WALES
No.Name
15Leigh Halfpenny, -
T
2
4
2
14Josh Adams, -
13Scott Williams, -
12Hadleigh Parkes, -
11Steffan Evans, -
T
10Rhys Patchell, -
9Gareth Davies, -
T
1Rob Evans, -
2Ken Owens, -
3Samson Lee, -
4Cory Hill, -
5Alun Wyn Jones, -
6Aaron Shingler, -
7Josh Navidi, -
8Ross Moriarty, -
Replacements
16Elliot Dee, -
17Wyn Jones, -
18Tomas Francis, -
19Bradley Davies, -
20Justin Tipuric, -
21Aled Davies, -
22Gareth Anscombe, -
23Owen Watkin, -

*Players currently on the pitch are shown in bold

Game Info

Venue: Principality Stadium
9:15 AM, February 3, 2018
All CommentaryKey Events

Match Commentary

81'34-7 End of second half
80'The Cardiff curse continues for Scotland! It's a result that few would have seen coming, but an injury-stricken Wales side end the first match of the 2018 Six Nations with a dominant 34-7 win over their much-hyped opposition. Some of Wales' play was superb, with excellent performances from the likes of Evans, Halfpenny and Patchell, but the visitors did little to help themselves, making one error after another.
80'Game Over! The result has been in no doubt for some time but Hadleigh Parkes prods the ball into touch to bring the game to a close and cap off a stellar personal display.
79'TRY! The visitors have a consolation late in the game. Scotland go through the phases, moving the ball from side to side before sub Peter Horne breaches the rock-solid Welsh defence to go over for the score. The conversion is good.
79'34-7 Conversion - Finn Russell , Scotland
79'34-5 Try - Peter Horne , Scotland
77'A nice maul from Scotland sees Townsend's side awarded a penalty. They go for the corner before gradually shifting it back across the field with the forwards. Still being kept at bay though.
76'Substitute on - Gordon Reid , Scotland
76'Player substituted - Jamie Bhatti , Scotland
74'34-0 Conversion - Leigh Halfpenny , Wales
73'TRY! What a finish from Steff Evans as he grabs try number four for Wales! Scotland see another pass intercepted and the Welsh handling is again flawless as they shift it across the park. Hadleigh Parkes makes no mistake as he offloads to the sensational Evans, who finishes it in the far corner. Again Halfpenny converts. 34-0
73'32-0 Try - Steffan Evans , Wales
71'Substitute on - Owen Watkin , Wales
71'Player substituted - Scott Williams , Wales
70'Seems like nothing can go right for Scotland. Wales steal the lineout before Aun Wyn Jones breaks through the line. Nothing comes of it as his attempted layoff is dropped by Gareth Anscombe.
70'Substitute on - Scott Lawson , Scotland
70'Player substituted - Stuart McInally , Scotland
68'A couple of messy scrums follow. Eventually Wales come away with the ball but the Scotland defence holds strong and some nice play from John Barclay turns it over and wins the visitors a pen. Russell clears for touch.
66'Player substituted - Gareth Davies , Wales
66'Substitute on - Aled Davies , Wales
65'Player substituted - Jon Welsh , Scotland
65'Substitute on - Murray McCallum , Scotland
65'Substitute on - Justin Tipuric , Wales
65'Player substituted - Ross Moriarty , Wales
64'CLOSE! This has turned into a real rout. Scotland can hardly get a touch of the ball and Wales think they have a fourth try as Wyn Jones powers over the line. The replacement prop gathers nicely before bulldozing his way through Huw Jones, but there is no clear grounding. Scrum on the Scotland 5m line.
63'Substitute on - Gareth Anscombe , Wales
63'Player substituted - Rhys Patchell , Wales
63'Substitute on - Elliot Dee , Wales
63'Player substituted - Ken Owens , Wales
63'27-0 Conversion - Leigh Halfpenny , Wales
62'TRY! Halfpenny claims his second. The hosts win the following lineout before Patchell charges towards the line again before being brought down. Wales get quick ball and the excellent Evans flicks on to Halfpenny who goes in untouched. The fullback then converts again.
61'25-0 Try - Leigh Halfpenny , Wales
60'Scotland have controlled the ball for much of this game but Wales are starting to take the initiative. Laidlaw gathers a tricky grubber on his own 5m line but is quickly smothered by the imperious Patchell and carried into touch. Wales lineout.
57'CLOSE! Wales spread the ball nicely from the side to side. Steff Evans continues to cause problems for the Scotland defence. Powerful running from Patchell takes Wales deep into the Scotland half. Navidi attempts to carry the ball over the try line but comes short and Scotland get the 5m scrum and get it clear.
56'Substitute on - Bradley Davies , Wales
56'Player substituted - Cory Hill , Wales
55'Player substituted - Chris Harris , Scotland
55'Substitute on - Peter Horne , Scotland
55'Substitute on - Sean Maitland , Scotland
55'Player substituted - Byron McGuigan , Scotland
55'Player substituted - Ben Toolis , Scotland
55'Substitute on - Grant Gilchrist , Scotland
54'Another promising Scotland offensive is thwarted by yet another handling error. Wales get the scrum.
52'Hadleigh Parkes puts Josh Adams free on the right wing. He carries the ball deep into Scottish territory but is halted and Scotland recover the ball. They make good inroads before giving away another penalty, this time for accidental offside.
51'Player substituted - Samson Lee , Wales
51'Substitute on - Tomas Francis , Wales
51'Player substituted - Rob Evans , Wales
51'Substitute on - Wyn Jones , Wales
49'Wales are again able to relieve pressure with a hand from Barclay. The Scotland skipper is penalised again, this time for turning a scrum. Patchell sends a booming kick down the field to put Wales within the Scotland 10m line
49'Substitute on - Jamie Bhatti , Scotland
49'Player substituted - Gordon Reid , Scotland
49'Player substituted - Cornell Du Preez , Scotland
49'Substitute on - Ryan Wilson , Scotland
49'Substitute on - Greig Laidlaw , Scotland
49'Player substituted - Ali Price , Scotland
49'20-0 Penalty goal - Leigh Halfpenny , Wales
48'Another penalty for Wales. John Barclay once again the culprit for failing to release in the ruck. It's a long one but Halfpenny shows no signs of faltering. Scotland now trail by 20.
45'Finn Russell attempts to get Scotland going with a nice grubber but it goes into touch. Wales recover the lineout and clear it. Scotland attack once again but another sloppy pass, this time from Russell, gives Wales possession once again.
44'Halfpenny is still perfect with the boot! The Welsh fullback puts the penalty straight through the posts to put the hosts 17 points to the good.
44'17-0 Penalty goal - Leigh Halfpenny , Wales
43'We're back underway at the Principality. Wales already starting strong and get a penalty. Evans pokes the ball through the line and it's gathered by Gareth Davies. It looked like Barclay stripped the ball but the ref says the Scotland captain did so illegally.
41'14-0 End of first half
40'Gregor Townsend's men have enjoyed more of the ball but will need to cut out errors if they are to turn things around.
40'Warren Gatland will be the much happier of the two coaches going into the break. His team haven't been at their best in the first half but have managed to put themselves on top by capitalising on Scotland's numerous errors.
40'Gareth Davies boots the ball into touch to bring this highly entertaining half to an end.
40'A penalty eventually helps the visitors to get out their own half and get back on the offensive...but it's knocked-on again for another Welsh scrum.
40'14-0 Start of second half
38'Scotland are under pressure again. Ali Price attempts to clear from deep within his own territory but his effort is deflected out of bounds by a Welsh hand.
36'Again, Scotland miss their chance. Chris Harris can't hold onto the ball as he is hit by Hadleigh Parkes. Parkes then clears from the ensuing scrum with a sensational kick to touch.
35'Scotland get a scrum on the Welsh 5m line. A nice chip-and-charge from Huw Jones gets gathered by Halfpenny before he is quickly chased down and carried over the tryline by the Scotland centre.
30'Wales had a nice passage of play going, with some beautiful hands from Wyn Jones but it comes to nothing as Scotland get the penalty and Russell launches it into touch.
28'Patchell comes close to putting Josh Adams in with a delightful cross-field kick, but the bounce isn't a kind one for the winger and Scotland get the ball.
25'Scotland continue to enjoy a greater share of the ball, but are still struggling to breach the Wales line. Another promising spell of play ends with a turnover after McInally knocks on.
20'There haven't been many stoppages so far, but things have now slowed down for a Wales scrum which came about after a knock-on thwarted another promising Scotland attack
16'Scotland are trying their best to get back into the game but Wales continue to threaten. A well-placed kick pins Scotland close to their own tryline but Finn Russell shows some nice moves to make some red shirts miss before clearing the ball.
13'14-0 Conversion - Leigh Halfpenny , Wales
12'There's the second. Two tries in two minutes for the home side. Wales find themselves camped by the Scotland tryline. The ball finds it's way out to Halfpenny who powers his way through Huw Jones to go over for the score. He then converts his own score to put Wales 14-0 up.
12'12-0 Try - Leigh Halfpenny , Wales
9'It's almost another for Wales. They break through the Scotland defence and a number of nice offloads takes them to the 5 metre line, but Steff Evans is unable to keep hold of the final layoff.
8'7-0 Conversion - Leigh Halfpenny , Wales
6'Wales make the first breakthrough as Gareth Davies intercept in his own half and takes it to the house. Scotland had started the stronger but it's Wales who are on top. The conversion is good.
6'5-0 Try - Gareth Davies , Wales
2'A strong carry from Jonny Gray puts Wales under early pressure, but the referee's whistle instantly relieves it as the hosts get the penalty. Strong start for Townsend's men
1'The teams have just emerged onto the pitch and the anthems are blaring around the Principality. Here's a reminder of how each side lines up:

Wales: Halfpenny, Adams, Williams, Parkes, S Evans, Patchell, G Davies; R Evans, Owens, Lee, Hill, Wyn Jones, Shingler, Josh Navidi, Moriarty. Replacements: Dee, Jones, Francis, B Davies, Tipuric, A Davies, Anscombe, Watkin

Scotland: Hogg, Seymour, Harris, Jones, McGuigan, Russell, Price; Reid, McInally, Welsh, Toolis, J Gray, Barclay, Watson, Du Preez Replacements: Lawson, Bhatti, McCallum, Gilchrist, Wilson, Laidlaw, Horne, Maitland
1'High profile injuries among the Welsh ranks and Scotland's recent performances under Gregor Townsend have seen the visitors emerge as favourites for this encounter, but Cardiff has given them little to celebrate in recent years. It's been 16 years since Scotland last came away with a win in the Welsh capital, with the hosts winning the last eight matches between the two sides in Cardiff.
1'Good afternoon and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the first game of the 2018 Six Nations between Wales and Scotland at the Principality Stadium. Warren Gatland's men will be looking for revenge after Scotland won last year's encounter 29-13.
1'0-0 Start of first half

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