Francis features in Welsh win

By Mark Stevens
3/2/18

Exeter Chiefs prop Tomas Francis featured for the final 30 minutes as Wales kicked off their NatWest Six Nations Championship with a 34-7 victory over Scotland at the Principality Stadium.

The 25-year-old tight-head won his 27th Test cap when he replaced Samson Lee in the opening fixture of this season’s competition.

And it proved a dream start for Warren Gatland’s side as they dispatched of the Scots with an impressive display.

Full-back Leigh Halfpenny led the charge for the home side, scoring two of their four tries, as well as kicking a further 14 points with the boot. Also on the mark were Gareth Davies and Steff Evans.

On a disappointing day for the Scots, who included former Chief Byron McGuigan within their ranks, their sole crumb of comfort was a late try from Peter Horne that Glasgow team-mate Finn Russell was able to convert.

Post-match, Gatland said: “It was an afternoon I was expecting with the way we have trained. There was definitely a quiet confidence in the squad and I told the chief executive I thought we would win by 20 points at the team run. He was shocked, but that’s how well we have trained.

“I said a few weeks ago the draw was great for us. Getting off to a winning start is important and we’re happy to get a bonus point. Now we go to a venue where we’ve had a lot of success in the last ten years and we’re looking forward to it.”

Next up for the Welsh is Saturday’s clash with England at Twickenham.