Wales Vs Scotland - SUNDAY 12th FEBRUARY - KO 15:00 Gonna be a classic..!

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Wales Vs Scotland

Date: Sunday, February 12
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Millennium Stadium

Coverage: Live on BBC One Wales, BBC Radio Wales & online, S4C and Radio Cymru, plus live text and score updates on the BBC Sport website

Date: Sunday, February 12
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 15:00 (15:00 GMT)
Expected weather: Cloudy with a few showers likely. High of 5°C, low of 3°C
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
TMO: Giulio De Santis (Italy)



Scotland will encounter a Wales side oozing confidence when round two of the Six Nations concludes at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

The opening round of the Championship was a weekend of contrasting fortunes for the two sides.
Wales underlined their status as potential Six Nations champions with a rousing 23-21 victory over Ireland in Dublin. It was a wonderful advert for Six Nations rugby with two teams going at it hammer and tongs for a game won in the last 20 seconds.
That win came less than 24 hours after Scotland had started their challenge with a 13-6 loss to England at Murrayfield. The Scots created enough chances to have beaten their visitors last week, however simple errors coupled with a lack of tries led to another disappointing defeat for Andy Robinson's men, who have now lost three on the trot.
Just once in 13 attempts have Scotland won on the opening weekend of the tournament since Italy joined the Five Nations in 2000.
Scotland must now attempt to bounce back and beat the Welsh in their own back yard - something they have failed to achieve in a decade.
They came mighty close though in their last Cardiff contest after leading by ten points with seven minutes remaining, only for the now retired Shane Williams to score a last-gasp try to secure a dramatic 31-24 come-from-behind victory.
Winning away from home has been a wee bit of a problem for the Scots in the Six Nations, where they have won just once on the road since 2006 (23-20 against Ireland at Croke Park in 2010).
But despite Scotland's poor showing last weekend and dismal away record, Wales will do well not to underestimate Sunday's visitors who are expected to come out all guns blazing after asking for the Millennium Stadium roof to be closed.
With wet weather being forecast, Scotland - notwithstanding the apparent lack of abilities to score tries (at least in the past four games) - have backed themselves to take on Wales at their own expansive game.
"We cannot afford to underestimate Scotland, the amount of possession and territory they had against England last weekend meant that they should have won the game and they will come to the Millennium Stadium buoyed by that knowledge," said Wales coach Warren Gatland.
Wales have won the opening two games of a Six Nations campaign on just two previous occasions - in 2005 and 2008 - and each time they went on to win the title and Grand Slam. Three of the World Cup semi-finalists' remaining four games are in Cardiff, starting on Sunday when try-shy Scotland arrive at the Millennium Stadium.
But following Wales' heroics in Dublin, the build-up to Sunday's Test has been blighted by the suspension of Bradley Davies, who will miss the rest of this season's tournament after collecting a seven-week ban for a reckless tip-tackle on Ireland replacement Donnacha Ryan last weekend.
Davies is the second Wales player suspended for that offence this season following Sam Warburton's dismissal and three-week punishment for an incident in the World Cup semi-final against France last October.
Davies now joins his fellow World Cup locks Luke Charteris and Alun-Wyn Jones on the international sidelines. But in a triple boost for Gatland, flanker Dan Lydiate has recovered from an ankle injury to reclaim the number six shirt, prop Gethin Jenkins has recovered from knee trouble to start and skipper Warburton also features after being in doubt with a leg injury.
However, Warburton has been wrapped in cotton wool this whole week and took a very limited part in training while staying clear of any contact work. Whether he actually leads the team out hangs in the balance and probably won't be known until the morning of the match.
In a game where the back-row battle will be absolutely crucial, everyone in the Welsh camp - and in Wales as a whole - will be keeping their fingers crossed that the inspirational skipper can defy the injury odds and help guide his team to back-to-back wins.
Wales are favourites, but nobody should have any illusions how tough this match will be...
Ones to watch:

For Wales: Former Wales captain Ryan Jones will, as expected, fill the second-row void against Scotland caused by Bradley Davies' seven-week suspension. Jones was exceptional at blindside flanker against Ireland in Dublin and his versatility is proving of immeasurable value to Gatland.
For Scotland: With Dan Parks calling it quits from Test rugby this week, Greig Laidlaw inherits the number 10 jersey for Scotland. The Edinburgh skipper won the first two of his three caps as a replacement scrum-half, before coming on at fly-half for Parks in the Calcutta Cup defeat to England. Yet an impressive display during the small amount of time he was on the pitch has been rewarded with his first Test start.
Head to head: Toby Faletau v David Denton. Scotland's Zimbabwean-born number eight Denton was deservedly named man-of-the-match following his Herculean ball-carrying against England last Saturday, and much of the same will be required against the tough as nails Faletau, who will always be found where the battle is at its most ferocious.

Recent results:
2011: Wales won 24-6, Edinburgh
2010: Wales won 31-24, Cardiff
2009: Wales won 26-13, Edinburgh
2008: Wales won 30-15, Cardiff
2007: Scotland won 21-9, Edinburgh
2006: Wales won 28-18, Cardiff
2005: Wales won 46-22, Edinburgh
2004: Wales won 23-10, Cardiff
2003: Wales won 23-9, Cardiff
2003: Scotland won 30-22, Edinburgh
Prediction: Neither history or form is with Scotland heading into this match, and while we're sure they'll give it a good crack - we just can't see Wales letting this one slip. Wales to win by nine points!
Rugby Union betting odds

The teams:

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Ryan Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Lou Reed, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 James Hook, 22 Scott Williams.

Scotland: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Sean Lamont, 11 Max Evans, 10 Greig Laidlaw, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 David Denton, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford (c), 1 Allan Jacobsen.

Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Ed Kalman, 18 Alastair Kellock, 19 John Barclay, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Duncan Weir, 22 Stuart Hogg.

Yeah I am not too impressed with Laidlaw, he telegraphs he passes and tends to stop at times when he is going to pass.

Lamont, Grey, rennie and Denton lloks very good for Scotland.

Cuthbert is looking dangerous for Wales.

North broke both his legs in the 6th minute and he needed to come off just before half time.

Good solid defence from Wales. Then the Wales 1 hands in the ruck and "knock on" Scotland

Scotland are a very decent side, if they had some more composure then i am sure that they would win loads more.

As an Irishman, i am very wary of them.

Good scot's scrum!! Good half.....worth watching. Scotland's forwards look to be getting the upper hand and you get the feeling if their 9 could pass without that step/dummy thing he does, the backs could do some damage as well. 55 - 45 to scotland that half by my reckoning! (If it comes down to the judges scorecard!)

Great half by both teams with Scotland edging it. Will Wales cryo-chamber conditioning give them the better legs in the second half?

Priestland looks off his breakfast for this one.

I dont think Scotland will ever have a better chance of beating Wales, Warburton before the game and now North, it has taken away a lot of Wales game.

So far- Laidlaw has not impressed that much tbh (lots of illegal passing, kicking from hand better than Parks but not great), but the Scots have learnt to catch and pass a bit better. Scottish forwards immense, Great defence from Welsh backs, Shingler and Ryan Jones also looking good. Wales looked very dangerous in attack but the lack of an openside is punishing them as Scotland own the breakdown. Some really good bits of individual play, not as good a game as last sunday but certainly a decent game

Morgannwg wrote:Blah Blah Wales are doing this. Pathetic comments. Poite is handing Scotland a lifeline and yet wales are getting away with murder. 606 is back.

Nobody's said anything untrue. Poite has been letting both teams get away with murder

ChequeredJersey wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Blah Blah Wales are doing this. Pathetic comments. Poite is handing Scotland a lifeline and yet wales are getting away with murder. 606 is back.

Nobody's said anything untrue. Poite has been letting both teams get away with murder

+1 Poite has been equally bad for both teams.

I think Poite has been shocking, so perhaps we see eye to eye.

He hasn't been great for either side. You can hardly say he is giving Scotland a life-line

Wales perpetually offside and handling the ball to slow down Scotland ball. Any decent ref would have put that Welsh 7 in the bin by now.

By the same token, Scotland getting away with the isolated ball carrier hanging on until support arrives.

Poor refereeing all around

Problem with Poite here is he might cost one of these two teams the match.

He doesn't know what is going on in the scrums, then guesses and awards a penalty.

He doesn't call forward passes, in the last move on the right hand side for Scotland, the ball Lamont recieved was forward amingst others.

He is allowing wales to keep hands on the ball at the rucks.

Scotland is going to have to wake up otherwise their possession will come to naught at the breakdown.

The last 20 minutes will be telling. Who has the strongest fitness

eirebilly wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:Blah Blah Wales are doing this. Pathetic comments. Poite is handing Scotland a lifeline and yet wales are getting away with murder. 606 is back.

Nobody's said anything untrue. Poite has been letting both teams get away with murder

+1 Poite has been equally bad for both teams.

You can almost forgive a ref for being shocking as long as its consistently carp for both sides...like today. I actually think its making the game a bit livelier than it might have been - its almost a case of 'right lads just crack on with it, lets not worry too much about those pesky rules'

biltongbek wrote:Problem with Poite here is he might cost one of these two teams the match.

He doesn't know what is going on in the scrums, then guesses and awards a penalty.

He doesn't call forward passes, in the last move on the right hand side for Scotland, the ball Lamont recieved was forward amingst others.

He is allowing wales to keep hands on the ball at the rucks.

Scotland is going to have to wake up otherwise their possession will come to naught at the breakdown.

+1

Wales are making more ground with ball in hand with Scotland. Scotland are having to fight for every inch and are often going backwards in attack.

Wales can simply spread it, run round a through a player and make ground.

Losing Warburton has killed us though.

62% possesion for Scotland.... thats loads...

I once again have mixed feelings in this game, I predicted Wales to win, but I really would like to see scotland score a try and even win.

I always wonder why people cry "offside" when a team has a good defence/line speed. Jealousy maybe

Wow. how much talk about Wales in this program. two teams.playing here

AlynDavies wrote:Wales are making more ground with ball in hand with Scotland. Scotland are having to fight for every inch and are often going backwards in attack.

Watch Laidlaw, he slows before he passes and then telegraphs the intended target, so Wales knows who to go for.

Welsh have been forced to put in a lot more tackles as Scotland have dominated possession somWales will probably tire. Let's see......

40 minutes to go, either they prove all the doubters wrong and finally put a winning game together or Wales have beaten them with half a side missing!

Morgannwg wrote:I always wonder why people cry "offside" when a team has a good defence/line speed. Jealousy maybe

Don't be daft.

Scotland the better team - silly errors and lack of composure killing them - as per. Can Scotland keep this up?

this games like a dry lunch- hopefully second half will keep me awake

Morgannwg wrote:I always wonder why people cry "offside" when a team has a good defence/line speed. Jealousy maybe

Lot of people crying offside because a lot of offside...

Lost the overlap then did Wales

Morgannwg wrote:I always wonder why people cry "offside" when a team has a good defence/line speed. Jealousy maybe

The Welsh have been offside, but if Poite isn't going to call it, why should they stop? They steal about half a foot to a foot on most rucks, but then Laidlaw steals as much with every pass

get in- good start- i am awake

Cuthbert!!!!! Well pleased for him

You beauty!!!!

Dreadful restart. Cost them.

Morgannwg wrote:I always wonder why people cry "offside" when a team has a good defence/line speed. Jealousy maybe

Yor spectacles a little red tinted my friend.

There is a good try by Cuthbert to set things right.

As Ben Cohen would say, "North who?"

ROG would have dumped Cuthbert there

Good try, well worked, my opinion of Laidlaw dropping every minute

Some news that may upset a few of you 'neutrals.' Wales score a try and take the lead. First test try for Cuthbert.

Well cuthbert has been the welsh player of the match so far, he deserves that.

And Laidlaw is the one who missed the tackle.

North went off as it was unfair having two giant monsters on the wings.

Don't worry Scotland - due for a Welsh tip tackle about now.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Good try, well worked, my opinion of Laidlaw dropping every minute

He has been poor.

That should of been yellow, thats a total píss take!!!!

are some sort of pedro

Yellowwwwwww

Well done linesman!
blatant to be honest

Silly, fair decision