Six Nations: Wales showed 'never-say-die attitude' in Scotland win, says Elias

By Sports Desk February 12, 2022

Wales hooker Ryan Elias hailed his side's "never-say-die attitude" in their tense 20-17 victory over Scotland at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

After suffering a heavy loss to Ireland last weekend, Wales gave their Six Nations title defence lift-off thanks to the kicking expertise of Dan Biggar.

The fly-half kicked 15 points on what was his 100th Test outing, including a drop-goal 11 minutes from time to seal the victory for Wales in Cardiff.

Scotland were a man down at that point after Finn Russell, who himself kicked 12 points, was yellow carded for a deliberate knock-on.

Wales trailed by five points in the first half and were again behind approaching the hour mark, but they rallied to avoid successive losses to begin a campaign for the first time since 2007.

"It's huge," Elias told BBC Sport. "We needed a big reaction from last week, especially for the crowd here today.

"We didn't turn up last week physically or in a lot of aspects of the game. I don't think we fired any shots last week.

"We had a long hard look at ourselves in the week. We were physical, we had that never-say-die attitude. Hopefully we can just keep building on that now."

 

Russell's yellow card was his fourth in Test rugby, each of those coming in the Six Nations – including one in a defeat to Wales seven years ago.

Biggar took full advantage by kicking for the three points soon after, rather than playing the ball out wide as Wales closed in on the try-line.

After expertly seeing out the win, however, centurion Biggar was left to reflect on a memorable day.

"This is one of my best victories in a Welsh shirt," he said. "It's been a really difficult week. We've had to put up with a lot of flak – and rightly so. 

"To come back here and put on a show like that, to grind a result out like that, is one of the best victories in my 100 games.

"We put in a huge shift defensively, our forwards fronted up, and it laid a really strong foundation.

"Off the back of the week we've had, this team has shown if anything it's resilient and can hit back after a poor performance."

Scotland beat England 20-17 in last week's Calcutta Cup clash and started strongly through a Darcy Graham try in Cardiff.

But after failing to push on, they have now lost 10 of their 12 away matches against Wales in the Six Nations, including the last nine in a row at the Principality Stadium.

And Scotland skipper Stuart Hogg was left to reflect on an ill-disciplined display from his side in the Welsh capital.

"We're bitterly disappointed," he told BBC Sport. "The stuff that we're in control of, when we're on the front foot, we're really dangerous. At times, we weren't allowed to do that.

"We're a lot better than what we showed. That’s international rugby – you have to take your chances or you end up on the wrong side of the scoreline.

"[Poor discipline] was absolutely a factor. One penalty or knock-on is fine, but when we compound error upon error that's frustrating, because we know we're better than that.

"Credit to Wales, they were fairly good at times. It's a horrible feeling right now but that is Test match rugby."

Related items

  • Jack Hendry: Defeat to NI ‘disappointing’ but Scotland remain positive for Euros Jack Hendry: Defeat to NI ‘disappointing’ but Scotland remain positive for Euros

    Scotland defender Jack Hendry will remain positive and make the most of their Euro 2024 opportunity after a seventh game without a win saw some fans turn against the team.

    Boos rang out during and after the 1-0 Hampden defeat by Northern Ireland as Scotland failed to make the most of the vast majority of possession.

    Conor Bradley’s first-half strike, which came courtesy of Nathan Patterson’s error, gave Michael O’Neill’s young side something to hold on to, and they did so successfully as Scotland struggled to hit the target or carve out a series of clear-cut chances.

    Scotland had not gone seven matches without victory for 19 years – that sequence helped spell the end of Berti Vogts’ reign as manager.

    But such runs can turn quickly in the other direction, just as Steve Clarke’s side followed up their flying start to their European qualifying campaign with this sticky spell.

    The 2005 low point was followed by a run which saw Scotland lose just twice in 14 matches, under Walter Smith and Alex McLeish, and Hendry abruptly dismissed suggestions their form was a concern heading into their group campaign against hosts Germany, Switzerland and Hungary.

    When asked about the Hampden reaction, the centre-back added: “It probably says a lot about how successful we have been that they are disappointed with that result.

    “Look, we were extremely disappointed in that changing room as well but it shows how far we have come that they are disappointed with that type of performance against Northern Ireland.

    “We know the fans’ frustration, we understand it, and we will try and make them extremely proud in the summer.

    “We have done extremely well to get ourselves into the Euros and won’t let that slip by us.

    “We will go into that camp in June extremely positive, with the motive to try and get out of that group.

    “It’s about remaining positive, sticking together and believing we are heading in the right direction, because we are, we believe we are.

    “It’s disappointing but we have a lot to look forward to in the summer, and so do the fans. So we have just got to stick together and stay positive.”

    Scotland were generally slow in possession before becoming more direct as the second half progressed, as key attacking players struggled to reach their recent standards.

    Hendry said: “Northern Ireland made it very difficult for us. We just didn’t seem to get into the game. It was probably important we scored first in the match and we didn’t do that.

    “Northern Ireland obviously got a break and managed to hold on to the lead and we struggled to break them down.

    “These games happen, we won’t dwell on it too long. We will look forward to meeting up in the summer.

    “It was just one of those nights. We dominated the game, possession-wise, it was just unfortunate we couldn’t break them down.

    “You have sometimes got to give plaudits to the opposition. Northern Ireland defended really well, we were unfortunate not to break them down.

    “We just take it on the chin, we stick together, we remain positive. It’s a setback but we will bounce back from it pretty quickly. We will certainly learn from it but not dwell on it too much.”

  • Rob is the manager – Wales on same Page despite Euro 2024 failure Rob is the manager – Wales on same Page despite Euro 2024 failure

    Rob Page will remain as Wales manager despite the failure to qualify for Euro 2024.

    Wales agonisingly missed out on a place in Germany this summer as Poland won a play-off final 5-4 on penalties at Cardiff City Stadium following a goalless 120 minutes.

    The defeat left question marks over Page’s future, but those doubts have been quickly removed by Football Association of Wales president Steve Williams.

    Williams told BBC Wales: “The FAW can confirm Rob Page is their manager for the forthcoming campaign in accordance with his contract.

    “Rob is the manager. His contract runs to the end of the World Cup and that is how we continue to work.”

    Page took over from Ryan Giggs in November 2020, first on an interim basis and led Wales at the delayed European Championship the following summer.

    He was appointed permanent manager after Wales’ World Cup play-off final victory over Ukraine in June 2022.

    The 49-year-old subsequently signed a four-year deal the following September two months ahead of the World Cup.

    But Page’s stock with fans fell following a poor tournament in Qatar when they scored only once and finished bottom of their group with one point.

    Key players such as Gareth Bale, Wales’ talismanic captain and record caps holder and goalscorer, and Joe Allen retired after the World Cup.

    Page had to rebuild the side during Euro 2024 qualifying, which saw Wales finish below Turkey and Croatia in their group and rely on the play-offs to make a third consecutive European Championship.

    After Tuesday’s play-off final defeat, Page said: “I’ve got a great relationship with Dave Adams, the technical director.

    “We’ve had our issues in the past, haven’t we? It’s been well documented. But everything’s fine. Everything’s great. I think they appreciate it.

    “The board, the chief exec, the president, I think they see the journey we’re on and what we’re trying to do.

    “In 12 months, from retirement of senior players to introducing younger players and being one kick away from qualification. I think they see the work we’re doing and the supporters do too.”

    FAW chief executive Noel Mooney had put Page’s future in the spotlight in October by saying the manager’s position would be reviewed, having not qualified for Euro 2024 automatically.

    Page and Mooney held clear-the-air talks after those comments – and the FAW will conduct a review into the Euro 2024 campaign over the coming weeks.

    Wales return to friendly action this summer with a planned home game before heading to Slovakia on June 9.

    The Nations League gets under way in September with Wales pitted against Iceland, Montenegro and Turkey, while qualification for the 2026 World Cup starts in 12 months’ time.

  • Aaron Ramsey to ponder international future after Wales’ Euro 2024 hopes ended Aaron Ramsey to ponder international future after Wales’ Euro 2024 hopes ended

    Aaron Ramsey will consider whether to continue his international career following Wales’ failed bid to reach Euro 2024.

    Skipper Ramsey remained on the bench for the entire 120 minutes on Tuesday as Wales’ attempt to qualify for this summer’s tournament in Germany ended in a penalty shoot-out defeat to Poland in Cardiff.

    Ramsey has suffered an injury-hit season after returning to hometown club Cardiff – he has not started a game for six months due to knee and calf issues – and turns 34 at the end of this year.

    The former Arsenal and Juventus midfielder has won 81 caps and is sixth on Wales’ all-time list of goalscorers with 21.

    The start of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup is 12 months away, and the PA news agency understands that Ramsey will contemplate his international future after Wales’ painful Euro exit.

    “There have been no conversations like that,” Wales manager Rob Page said about Ramsey’s future straight after defeat to Poland.

    “It’s been, what, an hour since we’ve ended the game.

    “Aaron was a big part of this squad as well. It’s not just what he brings on the pitch, it’s off the pitch as well.

    “We want to continue to add to the squad and at the right time we’ll start introducing the younger ones in.”

    Ramsey signed a two-year deal at Cardiff last summer with an option to extend by a further 12 months, but has started only six games for the Bluebirds this term.

© 2023 SportsMaxTV All Rights Reserved.