Warren Gatland believes a mature attitude was the key to Wales' 27-13 victory over Scotland at the Millennium Stadium.
Wales boss pleased to see his side deal with distractions
Wales head coach Warren Gatland believes a mature attitude was the key to his side's 27-13 RBS Six Nations victory over Scotland at the Millennium Stadium.
The contest was finely poised at 3-3 after a scrappy first half but Wales clicked into gear early in the second period to take a second step towards a potential Triple Crown.
The victory was all the more impressive given the fact that Wales captain Sam Warburton was ruled out before kick-off with the dead leg he suffered against Ireland in Dublin last weekend.
Lock Bradley Davies was also suspended following his tip tackle in the same game and Gatland was delighted with the way Wales dealt with the two major absentees.
"We expected Scotland to be a lot tougher than maybe the public did," Gatland said.
"If you look at their numbers last week in terms of territory, possession and line breaks, they should have won that game against England.
"So we are very pleased with the result given the disruption of losing Sam Warburton, and having to adjust to the loss of Bradley Davies during the week, as well as being without three or four key players.
Pleasing aspects
"That is a sign of the maturity of this team at the moment. They can handle these disruptions and it doesn't seem to affect them psychologically, they just go out and play the game so there are some very pleasing aspects on and off the field with this team at the moment."
Wales scored three tries in the space of 14 minutes in the second half as Scotland paid a heavy price for the sin-binnings of Nick De Luca and Rory Lamont, but Gatland said the numerical advantage was not the decisive factor.
"I felt we were playing well anyway regardless of whether it was 14 men, or 13 at one point. We upped the tempo, scored three tries," he added.
"I think Leigh Halfpenny is probably not happy with a couple of centres as there were a couple of occasions where if they had passed him the ball they would have put him in space and he would have scored."
Wales also picked up injury problems during the game as wing George North and hooker Huw Bennett were forced off with ankle and calf problems respectively.
Gatland said of his injuries: "George is hobbling around at the moment but it is just a rolled ankle. Ryan (Jones) has ice on his knee, he looks a bit sore at the moment but other than that, not too bad.
"We hope Sam will be right for England (next weekend), Justin Tipuric should be fit as well and one or two of the second rows might be available as well.
Strain
"Huw Bennett might have a calf strain but Matthew Rees is hopeful of being fit for England as well."
While Wales end the weekend sitting top of the Six Nations table, Scotland are again languishing near the foot of the table.
While Greig Laidlaw's consolation score did see Scotland register their first try in five Tests, Andy Robinson's side slumped to a fourth straight defeat, leaving the former England coach with just two wins from 12 Six Nations games in charge.
Robinson refused to criticise his side, despite seeing errors rob them of a chance of victory for the second week running following their reverse against England at Murrayfield.
Robinson said: "The guys did not deliberately get sin-binned, but that's what happens in the game. Wales exploited the space really well and kept hold of the ball.
"When you are down to 13 men you are going to be put under pressure if a side is able to keep hold of the ball and keep a good shape and I thought they did that really well.
"You look at the small margins of the game and I have to say I am really proud of the way my team played. The endeavour that was shown, the attitude that was shown.
"But just after half-time there was an error and we have been punished for it."
