The concerning Six Nations trend that Scotland must address against Wales

Scotland have historically struggled to back up big performances against England, and in Cardiff – do Wales have hope of a shock win? SportRugbyRugby UnionThe concerning Six Nations trend that Scotland must address against WalesScotland have historically struggled to back up big performances against England, and in Cardiff – do Wales have hope of a shock win?Harry Latham-Coyle Rugby Correspondent Thursday 19 February 2026 07:49 GMTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoveropen image in galleryWales face an uphill task against Scotland (Getty Images)Your support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. 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We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreIt was a message of triumph, but it came with a warning. “I’ve been on this journey now for four or five years with this team and I take the last week as a low moment for myself, but I’ve also had some massive highs, and this is one of them,” said Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu almost immediately after a win over England that changed the narrative around his side. “But I really want this to be the growth now, us to show our growth next week to back up this performance in a stadium that we’ve had troubles in over the last 20 years.”Tuipulotu had not long got his hands on the Calcutta Cup, a prize with which Scottish skippers have been rather familiar of late, and already he was setting a new challenge for his side, referencing an unwelcome record. Too often, highs against England under Gregor Townsend have been followed by a level below; one step forward, two back, too often. It is a trend that extends beyond even the Townsend tenure – in all, Scotland have beaten the Auld Enemy seven times since 2001, and lost their next match on six occasions. Add in the factor of Cardiff, a city in which Scots have only won twice this century, and Tuipulotu’s trepidation was entirely understandable. open image in galleryScotland’s Sione Tuipulotu lifted the Calcutta Cup (PA Wire)A meeting with a team still seeking a first Six Nations victory since 2023 is not, perhaps, an apposite moment for point-proving, yet a Scottish win would still feel significant in the context of what has come before. It is worth remembering that they were, in fact, victors on their last visit to the Principality Stadium, and yet the very contrivance of letting a game they had led by 27 points ultimately be decided by one gave that occasion two years ago a somewhat strange feel.open image in galleryScotland beat Wales by the finest of margins in 2024 (Getty Images)The state of Wales would seem to demand a rather more convincing Scottish success, yet danger may lurk. Injuries to Jamie Ritchie, Jack Dempsey and Jamie Dobie were a reminder of just what the Six Nations demands, with a revamped competition schedule of three back-to-back-to-back Tests creating further pressures on the fitness and mentality of a squad that has, at times, felt small. Townsend hopes the restorative rays and bright beaches of the Costa Blanca – Scotland have spent the week in a training camp south of Valencia – may be a help before a trip to a somewhat murkier waterside locale. open image in galleryGregor Townsend earned a reprieve with a scintillating Calcutta Cup win last week (Getty Images)Plotting what would most certainly be an upset on the banks of the Taff is a familiar foe. Steve Tandy spent five-and-a-half years as Townsend’s right-hand man, establishing himself as a top-rated defensive lieutenant before his own country came crawling. To term the issues he has faced in the months since taking the Wales job as teething problems would perhaps inaccurately reflect a rugby nation of dotage rather than infancy, but if the scale of the challenge that Tandy faces was not abundantly clear then four successive thrashings have rather emphatically made that point. RecommendedWhat is wrong with Ireland’s scrum? How England can exploit set piece advantage in Six Nations clashScotland dealt triple injury blow ahead of Wales clashWales boss Steve Tandy calls for unity after Six Nations thrashing by FranceIt is tough to look too harshly on a man dealt a hand that would have most seeking an alternative poker table. There were improvements to be found in the performance against France, if n