Scottish win sends Wales into turmoil

Given depressed state of some in the Valleys, it wouldn't have been too surprising if the agenda for yesterday's crisis summit on the state of Welsh rugby had contained just two options - cremation or burial. Of course, no-one in a rugbyworshipping nation is in the mood to give up on the ailing patient just yet. If only they could all agree on the right course of treatment.

Wales team manager Alan Phillips, speaking after the 27-22 defeat by Scotland, said: 'The nation must unite. These defeats keep coming and, if they don't force change, nothing will.' But nothing is changing - at least for the time being. The WRU member clubs yesterday threw out a plan to streamline the top end of their game, leaving the Union president, Sir Tasker Watkins, to admit that Welsh rugby is now at an all-time low. He said: 'We have never been in such a position.' More talking is all that is promised but whatever solution the WRU and the Premiership clubs settle on, Wales still have far to travel on the road to recovery.

The journey will be made all the more difficult by the absence of Rob Howley, who bowed out of the international game just over an hour into Saturday's defeat.

Howley, the most dangerous player on the pitch as the Welsh backs looked like running away with the game in the opening 20 minutes, admitted that coach Steve Hansen had begged him to reverse his decision. But an ailing left knee, a new baby girl born last Thursday and a desire to prolong his club career before moving into coaching will carry more weight.

He said: 'The players are frustrated that they can't get the right structure in place to produce a quality international side.' Scotland destroyed the Welsh line-out to ultimately tip the balance. Two identical tries from Gordon Bulloch in nine first-half minutes should have established Scottish superiority. But a brilliant scoring pass by Iestyn Harris, putting Rhys Williams in under the posts early in the second half, turned the game into a kicking contest which Brendan Laney won thanks to Welsh indiscipline in injury time.