Tim Visser’s second-half try sealed a first Scottish win over Wales in a decade as they claimed a 29-13 RBS 6 Nations success at BT Murrayfield.
The winger went over on the left 13 minutes from time after a magical flick from Stuart Hogg to complete a brilliant second-half comeback from the Scots.
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It was back in 2007 that they had last beaten Wales – seven Chris Paterson penalties seeing them home – but on this occasion tries from Visser and fellow winger Tommy Seymour in the second half proved decisive as well as the flawless boot of Finn Russell.
After victory over Ireland on the opening day of this year’s Championship, Scotland will now head to Twickenham in round four aiming for their first Triple Crown since 1990.
Scotland led early thanks to a Russell penalty, but Wales hit back first through the boot of Leigh Halfpenny, followed by a Liam Williams try.
Trailing 13-9 at the break, Scotland dominated early in the second half, with a try from Seymour putting them in front.
And they followed it up with Visser’s score that left Wales with too much to do, the winger on fire after coming in for an injured Sean Maitland.
The performance was all the more impressive given that Scotland had lost both Josh Strauss and most crucially Greig Laidlaw to injury in France, with John Barclay stepping up as captain. Scotland made the stronger start, earning a penalty from a scrum to set themselves up in Welsh territory. They then enjoyed an extended period of possession in the Welsh 22, forcing a penalty which Russell slotted to make it 3-0.
But Wales responded in kind through Halfpenny after a Rhys Webb dart from a ruck led to Scotland killing the ball.
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It was a physical encounter, with Scotland losing John Hardie to injury midway through the first half as their back row woes continued.
WALES IN CHARGE
And just before he went off Wales grabbed the first try in straightforward fashion through Williams. After getting a free-kick at a scrum on the Scottish 22, they spread the ball to the left with Halfpenny coming into the line quite wide and playing the two-on-one to put Williams over. The full-back added the extras from the touchline to make it 10-3 after 25 minutes.
Wales could have had a second when Webb put Williams away down the left but it ended up being called back as the scrum-half had tugged back Seymour as he chased back.
Instead it was Scotland who cut the deficit thanks to a penalty from Russell, after Sam Warburton was penalised for a high tackle.
TURNING POINT
Halfpenny hit straight back after a ruck infringement from the home side but was then surprisingly off-target with another effort five minutes before half-time when had the chance to stretch the lead to ten.
Instead it was the Scots who got back to within four points thanks to another Russell penalty and that momentum continued in the second half.
Seymour’s try came from Hogg who delayed a pass before putting Visser into the gap. The winger then fed Seymour outside him and despite a desperate tackle from Scott Williams, he was able to dot down. Russell converted from the touchline to make it 16-13 to the home side.
Webb twice came close to scoring either side of another Russell penalty, the first when Jonathan Davies had gone clean through and he couldn’t collect the offload from the floor.
Then after Russell had pushed the lead to six, Webb was almost in after a messy scrum, but Visser did just enough to force him to put a toe in touch as he reached for the line.
HOGG MAGIC
And Visser then popped up at the other end to stretch the lead following a whipped wide pass by Russell and brilliant flick on from Hogg. Russell converted from out wide to make it 26-13 to Vern Cotter’s side.
The momentum was firmly with Scotland, with an obstruction allowing Russell to make it a three-score game with a difficult penalty.
From there they were able to see out the win to head to Twickenham with confidence looking to end a Calcutta Cup losing streak in a resurgent Championship.
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