Gatland encouraged by Wales showing

Warren Gatland was eager to focus on the many positives following a 21-10 victory over Scotland which extended Wales’ winning run to six matches.

Alun Wyn Jones became the first man to lift the Doddie Weir Cup after Jonathan Davies marked his first international for almost a year with a second-half try and George North went over in the first half at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

Leigh Halfpenny scored 11 points from the tee, with Scotland unable to add to their tally after going in at half-time four points down following a converted Stuart McInally try and Adam Hastings’ penalty.

Gatland was encouraged by Wales’ performance ahead of a clash with Australia next weekend. 

“It’s nice to get a hit-out rather than being thrown in against a southern hemisphere team coming off the Rugby Championship, which is always a tough ask,” said the Wales head coach.

“There are aspects of our game that need to improve. The kicking game will need to improve. But there were also lots of positives and lots to build on. There wasn’t a lot of space out there. Scotland didn’t look like stretching us out wide, which I found a bit surprising.”

As close as you can get to game day in Cardiff without being here.

And if you were here, why not relive it? #HWFN pic.twitter.com/l41y2UQpzI

— Welsh Rugby Union (@WelshRugbyUnion) November 3, 2018

Gatland was impressed with Gareth Anscombe’s showing after getting the nod at fly-half.

“He attacked the line, put some players into some holes. He hasn’t had a huge amount of games but we were pleased with him,” he said.

“Gareth had a good performance and that was pleasing for him. We wanted to create some depth in that position. We’ve got three or four 10s to be fighting for that role and they’ve all got their strengths.”

Gregor Townsend warned Scotland must raise their game after making life a little too easy for their Six Nations rivals. 

“We need to be better defensively,” he told BBC Scotland. “To slip off tackles and give them tries when they didn’t have to do much work, that was disappointing.

“When Wales went through phases we got stronger in defence and a few times we turned them over. So to miss tackles when they’re only one or two phases into their attacking set is disappointing.”

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