Wales kicked off the Six Nations Championship with an emphatic victory over a Scotland side who failed to build upon their impressive showing in the Autumn internationals.
Two tries from Leigh Halfpenny -- one in each half -- plus an early intercept try from Gareth Davies eased Warren Gatland's side to yet another victory in Cardiff over the Scots They have not lost to Scotland on home soil since 2002, and thoroughly deserved their one-sided victory on this latest occasion.
Scotland made the early running and a break from Jonny Gray almost put the visitors through for the opening score in the first few exchanges.
However, it was Wales who scored first as Ali Price, the Scotland scrum-half, delayed a long pass too long and his opposite number Gareth Davies intercepted and ran 60 yards untouched for the try in the left corner. A fine conversion from Leigh Halfpenny extended the lead to 7-0.
Wales almost scored again immediately from the kick off, with a perfectly timed break by Aaron Shingler opening up Scotland's defence. However, after a couple of offloads in the tackle almost put through Alun Wyn Jones, his final pass to Steff Evans was knocked on and the chance was lost.
It was a temporary delay, however, as Wales forced a free kick out of the ensuing scrum, and after the initial surge from Rhys Patchell was denied, the ball worked its way right to Halfpenny, who had options either side but went for the tryline himself and barged over for Wales' second try in the first 12 minutes. Halfpenny added another excellent conversion from the right, and Wales were sitting on a 14-0 lead.
After that whirlwind start, neither side could make any lasting inroads, with the ball going to ground too often and defenders scrambling well when required.
A great kick from deep by Hadleigh Parkes piled pressure on Scotland in their own five-metre line in the final few minutes of the first half, and but for some lucky bounces in the Scots favour, Wales could have made more of that opportunity. As it was, they entered the half-time break with a 14-0 lead that was fully merited, despite Scotland having longer periods of possession.
Wales started the second half brighter and forced a penalty out of the Scotland defence two minutes after the resumption. Halfpenny lined up an easy three points, and Scotland had a mountain to climb if they were to make a fight of the match.
Scotland captain John Barclay was given a ticking off by referee Pascal Gauzere for hands in the ruck -- his second penalty of the second half -- and Halfpenny slotted another three points from near halfway.
As the clock ticked to the hour mark, Scotland continued to be under siege deep in their own territory, with Hogg first managing to hold up Josh Navidi before soon after being dragged into touch inside his own five-metre line. From the lineout, Wales created more openings across the Scottish line and eventually the ball found Halfpenny again outnumbering the defenders and diving unchallenged for his second try of the game. The conversion made it a personal tally of 22 for Halfpenny in Wales' 27-0 lead.
Scotland were spared further embarrassment when replacement prop Wyn Jones was held up over the line, with no clear grounding available on replays to the TMO, much to the disappointment of the home crowd.
Another break needed just one pass to land for Wales, but Gareth Anscombe could not quite gather the ball as they burst forward.
The challenge for Scotland in the final 10 minutes was to both avoid the shutout and deny Wales a fourth try and a bonus point. The latter part was beyond them, however, as Stef Evans brilliantly finished in the corner, and although the final pass from Hadleigh Parkes looked like it could have been forward, that element was not reviewed by the TMO.
Scotland did at least avoid the shutout, with Peter Horne scurrying over with a little over a minute remaining for a try that was of little consolation to an overwhelmed Scottish side. Russell slotted the conversion, but it was still very much Wales' day.
