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Wales beat 14-man Scots as England stroll past Italy in Six Nations showdown

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13th February, 2021
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England hammered Italy 41-18 before Wales again benefited from an opposition red card in a 25-24 comeback Six Nations win over 14-man Scotland.

Louis Rees-Zammit’s try double helped hand Wayne Pivac claim his first away win as Wales coach as they hit back from a 14-point halftime deficit to stun 14-man Scotland 25-24 at Murrayfield in the Six Nations.

Earlier on Saturday, England had put last week’s Scotland defeat behind them with a six-try, 41-18 victory over Italy at Twickenham which featured a dazzling score from Jonny May and was soured for coach Eddie Jones only by a serious-looking knee injury to flanker Jack Willis.

In Edinburgh, Wales, who had also benefited in last week’s win over Ireland when their opponents had Peter O’Mahony sent off, prevailed again after a crackling encounter which this time saw Scottish prop Zander Fagerson dismissed.

Scotland had stormed ahead with winger Darcy Graham darting onto a clever chip from Ali Price to score the first try, before their effervescent captain Stuart Hogg collected his own kick through to add another.

After barely firing a shot in the first period, however, Wales fought back with tries from Louis Rees-Zammit and Liam Williams. Prop Wyn Jones thudded over after a driving maul to score a third.

A 54th-minute red card for Fagerson appeared to seal Scotland’s fate. He had come crashing into a ruck and smashed into the face of Jones, who was attempting to rip the ball away.

It was a similar incident to the one that led to O’Mahony’s 14th-minute red card for Ireland last week, and the same fate befell Fagerson after multiple video reviews.

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Yet Scotland were not finished, Hogg reclaiming the lead for the home side with yet another brilliant score.

But the last laugh belonged to Wales in a breathless finale, however, as Rees-Zammit scored his second try via his own brilliant chip-and-chase.

In the England match, Anthony Watson scored twice and Willis came off the bench to score one of England’s tries only to be carried off on a medical cart soon after with his knee injury.

Italy had taken a shock second-minute lead with a try by Monty Ioane, the nephew of Australian international Digby Ioane, but England eventually took complete control by halftime with tries by Johnny Hill, Watson and, via an American-football style dive over a defender, May.

May’s “absolutely brilliant” try reminded coach Jones of some of the most acrobatic NRL tries he’d seen back home in Australia.

After Watson scored an interception try and Willis also struck after the break, Italy did grab a second try through Tommaso Allan but England hit back with a sixth try from Elliot Daly.

© AAP

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