Stuart Hogg vows to learn from mistakes after Scots pay penalty for indiscipline against Wales

Scotland players huddling before kick-off during their Six Nations match against Wales at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh on February 13, 2021. (Photo by Andy Buchanan/AFP via Getty Images)

Only a point separated the two sides at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium as the Welsh reclaimed the Doddie Weir Cup they’d relinquished to Scotland four months previously in Llanelli and the proliferation of penalties given away by the hosts was largely to blame for that defeat, former Hawick star Hogg conceded.

Ex-Gala hero Gregor Townsend's team had gifted just six penalties to England a week earlier as they claimed their first victory in London for 38 years in their first game of the championship, but they gave away almost twice that tally against Wayne Pivac's side, passing up a chance to record back-to-back opening wins in the Six Nations for the first time ever, the last time they managed that feat having been in the Five Nations in 1996.

Zander Fagerson’s second-half sending-off for a dangerous ruck clearout also marked a turning point in the game, gifting extra space to the Welsh to exploit and turn a topsy-turvy tussle of a match their way.

Stuart Hogg slips during the Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Wales at Murrayfield on February 13, 2021, in Edinburgh. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Victory had seemed well within the Scots’ grasp as tries by Hogg and fellow ex-Green Darcy Graham put the Dark Blues ahead, but Gary Graham bungled what looked to be a promising bid for a third after getting caught on top of the ball and then had a chance to make amends by crossing the try-line just after half-time chalked off due to obstruction of defenders by Scott Cummings.

Those missed opportunities were to prove decisive as Wales hit back with three tries either side of half-time.

“We were very close to scoring seven points there with Gary. Unfortunately, we've ended up conceding a minute later,” said Hogg, 28.

“It's little things that are costing us, but the pleasing thing is we know exactly where we're going wrong.

Stuart Hogg of Scotland celebrates touching down for his team's third try during the Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Wales at Murrayfield on February 13, 2021, in Edinburgh. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

“There's been times in the past where we've made mistakes and kept making them, whereas now I believe that's a one-off in our ill discipline.

“We'll be much better prepared for the France game in two weeks in terms of our discipline and we'll get excited for that challenge."