? He'd be perfect on the bench, much more beneficial than Reffell who appears to offer nothing beyond jackalling

 

[dgc47]

What would have happened had Faletau's try been allowed? Could Wales have conceivably won?

No, I doubt that. If the game went the way it did, Scotland would have kicked the ball out on 80 mins. Game over.
Wales fans clutching here

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Did Taine Basham sleep with Nigel Walker's wife or something? He'd be perfect on the bench, much more beneficial than Reffell who appears to offer nothing beyond jackalling

His daughter

 

[Welsh Exile]

No, I doubt that. If the game went the way it did, Scotland would have kicked the ball out on 80 mins. Game over.
Wales fans clutching here

We would've more than likely got the ball back after the try. Don't think it's that inconceivable we get a pen and get up the field. Needless to say momentum was with us at that point.

 

[dgc47]

We would've more than likely got the ball back after the try. Don't think it's that inconceivable we get a pen and get up the field. Needless to say momentum was with us at that point.

Could've, would've, should've unfortunately.

Just like 2 weeks ago, if the ref hadn't instructed Russell to move the ball further out for the conversion attempt, maybe Scotland retain the Calcutta Cup?

Wales can look to their performance against Ireland and their play late in the game against Scotland as positives and build on it.

 

[dirty harry]

Considering 2 of scotlands tries were very questionable and we gave them one on a plate, and had our disallowed try, I think we should've won that game in the end. God its so good to not have Gatland and Howley coaching us. I reckon even @dirty harry would have done a better job.

Did you just claim we could have won it? Hahaha

We were thoroughly beaten comprehensively, and Scotland dripped 3 gears late on. That game was never in our grasp lol.

 

[dullonien]

Did you just claim we could have won it? Hahaha

We were thoroughly beaten comprehensively, and Scotland dripped 3 gears late on. That game was never in our grasp lol.

I mean we could have though! Doesn't matter how **** we were for the rest of the game, how good Scotland were, or whether it was Wales upping their game or Scotland switching off, if the Faletau try doesn't get chalked off* we have 5min. to score another try and win the game.

Scotland would have been bricking it having replaced some key players, and Wales would have thrown everything at it, so who knows.

(* no complaints from me that the try was dissallowed, Murray clearly hurdled the tackle which isn't allowed).

 

[dirty harry]

I mean we could have though! Doesn't matter how **** we were for the rest of the game, how good Scotland were, or whether it was Wales upping their game or Scotland switching off, if the Faletau try doesn't get chalked off* we have 5min. to score another try and win the game.

Scotland would have been bricking it having replaced some key players, and Wales would have thrown everything at it, so who knows.

(* no complaints from me that the try was dissallowed, Murray clearly hurdled the tackle which isn't allowed).

I couldn't disagree more, at no point were we really competitive, Scotland had the game sown up early and thyley dropped off becausenof replacements and non competition...

Because we nicked some points late on and got BPs doesn't make us competitive.

I would agree with the Murray jump, if we didn't see it happen constantly at every level un penalised. Darcy Graham does it at 75% of ball carries lol

 

[dgc47]

I mean we could have though! Doesn't matter how **** we were for the rest of the game, how good Scotland were, or whether it was Wales upping their game or Scotland switching off, if the Faletau try doesn't get chalked off* we have 5min. to score another try and win the game.

Scotland would have been bricking it having replaced some key players, and Wales would have thrown everything at it, so who knows.

(* no complaints from me that the try was dissallowed, Murray clearly hurdled the tackle which isn't allowed).

The game time was at 81:45, the score 35-22 to Scotland when Wales got the ball.
How could Wales have won?

 

[dullonien]

I couldn't disagree more, at no point were we really competitive, Scotland had the game sown up early and thyley dropped off becausenof replacements and non competition...

Because we nicked some points late on and got BPs doesn't make us competitive.

I would agree with the Murray jump, if we didn't see it happen constantly at every level un penalised. Darcy Graham does it at 75% of ball carries lol

And? We didn't deserve anything I agree, but doesn't change the fact that we could have won. If that was because Scotland switched off, then that would have been on them.

We didn't really deserve to win in 2010 either, but Scotland shat the bed with 2 yellows and Wales took advantage.

 

[dullonien]

The game time was at 81:45, the score 35-22 to Scotland when Wales got the ball.
How could Wales have won?

It wasn't when Faletau went over.

This really isn't difficult to comprehend. Not saying that Wales would have deserved it, or Wales were robbed or anything.

Scotland were by far the better side and fully deserved to win. I have no issue with the result whatsoever.

 

[dgc47]

It wasn't when Faletau went over.

This really isn't difficult to comprehend. Not saying that Wales would have deserved it, or Wales were robbed or anything.

Scotland were by far the better side and fully deserved to win. I have no issue with the result whatsoever.

And his try was dissallowed.
I appreciate it's all what ifs.
Doesn't change a thing after the game is over.

 

[dullonien]

And his try was dissallowed.
I appreciate it's all what ifs.
Doesn't change a thing after the game is over.

Of course not it doesn't change anything, not trying to say it does, just pointing out that for a few minuted there the game was in the balance until the ref rightly called play back.

Welsh fans haven't got much to cheer about atm, let us cling onto a little hope (apart from @dirty harry who's already lost all hope, and I can't blame him!)

 

[dirty harry]

Of course not it doesn't change anything, not trying to say it does, just pointing out that for a few minuted there the game was in the balance until the red rightly called play back.

Welsh fans haven't got much to cheer about atm, let us cling onto a little hope (apart from @dirty harry who's already lost all hope, and I can't blame him!)

Hahaha

The sad part is I'm not that annoyed by the Welsh performances, it's frustrating, but I was around in the 90s...

It's the sport in general that's really got me. It's clinging on to life, falling down through the global list on popularity, it's not attracting new fans, and the powers that be just think that piling laws on top of laws will fix all these issues, when in fact they're compounding the problem.

I'd rather Wales lose every game for the rest of my life if it meant that world rugby could simplify the game, give refs a chance to ref properly and effectively, and to let players be actual rugby players.