Scotland rallies from 20-5 down to edge Wales 26-23 in a dramatic Six Nations escape

CARDIFF, Wales (AP) — Scotland was spared embarrassment when it came from 20-5 down and scraped past Wales 26-23 in Six Nations rugby on Saturday.

Wales looked set for its first Six Nations victory in two years.

But a riveting game turned on a schoolboy error by Wales, when it was caught napping by a quick Finn Russell restart and replacement winger Darcy Graham accepted a kind bounce to score. That cut Wales' lead to 23-19 in the 58th minute.

“That was a big moment in the game and credit goes to Finn for seeing that space and Darcy being alive to it,” Scotland coach Gregor Townsend told the BBC.

Scotland finally led for the first time in the 74th after replacement hooker George Turner scored their bonus-point fourth try from a lineout maul.

Russell's third conversion capped Scotland's fourth straight win over Wales for the first time in 99 years.

“That was some game,” Townsend said. "We left it late but ... we're still in the championship. That's all that counts."

Scotland started as a 20-point favorite, albeit nervously. The Scots were coming off thrashing England at Murrayfield last weekend and they have not previously handled the emotional and physical toll of that well; they followed their eight previous England wins with six losses.

Wales was up for an ambush, masterminded by coach Steve Tandy, who was in charge of Scotland's defense for Townsend for six years until last September.

They felt a great opportunity was missed to end a Six Nations losing streak that has grown to 14 matches. After consecutive hidings from New Zealand, South Africa, England and France — the world's top four teams — Scotland was closer to their level and a rebuilding Wales responded to deserve a rare halftime lead of 17-5.

“We could have and should have won,” Tandy told the BBC. “The thing we've talked about is better performances. If you take the result it's bitterly disappointing but ultimately we feel like we are getting to where we need to be.”

Scotland prevailed with grit and, after two out of three wins, was the closest challenger to unbeaten France. They meet at Murrayfield in two weeks.

Wales got its game going thanks to bossing the gain line through forwards Rhys Carre, captain Dewi Lake, Aaron Wainwright and center Eddie James who, with Joe Hawkins, shut down Scotland midfielders Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones.

Despite Hawkins leaving on a yellow card for head contact on Gregor Brown, Wales scored the first try through Carre from a tapped penalty.

But Hawkins' absence was exposed by Scotland when winger Kyle Steyn scored off Blair Kinghorn's pass.

With Hawkins back, Wales engineered a Josh Adams try followed by a Sam Costelow penalty for 17-5.

Wales was humming and Townsend reacted by pulling prop Nathan McBeth and lock Max Williamson.

In the second half, Wales replaced a tired Carre and Lake, and flyhalf Costelow, managing the game expertly in his first start under Tandy, limped off after his fourth straight goalkick.

Scotland desperation raised the intensity. After 27 phases, Russell scored and converted.

He also spotted a chance after Costelow's replacement, Jarrod Evans, nailed his first goalkick for 23-12.

The Welsh were casually resuming their restart positions, their backs to Russell, when he kicked off with Graham chasing. Wales debutant winger Gabe Hamer-Webb and flanker James Botham didn't move until the ball flew over them and bounced up for Graham to grab and score his all-time record-tying 35th try for Scotland.

“He (Tandy) knows that's something I look for and Darcy scoring is a coach killer,” Russell told the BBC. “There was pressure this week but it was more expectation. We got the win even though it wasn't our best performance. It's nice to have the break now and get ready for France."

AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby

Wales' Rhys Carre, center, celebrates scoring during the Six Nations rugby union match between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday Feb. 21, 2026. (Nigel French/PA via AP)

Scotland's Huw Jones scores a try during the Six Nations rugby union match between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday Feb. 21, 2026. (Nigel French/PA via AP)

Scotland's Finn Russell, second left, celebrates scoring a try during the Six Nations rugby union match between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff, Wales, Saturday Feb. 21, 2026. (Nigel French/PA via AP)

DENVER (AP) — A Frontier Airlines plane hit and killed a pedestrian on the runway of the Denver International Airport during takeoff, airport authorities said, sparking an engine fire and forcing passengers to evacuate.

The plane, on route from Denver to Los Angeles International Airport, “reported striking a pedestrian during takeoff at DEN at approximately 11:19 p.m. on Friday," the airport's official X account wrote.

A spokesperson for the airport said the pedestrian, who jumped a perimeter fence, has died. They said the unidentified person was hit two minutes after entering the airport. The person is not believed to be an airport employee.

“We're stopping on the runway,” the pilot tells the control tower according to the site ATC.com. “We just hit somebody. We have an engine fire.”

The pilot tells the air traffic controller they have “231 souls” on board and that an “individual was walking across the runway.”

The air traffic controller responds that they are “rolling the trucks now" before the pilot tells the tower they “have smoke in the aircraft. We are going to evacuate on the runway.”

Frontier Airlines said in a statement flight 4345 was the one involved in the collision and that “smoke was reported in the cabin and the pilots aborted takeoff.” It was not clear whether the smoke was linked to the crash with the pedestrian.

“The Airbus A321 was carrying 224 passengers and seven crew members,” the airline said. “We are investigating this incident and gathering more information in coordination with the airport and other safety authorities.”

Passengers were then evacuated via slides and the emergency crew bused them to the terminal. The airport spokesperson said 12 passengers suffered minor injuries and five were taken to local hospitals.

Denver Airport said the National Transportation Safety Board had been notified and that runway 17L, where the incident took place, will remain closed while an investigation is conducted. It is expected to open later today.

The pedestrian death came a day after a Delta Air Lines employee was killed while on the job at the Orlando International Airport. In a statement, the airline said the employee was killed Thursday night without providing details of the incident nor the name of the employee.

“We are focused on extending our full support to family and taking care of our Orlando team during this difficult time,” the airline said. "We are working with local authorities as a full investigation gets underway to determine what occurred.”

FILE - A Frontier Airlines jetliner taxis down a runway for take off from Denver International airport on Nov. 25, 2025, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)