“The awesome beauty of Scotland reflects the narrative on an extraordinary day.”

Wales? Gorgeous but beaten, losers on the day but with a lot to build on – and a little to complain about, too. If that Turner effort was the defining moment of the game, there was another, in the 64th minute, that could have filled that slot.

Wales were leading 23-19 at the time. In Scotland 22 they went and got a penalty. They could have backed the ball, had it been standing, which didn’t happen. The TMO got involved and a call was made against Tomos Williams for a crocodile roll on Rory Darge which looked nothing like a crocodile roll.

Reverse punishment. The shot went for 26-19. Turner drove the car shortly after and that was it. Scotland have come back from the brink, and in the coming weeks they will take on France at home and Ireland away.

It’s a stunning end to their heroism, but at least they’re alive and not without hope of achieving something tangible. Whatever happens against France they will be playing for the Triple Crown in Dublin. They haven’t won it since 1990.

What is it about this formula that produces such hair-raising tools? What is it about those Scotland shirts that makes the Welsh so confident?

From the beginning, they were great. Scotland forced things and they were found out. They tried to advance widely at every turn, but were crushed. Even when Joe Hawkins was sent off five minutes later Wales got stronger. Carey scored while they were 14 out. That awful Welshman has started in the last several Test matches? Forget it.

Scotland created chances, then scored one, then conceded another. They had little composure and no control. Wales won’t allow it. Sam Costello made it 17-5 after half an hour. Red flags are everywhere now.

Townsend did not hold out. After thirty-five minutes of play, he brought out Nathan McBeth, a loose head, and Max Williamson, one of his locks. Fortunes did not change, not immediately. Scotland’s looseness continued. So did the Welsh scoring. 20-5 now.

Destiny begins at that point. here we go again. Another Cardiff disaster. Jungle drumbeat. Townsend has to go. Everyone must go.

Hugh Jones, one of the most powerful strikers in Scotland’s history, dropped the ball with the try-line in hand. When the likes of Jones make a mess of things, you start to fear the worst. You crank up the bodies.