Scotland 6 Wales 24:ANDY ROBINSON could only watch in table-thumping frustration as his team showed a chronic inability to take the game to opponents who had gone more than 10 months without a victory.
Robinson wanted Scotland to show that they were able to manage expectation, but they did not even manage to score a try despite enjoying the majority of possession and making almost twice as many passes as Wales.
Even when they had a two-man advantage for seven minutes in the first half when Bradley Davies and Lee Byrne were in the sinbin, the home side lacked the poise and wit to fashion an opening.
The year before, Wales had won the game with two tries when Scotland had players in the bin.
Scotland offered little behind beyond the thrusts of Sean Lamont, while Dan Parks, so influential last season, was one-dimensional, the midfield dithered and fumbled and, without the ill Richie Gray, the forwards lacked thrust, bullied at the breakdown.
The return of James Hook to outhalf made an immediate difference – he was six times involved in the move that led to the opening try on seven minutes, carrying the ball in both hands, vexing defenders and waiting for an opportunity that came when he detected Scotland prop Allan Jacobsen in front of him. Hook stepped into space and away from the frontrower to give Shane Williams his 52nd try for Wales.
The second half was miasmic, mistakes wrecking fluency, but Wales secured victory when Nikki Walker’s sloppy pass to Jacobsen was claimed by Sam Warburton for Jonathan Davies to kick into the space Walker had vacated for Williams to claim his second try.
Guardian Service
SCOTLAND: Southwell; Walker, Ansbro, De Luca, Evans; Parks, R Lawson; Jacobsen, Ford, Murray, Hines, Kellock, Brown, Barclay, Vernon. Replacements: S Lamont for Southwell (20), Blair for R Lawson, Low for Murray (both 47), S Lawson for Ford, Rennie for Barclay (both 65), MacLeod for Kellock (69). Not used:Jackson.
WALES: Byrne; Stoddart, Roberts, J Davies, Williams; Hook, Phillips; James, Rees, Mitchell, B Davies, A Jones, Lydiate, Warburton, R Jones. Replacements: Thomas for Lydiate (54), S Jones for Hook, Yapp for James (both 65), Knoyle for Phillips, Hibbard for Rees, Priestland for Byrne, Turnbull for A Jones (all 71).
Referee: George Clancey(IRFU).
