Six Nations: Wales defeat tough to take - Gray

SCOTLAND forward Richie Gray claims Scotland were not smart enough to cope with going a man down against rampant Wales.

Dejection for Scotland's Richie Gray after being on the receiving end of a thrashing by Wales. Picture: SNS

The Dark Blues ended their RBS 6 Nations campaign in utter humiliation as Warren Gatland’s men handed them their worst-ever defeat in the competition.

The 51-3 demolition job saw the home side at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff run in seven tries - six of which came after Stuart Hogg was stupidly and needlessly sent off for crashing a shoulder into Dan Biggar’s face.

Instead of making it a damage-limitation exercise, the Scots crumbled as they allowed doubles from George North and Jamie Roberts as well as scores from Taulupe Faletau and Rhodri Williams to compound an already bleak picture following Liam Williams’ opener.

Castres lock Gray said: “It was very tough to take. We went down to 14 men but even then we should not have conceded as much as we did.

“I can’t fault the boys for effort and heart but we should have played a little smarter. We need to get the details right when situations like that do arise.

“It’s a very sour note to finish the championship on. Everyone in the changing room is hurt.

“The scoreboard doesn’t look the best but everyone fought hard and never gave in. We can take pride from that.”

The victory was Wales’ biggest ever against Scotland - and surpassed the 51-9 drubbing dished out to the visitors by France in 2003, their previous worst margin of defeat in the Five or Six Nations.

And Gray admitted the Cardiff calamity would leave a black stain on the CVs of everyone involved.

“We are all embarrassed by that result,” he said. “At this level, to get 50 put against you just should not happen.

“After the game, the heads were all down in the changing room.

“We wanted to put in a better performance than we did but we feel like we have let everyone down.”