Passive Scotland are passed by side determined not to pass on big chance

Rugby Six Nations Championship:FRANK HADDEN branded Scotland's display yesterday as their limpest for almost three years. The Scotland coach watched his side outmuscled and outclassed as last year's Grand Slam champions ran riot.

The 26-13 scoreline failed to tell the story of a game Wales dominated and, asked why they were so comprehensively outmanoeuvred up front, Hadden said: “That’s one of the things that we’re going to have to look at very closely during the course of the week. There could be a number of reasons for that. It could be technical problems.

“But, for me, it just seemed as if we were too passive. I haven’t seen us look so passive or tentative. The last time I saw that was South Africa 2006. Maybe they’re thinking too hard about the shape instead of just getting wired in.

“It’s early days in this competition. You can never be sure how you’re going to start. One thing I do know is that we’ll definitely get better.

“We knew we were playing the best side in the Northern Hemisphere, but we’re bitterly disappointed that we allowed them to show it so easily. I felt we were outmuscled, especially in the first half an hour.

“But you have to give them credit for taking advantage of the extra man when Geoff Cross was sinbinned. But for me, the killer blow was just after half-time. We were always chasing after that.

“It was inevitable we were going to come strong at some stage and, sadly, like too often before, it was too late before we got going.”

Debutant prop Cross was sin-binned after being knocked unconscious making a dangerous tackle on Wales fullback Lee Byrne. Wing Simon Webster was also knocked out and both face cognitive tests this week to assess if they will be fit to face France on Saturday.

Wales are sweating over the fitness of wing Shane Williams, who left the field with ice on his left ankle.

“I went over on my ankle tackling Jason White,” Williams said. “I don’t know how bad it’s going to be. I’ve iced it up and compressed it. Its a short turnaround this week and I just hope I can come back and be in the selection for next week.

“Hopefully, it’s not as bad as I first thought. I am more determined than ever to play against England. I’ll be gutted if I have to miss it.”

Wales head coach Warren Gatland didn’t hesitate when asked what pleased him most about yesterday’s performance. “The scrum. I thought we scrummaged really well. I know with (Nathan) Hines and (Euan) Murray out, they were huge losses to the Scottish tight five, but it was one aspect of our game that was very, very pleasing.

“We’re pretty happy with a lot of things in attack; a few things to work on in defence. But for us to start the campaign off like that and get a win away from home, we’re very, very pleased with that.

“It just gave us a huge boost on the bus coming here seeing how many Welsh supporters were here. There’s a few of them singing before the game, the national anthem, and I think if they’re going to show that much passion and loyalty then they deserve to get paid back and I thought the boys did that well today.

“There’s a long way to go and what we had to remind ourselves of during the week is all teams started on zero points before yesterday. If we do play to our potential, we’ve got a good chance of retaining this title.”