It was a case of so near yet so far for Wales in their narrow defeat to Scotland
Wales came so close to ending a four-year run without a home win in the Six Nations but it just wasn’t meant to be.
But it was a significantly improved performance from Wales, giving fans hope that brighter times lie ahead. There were a number of excellent individual performances but in the end, Finn Russell’s class and one sloppy moment from Wales cost them the game.
Here are your winners and losers.
Winners
Sam Costelow
The Scarlets playmaker has been the victim of a large amount of vitriolic abuse on social media over the last couple of years but he shut his critics up with an outstanding all-round performance at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.
Costelow was left out of Wales’ squad in the autumn but fought his way back into the international fold after a series of excellent performances for the Scarlets.
The 25-year-old controlled the game well with his flat crisp passing on the gain-line opening up the Scotland defence in the first half.
His kicking out of hand and at goal was also on point.
But it was a huge shame to see Costelow depart with what looked like a nasty lower limb injury.
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Aaron Wainwright and Alex Mann
The Dragons backrower has been Wales’ best player over the course of the first three games of the Championship.
Wainwright was excellent again against France, finishing the game as the top carrier with 21, while consistently getting over the gain-line.
The 28-year-old also put in 18 tackles and was extremely physical throughout.
Wainwright has been a standout player in a struggling Wales side and could take his game to an even higher level when he joins Leicester Tigers next season.
Alex Mann also put in a fine performance, making 17 tackles and winning two turnovers.
Ben Carter
The Dragons lock made his first Six Nations start for Wales and seized his opportunity with both hands.
Carter put in a huge shift finishing the game as the joint top tackler, alongside his second-row partner Dafydd Jenkins, with 22.
He also carried the ball well, was effective at the lineout, and was extremely physical throughout.
The 25-year-old deserves to keep his place in the team for the round four clash with Ireland in Dublin.
Rhys Carré and Dewi Lake
Both front-rowers were outstanding and a big reason behind Wales’ improved physicality.
Carré made some huge carries and was consistently making post-contact metres — a rare commodity in Welsh rugby over the past few years.
The Saracens prop emptied the tank and this was his best performance in a Wales shirt.
Wales captain Lake endured a difficult start to the Championship against England but has bounced back very well.
His throwing into the lineout was perfect but he was another player who carried extremely well making 17 carries.
Losers
Gabriel Hamer-Webb and Louis Rees-Zammit
It is harsh to put the blame for the Darcy Graham try solely on their shoulders because half the team switched off but both players were caught badly out of position.
At international level if you switch off for a split second you will get punished.
Finn Russell caught Wales napping and they paid the ultimate price.
It ultimately cost them the game.
Archie Griffin
The Bath prop put in a shift around the park but he struggled at the scrum.
Immediately after Scotland scored to take the lead for the first time in the game Wales was gifted a golden opportunity from the restart as a result of a spilled ball.
Wales had a scrum just outside the Scotland 22 but Griffin was penalised as the pressure came through from Scotland.
That was a big moment and with that penalty Wales’ last chance slipped away.
Taine Plumtree
The Scarlets man will be cursing his bad luck.
After making his first start of the Six Nations he was forced to leave the field after a mere 10 minutes with a nasty shoulder injury that will probably rule the backrower out of the Six Nations.
It was unfortunate because he had made a big impact during his short time on the field.
There was one powerful carry and a try-saving tackle on Kyle Steyn.