Champion start for Wales

Wales made an impressive start to the defence of their Six Nations crown, running in four tries in a 26-13 victory over Scotland.

The visitors shrugged off the loss of skipper Ryan Jones to a calf muscle injury just before kick-off to produce the most impressive display of the six teams in action over the weekend.

Winger Shane Williams came up with a typically high quality finish and there were further tries for Tom Shanklin, Alun-Wyn Jones and Leigh Halfpenny on his debut. Max Evans grabbed a late consolation try for the Scots.

The scoreline does not reflect Welsh dominance - with the match as good as won after an hour they made wholesale changes which helped Scotland at least gain some respectability on the scoreboard.

Wales dominated from the outset and edged ahead with a Stephen Jones penalty, but the opening exchanges were notable chiefly for two Scottish injuries.

Simon Webster had to leave the pitch after being sick following a clash of heads with Martyn Williams, while debutant Geoff Cross was stretchered off after illegally tackling Lee Byrne in the air, getting a knee in the head and a yellow card for his trouble.

It took Wales 21 minutes to breach the Scottish line after building up a spell of pressure. From a ruck 30 metres out the ball was quickly shipped wide to Shane Williams, whose suberb offload inside to Lee Byrne allowed the full-back to feed Shanklin, who crashed over for his 19th international try.

The Wales scrum was completely dominant and on 28 minutes smashed through again to rob Scotland ball. Stephen Jones burst to within two metres of the line and popped the ball up for Alun-Wyn Jones to spin out of a tackle and touch down.

Stephen Jones - who was having a rare off day with boot - missed both conversions but the lead was now 13-0.

Scotland did manage to build an attacking platform from the kick-off and got on the board when Wales came in at the side and Chris Paterson knocked over the penalty from in front.

The hosts were enjoying their best spell by this stage and after stealing a Wales lineout in their own 22, Paterson was halted half-a-metre short of the line. That earned the Scots a five-metre scrum but once again their pack was pushed off their own ball.

Last word

Wales also had the last word of the half, as with time expired Scotland's forwards foolishily killed the ball and Stephen Jones made the scoreline 16-3 at the break.

The third quarter belonged almost entirely to Wales, who mounted a series of attacks on the Scottish line right from the kick-off. Quick ball and skillful handling was the key and they got their reward with a fine finish from Halfpenny in the corner.

Alun-Wyn Jones nearly got over again but on 50 minutes Simon Taylor relieved the pressure with a decent burst up the middle, earning Scotland a penalty. With so little attacking cutting edge they almost had to opt for the kick and Paterson cut the deficit to 15 points.

But back roared Wales and following wave after wave of pressure, Shane Williams dived over in the opposite corner for his 45th try in 62 Tests.

That prompted four Wales substitutions and the upheaval, plus an inevitable loss of intensity and Martyn Williams' yellow card for a deliberate knock-down, gave Scotland the impetus heading into the final minutes.

Relieved gloom

They relieved the gloom descending on the Murrayfield crowd with a score after 68 minutes. It came courtesy of a good finish from Max Evans, who shrugged off a tackle from the limping Shane Williams and stepped past Byrne for his first Scotland try in just his second appearance.

Scotland finished the game pressing for a second try but Wales never looked in danger of surrendering their advantage.