Wales suffered a painful 35-29 defeat at the hands of Scotland in their recent clash at Murrayfield. The match ended with a close scoreline, but Wales was left reeling after a disastrous first half performance. Here are the player ratings from the game, which saw Wales’ 16th consecutive Test defeat.
Blair Murray received a rating of 5, displaying a mixed performance with some promising moments, although a crucial error cost his team. Tom Rogers had to leave the field early due to injury, resulting in an N/A rating. Max Llewellyn earned a 6 for his strong carries and defensive efforts. Ben Thomas scored a 5, showcasing both positive and negative aspects in his gameplay.
Ellis Mee was rated 4 for struggling to contain Scotland’s attacks. Gareth Anscombe received a 4 for his inconsistent kicking game. Tomos Williams also got a 4 for some errors in crucial moments. Nicky Smith and Elliot Dee both scored a 6 for their contributions, with Smith excelling in carries and Dee performing well at the lineout.
WillGriff John’s reckless yellow card earned him a low rating of 2, impacting Wales’s chances. Will Rowlands received a 4 for an unremarkable performance. Dafydd Jenkins stood out with a rating of 7, showcasing his work rate and turnovers. Jac Morgan led by example with a stellar rating of 9, preventing the game from spiraling further out of control in the first half.
Tommy Reffell struggled at the breakdown, earning a 5. Taulupe Faletau’s experience showed in his rating of 7, leading the team in carrying. The replacements made a difference, with Dewi Lake impressing for a 7 and Teddy Williams scoring a 6.
The game highlighted Wales’ need for improvement, especially in the first half where they were outplayed by a dominant Scotland side. The players showed glimpses of quality but lacked consistency throughout the match. Wales will need to regroup and address their shortcomings before their next fixture.
Despite the defeat, there were individual performances worth noting, with Jac Morgan standing out as a shining example of resilience and leadership. The team will look to build on these positives and work towards a better outcome in their upcoming games. The Welsh fans will be hoping for a turnaround in form as the team aims to bounce back from this defeat.