Six Nations 2026: Wales 23-26 Scotland – Gregor Townsend’s side battle back to win
Tandy’s response to heavy opening defeats against England and France, in which Wales conceded 15 tries and 102 points, was to make four changes.
Uncapped Leicester wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb, Scarlets fly-half Sam Costelow, Dragons second-row Ben Carter and Scarlets winger Taine Plumtree replace Ellis Mee, Dan Edwards, Adam Beard and Olly Cracknell.
Wales got off to shocking starts in the first two games but made sure that wasn’t the case in this game.
Plumtree and Hamer-Webb suffered injuries in the opening two minutes. Hamer-Webb had to leave the game briefly with a bloody nose before Plumtree was replaced on a permanent basis by James Botham due to a shoulder problem.
Wales’ discipline was again poor with two soft penalties in the opening exchanges before Joe Hawkins was sent to the dugout for a high tackle on Scotland winger Gregor Brown, who had moved from the victory over England to the back row to replace the injured Jamie Ritchie.
Wing Josh Adams made a couple of important early tackles with a crucial tackle on Scotland center Huw Jones followed by a vital interception.
Wales recovered with 14 men and, after a fierce break from scrum-half Tomos Williams, the home side executed the same successful strike penalty move that Carre had pounced on last week after the first drive from Lake.
Hawkins’ card remained yellow as it was deemed a passive tackle, but it was still Tandy’s 11th transgression in seven games in charge.
Scotland took advantage of the extra back with a move wide that Steyn finished.
Hawkins returned and along with fellow Scarlets center Eddie James, Lake, Carre and winger Alex Mann laid the foundations for Adams to cross for his 24th Wales try.
Costelow made his return from the touchline, starting his first game since July 2025, with Edwards having played in the last seven games.
Botham was outstanding after his debut and the turnover laid the foundations for the Costelow penalty.
Scotland made several early tactical substitutions, with prop Pierre Schoeman and backrower Josh Bayliss replacing Nathan McBeth and Max Williamson, with Brown returning to lock.
Following another storming Steyn break, the vital Mann clearance forced a penalty as Wales led 17-5 at half-time; This was the first time the home side had taken the lead under Tandy in this interval.
