Six Nations champions Wales ground out a 28-18 win over Scotland at Murrayfield yesterday to keep alive their hopes of retaining the title after losing to Ireland in the opening round.
The 2012 grand slam champions became the first Welsh side to win five successive matches away from home in the tournament and now face a potential title decider against England at the Millennium Stadium next Saturday.
England, who host Italy at Twickenham today, are the only unbeaten side in the championship.
Flanker Sam Warburton, captain of the grand slam team, made a triumphant return after starting on the replacements’ bench in the third-round win over Italy.
Warburton took over the captaincy after Ryan Jones left the field with an injury and was named man-of-the-match for a splendid display in the loose during a scrappy match dominated by Wales’ forwards.
“I was so pleased to be part of the side again,” he told BBC television.
“We knew it was going to be immensely tough at Murrayfield. We have to be proud of the win today.
“I’ll have 24 hours to relax and we can start looking foward to England on Monday.”
Wales hooker Richard Hibbard scored the only try of a match dominated by the boot. Welsh fullback Leigh Halfpenny kicked seven penalties and a conversion and Scotland scrumhalf Greig Laidlaw, the hero of the home win over Ireland in the last round, kicked six.
In the other match played yesterday, France came from behind to draw 13-13 with Ireland after Louis Picamoles’s late try ended Philippe Saint-Andre’s misfiring side’s run of three straight tournament defeats.
Ireland, who had beaten France only once in their last 13 attempts and also drew last year’s match, adapted to the wet conditions far better.
They kept the ball among their forwards as much as possible and reaped the rewards when captain Jamie Heaslip dived over after 10 minutes.
Ireland flyhalf Paddy Jackson, showing none of the nerves that spoilt his debut against Scotland last time out, kicked his side into a 10-point halftime lead that Morgan Parra, taking over the kicking duties from Frederic Michalak, began to trim back in the second period.
Picamoles drove over six minutes from time and Michalak, back in charge of the kicking tee, levelled the scores for the French who must still get a result against Scotland next Saturday to avoid their first last-place championship finish since 1999.
Playing today
England vs Italy - 16.00
Standings
England (3-0-0) 6; Wales (3-0-1) 6; Scotland (2-0-2) 4; Ireland (1-1-2) 3; Italy (1-0-2) 2; France (0-1-3) 1.