Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Wales Online
Wales Online
Sport
Katie Sands

Six Nations rugby headlines as Jeremy Guscott claims Liam Williams incident was 'dangerous' and Scotland question red card

Here are the Six Nations rugby headlines on Sunday February 14, the day after Wales beat Scotland 25-24 and England won 41-18 against Italy.

Liam Williams 'lucky' to escape punishment

Jeremy Guscott believes Liam Williams was lucky to escape a yellow card in Scotland v Wales after a "dangerous" incident.

Williams, who returned to the starting line-up having served a three-match ban for a red card on Scarlets duty, did not face any on-field review following an incident in the first half where he appeared to lead into contact with his elbow.

Guscott, appearing as a pundit for the BBC, said: "For me, he leads with the elbow.

"Another TMO with a few different angles and a bit more time... he doesn't get him in the face as far as I can see but he's led with the elbow which I think is dangerous.

"He could have quite easily got a yellow card and I don't think many people would have argued with it."

Fellow TV pundit Jonathan Davies added: "He's lucky.

"If he catches him under the chin, it's another red card. Players have got to be careful now."

Former Scotland flanker John Barclay said: "The margins are so small.

"A couple of inches here or there and that's a red card. I don't think that's a card myself.

"So much chance comes into moments like that."

Wales were down 17-3 at the time and Williams had picked up a loose pass. Without a review of the incident, they were able to strike just before half-time, crucially closing the gap to 17-8 before the break.

Townsend questions Fagerson red card

Scotland coach Gregor Townsend believes the process around sending off Zander Fagerson could have been much better.

Fagerson was dismissed for a shoulder-led challenge into prop Wyn Jones at a ruck, after which Wales ruthlessly exploited their man advantage to win.

"I didn't think they (officials) had much of a discussion and I didn't think they showed enough of the angles," Townsend said.

"They showed one slow motion angle to begin with, then took ages to find another one.

"The TMO did say that, because of the player's late movement, you should make sure there is no mitigation there, but I thought the whole process could have been much better.

"It just felt that there wasn't the right angles or a proper discussion. There was a discussion between the team of three when they were waiting for the angles and they seemed to make their mind up then.

"We get on with whatever decision the referee has made and there is nothing we can do about it now.

"I really believed that we could still win. The effort and the skill the players showed in that last 10 minutes was outstanding."

Jack Willis injury update

"Concerned" England boss Eddie Jones said Jack Willis' knee injury "didn't look good" after the Six Nations clash with Italy was halted while he was treated.

Willis could be heard screaming in agony after he was rolled out of a ruck by an Italian player, twisting his knee in the process.

Medics tended to him for seven minutes before taking him off the field on a stretcher.

Jones told a post-match press conference : "We are all concerned, he is on crutches and will be examined on Sunday.

"It didn’t look good and it is probably not good but we will wait and see. It’s some sort of knee injury but he’s back in the dressing room with us."

Hogg says indiscipline won't cost them again

Skipper Stuart Hogg has vowed there will be no repeat of the indiscipline that cost Scotland dear against Wales.

Gregor Townsend's team conceded a mere six penalties as they recorded their first victory at Twickenham in 37 years in their championship opener last week.

But they almost doubled that tally against the Welsh, allowing Wayne Pivac's visitors to Murrayfield too many opportunities to apply pressure.

He said: "It's little things that are costing us. But the pleasing thing is we know exactly where we're going wrong - there's been times in the past where we've made mistakes and keep making them, whereas now I believe that's a one-off in our ill-discipline.

"We'll be much better prepared for the France game in two weeks in terms of our discipline and we'll get excited for that challenge."

Pivac applauds 'exciting' Rees-Zammit

Wales boss Wayne Pivac was gushing about Louis Rees-Zammit's stunning performance after the Gloucester wing's try double secured the thrilling 25-24 victory over Scotland.

Rees-Zammit, making only a second Six Nations appearance, followed up his touchdown against Ireland last weekend with two more tries, including a brilliant individual effort from just inside Scotland's half.

Assessing the 20-year-old's display, Pivac said: "He was exciting with the ball, wasn't he? He took his opportunities very well.

"He has still got work to do on his game, without the ball, and that is the exciting thing. He is going to be a very exciting player for us, going forward.

"He has got confidence with the ball in hand, he has got the pace, and you can't coach that. He is very, very quick."

Rees-Zammit touched down just before half-time to keep Wales in the contest, and his second try - after Liam Williams and Wyn Jones had also scored - confirmed a bonus-point win and a first away victory of Pivac's 12-Test reign.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.