In the end, nothing made sense. Losers felt better than winners. Rarely is the task of lifting a trophy so low-spirited.
The victorious visitors looked long-faced and looked like men who had been given a reprieve from the gallows, celebrating their first victory here in 22 years.
One of them said this historic victory felt more like a defeat. And it happened. It was one of the most extraordinary tests Scotland have ever taken part in, and it was a wild ride. A journey to the dark side.
After 43 minutes of this surreal epic, a rampaging Scotland led 27-0 over a pitiful Wales. Duan van der Merwe had just scored his third try from around halfway.
The crowd in the famous principality was silent. In the middle of the Red Sea, the sound of a lone piper was heard. This was a rout. exhibition.
Poor Wales. Callow and humiliation. Failed in front of his own people. You sympathized with Dafydd Jenkins, who is a great player and the second youngest captain in Wales' history.
At times, Warren Gatland's coaching career seemed to be flashing before his eyes. New Zealand has never felt so far away.
But Scotland is a great entertainer. Those are box office hits. marquee act. From complete control to complete surrender. Their collapse was like a slow-motion video of a crash test dummy.
“The rabbit now looks calmer in the headlights.”
Perhaps it was the sound of the pipes that brought life to Wales. Perhaps a sense of hopelessness and regret washed away their sense of wariness and inferiority.
They never expected Scotland to collapse like this, but with the great Aaron Wainwright up front, they weren't willing to ask questions.
James Botham scored and George Turner got into the bin. It's not a big problem. The difference is still 22 points, the equivalent of one point for every year Scotland have spent chasing victory at this stadium.
This time Rio Dyer scored. 5 minutes between tries. The quiet principality suddenly became lively. The sound of a loud piper was suddenly drowned out. The gap has narrowed to 15.
Scottish fans began to look at each other. Fatalism is instilled in these people at birth. It's still a three-score game, but they know the signs. Increasing the number of penalties, a complete conspiracy in discipline. Avoidable error. Bad decision.
In the first half Wales' lineout was so poor that it was difficult to watch. In an instant it became something beautiful.
Their thrower might have found his jumper blindfolded. They won the ball from the top and launched an onslaught against Scotland.
Sione Tuipulotu was cautioned for possible offside. Then he was binned. Wainwright then scored. Then the color began to drain from the Scotsman's face. 8 points game. There are 19 unanswered items for him. A stadium buzzing with joy.
On Friday, Finn Russell spoke about the power of the home crowd and how it can boost the Red Heroes. He said he plans to warn all his teammates about the phenomenon.
I'm sure half of them thought it was a joke. The other half turned out he was telling the truth.
The Rabbit looked much calmer in the headlights than he did in Scotland at the time. Complacency set in and panic set in. That was convincing. Sports psychology was writ large every second.
Alex Mann took to the pitch on his debut and immediately scored his fourth try. One point separated the sides. Among the coaching staff, Gregor Townsend looked as if he had seen the ghost of Cardiff past.
dramatic Surrendered in 2010 It comes to mind when he was Andy Robinson's assistant. Leading by 10 points with three minutes remaining, Scotland lost.
That defeat will pale in comparison to the defeat that is now likely to befall Scotland. “Wait for the beer,” the boys of 2024 said to the boys of 2010.
Scotland conceded 26 goals through spin, 21 of which came from 14 players. Their mental weakness in the face of a rampaging Wales team was astonishing.
Luke Crosby was sent off injured, but his upset expression mirrored the expressions of all the Scotland supporters.
There's still a slight chance Crosby will be eligible for France on Saturday, but that's more than can be said for lineout centerpiece Richie Gray, whose championship may already be over.
Tuipulotu ended up becoming a back-row forward as Scotland continued to hang on. They rallied, won some possession, calmed down, but then lost their nerve again.
There was a lineout with three minutes left. Secure the ball, move the phase, and kill time. No, it's much more fun to fire a lineout throw over the top into Wales' hands.
At that point I would have wanted to bet my house on Wales. Scotland did not seem capable of saving itself. They looked exhausted. Beaten minutes.
To their credit, they found enough steel to confirm it. The team came within an inch of scoring a fourth try and van der Merwe a third, but it wasn't to be.
When it was over, there was no celebration or joy. The Scots just stood there, not knowing what to do with themselves.
Afterwards, some of them said they still couldn't understand what happened to them outside and how they ended up in a crisis situation. Rarely in the history of Scottish rugby has a victory felt so strange and bizarre.
The team's hotel review session will be traditional. Similarly, these meetings tend to take place in dark rooms.