Five things we learned as Scotland Women win in Wales

Wales took an early lead through scrum-half Keira Bevan, but Scotland hit back straight away with their first attack. It was a well-taken try from winger Coreen Grant, converted by stand-off Helen Nelson.

Nelson then kicked a penalty to make it 10-3 after 16 minutes and, given the possession and territory they had, the Scots probably should have had more points by the half-hour mark.

However, Wales finished the half strongly and a penalty with the clock in the red from Bevan made it 10-6 at the interval.

A try by winger Rhona Lloyd, converted by Nelson, made it 17-6 after 49 minutes before a try by Sisilia Tuipulotu, converted by Bevan, made it 17-13.

Scotland then had to weather a couple of injuries before Nelson’s penalty in the 73rd minute extended the visitors' advantage to 20-13.

Wales then knocked at the door, back-row Alex Stewart was yellow carded and then back-row Alex Callender’s try for Wales was given after a TMO check. Lleucu George, the stand-off, could not convert though and Scotland held on for a famous 20-18 win.

Here are five things we learned from Cardiff Arms Park

This Scotland team has real bottle

In previous years Scotland may have lost this match, but they have built up a resilience over the last 12 months or so and they really dug deep here.

There were times when they were under the pump, but they didn’t panic, and while it took a missed conversion to seal the win and not a draw, the sheer effort they had put into the 80 minutes meant that they deserved a bit of luck.

They tackled themselves to a standstill here and made some last-gasp interventions which were so important in the grand scheme of things.

This sets things up nicely for the French and English matches

The next two matches for Scotland are world number three France at home and then world number one England at home. They are daunting fixtures still, but this result off the back of the six previous wins means that everyone can now look forward to them as Scotland aim to go toe-to-toe with the very best.

They will still be underdogs in both, but they are likely to draw record crowds to the Hive Stadium and women’s rugby in Scotland is in a good place to and it must be capatalised on.

The attack is much sharper than before

Scotland did blow some chances here and could perhaps have made things a bit easier for themselves, but there are certainly finishers in this team now and the attack is much sharper now.

That transition to a more exciting, risk/reward type of attack started under Chris Laidlaw’s attack coaching last Six Nations and Matt Banahan has carried that on.

Coreen Grant and Rhona Lloyd’s finishes here showed that while in outside centre Emma Orr and full-back Meryl Smith Scotland have very competent young attacking talents.

Scotland should have had a healthier lead at half-time

Wales came out of the traps flying, but once Scotland scored a cracking try from Coreen Grant in the seventh minute they were on top until the half hour mark.

However, only one penalty was added during that time despite some good attacking getting the Scots into the Welsh 22 regularly, moves often ended by good home defence or sloppy handling.

Emma Wassell carries into contact (Image: PA)

To then go in at half-time only 10-6 up will have felt a bit deflating for the visitors, especially as they carried for 333 metres to Wales’ 221 in the first period.

A lead on the road is a lead, but it could have been more after 8.8 attacking minutes to 6.7 and nine defenders beaten to three.

Depth will be tested, but the squad can now cope

Scotland lost key forwards Lana Skeldon and Sarah Bonar to second-half injuries and they will likely be out for a spell.

The loss of Lana Skeldon was a blow to Scotland (Image: SNS)

They play in important positions such as hooker and second row and in the past Scotland would have been really tested by having them out.

The depth will still be tested, but there are now players like Elis Martin, Eva Donaldson and Fi McIntosh waiting in the wings.

Wales: Jenny Hesketh; Jasmine Joyce, Hannah Jones, Kerin Lake, Nel Metcalfe (Carys Cox, 55); Lleucu George, Keira Bevan (Sian Jones, 74); Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones (Carys Phillips, 67), Sisilia Tuipulotu (Donna Rose, 67), Natalia John (Georgia Evans, 41), Abbie Fleming, Alisha Butchers (Kate Williams, 62), Alex Callender, Bethan Lewis.

Unused: Abbey Constable, Niamh Terry.

Tries: Tuipulotu (59), Callender (79)

Conversions: Bevan (59)

Penalties: Bevan (5, 40)

Scotland: Meryl Smith (Chloe Rollie 75); Rhona Lloyd, Emma Orr, Lisa Thomson, Coreen Grant; Helen Nelson, Caity Mattinson; Leah Bartlett (Molly Wright, 74), Lana Skeldon, (Elis Martin, 62), Christine Belisle (Eliann Clarke, 60), Emma Wassell, Sarah Bonar (Louise McMillan, 69), Rachel Malcolm, Alex Stewart, Evie Gallagher.

Unused: Eva Donaldson, Mairi McDonald, Shona Campbell.

Tries: Grant (7), Lloyd (49)

Conversions: Nelson (7, 49)

Penalties: Nelson (16, 73)

Yellow cards: Stewart (78)

Referee: Clara Munarini.

Attendance: 5, 965

Player of the Match: Coreen Grant (Scotland)