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.

Just checked the stats, and the fact Lydiate got MOM is baffling to be honest. He made the least tackles of the welsh back row, missed the most, and made very few metres. I thought he was the least effective of the three, and Denton/Rennie were much better than any of the welsh back row. Strockotch was the worst. I think Shingler looks good though, not by any means a 7, but he looks like an aggressive Tom Croft-esque player.

Morgannwg wrote:Risky, we've applauded Scotland on their performance. A performance that we had predicted. If you seen anything in the build up to think we took your team for granted then I assure you it was by the same poster who has 20 accounts. gnollbeast, etc...

Morgannwg wrote:How is it even a question, he claimed Wales were offside all game. It's just good defence and you're bitter about it. In fact, we still hold the record in that department. Perhaps Scotland can match it on the opposite by 'scoring' two tries in the tournament .

I am not bitter about anything. Someone asked a legitimate questions and you shot it down. Unless I have the context wrong and you were not referring to the deliberate knock on,

Rory_Gallagher wrote:I have no idea.. however Scotland were on the attack, a pass was made but seemed to be obstructed by a Welsh hand.. then Davies kicks it down the field and De Luca tackles him off the ball. Like I said they never replayed it, so I could be totally wrong. But that is what I thought I saw in real-time. Would like to check again..

Look at the highlights on the BBC website

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17005630

One 1min 16sec in. Knock on ?

The good thing is that Poite got so many things wrong (as did his linesmen) there is no stand out talking point on which the game turned. He let both sides get away with all sorts. It's to their credit that it was a spectacle at all.

Hard to see as it isn't slowed down, but it does look like Roberts may have knocked that on. I guess it doesn't matter now anyway, but I did think that is what happened at the time.

EDIT: I don't think it looks like it was purposefully knocked on after seeing that however. Seems like Roberts committed to the tackle, and knocked it on in the process.

gm - as I have already explained to you there was no question asked. There was a claim made. Here I'll even help you:

justified sinner wrote:That has got to be the worst ref I've ever seen. Wales offside the whole game. Deliberate knock on, should have been a card, led to the move that got NDL a card, rightly. Disallowed a good try and gave a knock on at end of 1st half when it was Jenkins. Rubbish.

We just have a good defence and there's been bitterness about it from a few posters. The fact that you're dismissing my comments on the matter is insulting when it is there for all to see.

As he said, he thought you were referring to my question about the knock-on.

It was quite obvious that I weren't.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Hard to see as it isn't slowed down, but it does look like Roberts may have knocked that on. I guess it doesn't matter now anyway, but I did think that is what happened at the time.

EDIT: I don't think it looks like it was purposefully knocked on after seeing that however. Seems like Roberts committed to the tackle, and knocked it on in the process.

Rory I also thought at the time it may have been a knock on and even seeing it again I'm not sure. With a liittle bit of Scottish I bias I would say as yourself. That is a knock on but not deliberate. Not blaming the ref for that though as it is marginal. I think that we lost the game on the last play of the first half and first play of the second. From the possibility of being 10-3 up we were 10-3 down. When Wales got their chances they were clinical which Scotland weren't. So well done Wales

Morgannwg wrote:gm - as I have already explained to you there was no question asked. There was a claim made. Here I'll even help you:

justified sinner wrote:That has got to be the worst ref I've ever seen. Wales offside the whole game. Deliberate knock on, should have been a card, led to the move that got NDL a card, rightly. Disallowed a good try and gave a knock on at end of 1st half when it was Jenkins. Rubbish.

We just have a good defence and there's been bitterness about it from a few posters. The fact that you're dismissing my comments on the matter is insulting when it is there for all to see.

You were offside a lot in the first half, but Scotland passed forward a lot in the first half. Which was silly, as it made getting any pace on the ball impossible

Glas a du wrote:The good thing is that Poite got so many things wrong (as did his linesmen) there is no stand out talking point on which the game turned. He let both sides get away with all sorts. It's to their credit that it was a spectacle at all.

+1

Morgannwg wrote:gm - as I have already explained to you there was no question asked. There was a claim made. Here I'll even help you:

justified sinner wrote:That has got to be the worst ref I've ever seen. Wales offside the whole game. Deliberate knock on, should have been a card, led to the move that got NDL a card, rightly. Disallowed a good try and gave a knock on at end of 1st half when it was Jenkins. Rubbish.

We just have a good defence and there's been bitterness about it from a few posters. The fact that you're dismissing my comments on the matter is insulting when it is there for all to see.

Fair enough I thought you were replying to Risky's post, when it was the one above it which you were referring to. It was still a deliberate knock on though.

Wales trod a very thin line with the offside i thought. Incredibly quick out of the defensive line and superb defense but there was the odd occasion that they strayed offside.

That said, Scotland were also guilty of straying offside and Poite didnt ping them either so it evens itself out.

If Wales defend like that against England then I cant see where England will create chances to be honest.

eirebilly wrote:Wales trod a very thin line with the offside i thought. Incredibly quick out of the defensive line and superb defense but there was the odd occasion that they strayed offside.

That said, Scotland were also guilty of straying offside and Poite didnt ping them either so it evens itself out.

If Wales defend like that against England then I cant see where England will create chances to be honest.

Chargedowns?

ChequeredJersey wrote:

eirebilly wrote:Wales trod a very thin line with the offside i thought. Incredibly quick out of the defensive line and superb defense but there was the odd occasion that they strayed offside.

That said, Scotland were also guilty of straying offside and Poite didnt ping them either so it evens itself out.

If Wales defend like that against England then I cant see where England will create chances to be honest.

Chargedowns?

Seriously though, i cant see England creating too much if Wales defend with the same speed against them as they did against Scotland today.

I thought a knock on on first seeing it - not clear on that clip tho

I think it's fairly obvious Roberts didn't touch the ball before the JD binning, having run it through slowly a few times.

Think we need an official ''apology to all England fans for Wales winning'' thread, it's obviously very upsetting for them

"Winning, anyone? Rhymes with winning. Anyone? Yeah, that would be us. Sorry, man, didn’t make the rules. Oops!"

RF86, the only thing is, it seems to be one or two blokes under different names.

I hope Scotland get some wins in their other games. I don't see why they shouldn't.

I don't know how I managed to miss the Wales sin binning. Although at the 80 minute mark it's no more than a token.

As expected Wales won and Scotland huffed and buffed but couldn't blow down a house of cards.

Scotland will no doubt come away with some moral victory on scoring a try!!
That's why Scotland will always be average because they are happy with average.

Well done Wales a young team and another new cap to our squad and still saw off a Scottish team who lay all over the ball to stop the embarrassment of to many tries against.

I think Wales occasionally strayed on-side but rarely...

Seriously though, you can't blame Wales for playing the ref. when the ref isnt punishing you why should you change a winning tactic? The rush defence was excellent, and credit to both sides for a great spectacle.

I would have liked Scotland to be awarded the try, they earned it to my mind, but Wales were overall the better side. Well done Wales - big improvement Scotland.

viewtothegym wrote:As expected Wales won and Scotland huffed and buffed but couldn't blow down a house of cards.

Scotland will no doubt come away with some moral victory on scoring a try!!
That's why Scotland will always be average because they are happy with average.

Well done Wales a young team and another new cap to our squad and still saw off a Scottish team who lay all over the ball to stop the embarrassment of to many tries against.

This is a tough one, but I am going to give you 7/10 for trolling (WUMing on this board). You lost marks for being too obvious.

viewtothegym wrote:Scotland will always be average because they are happy with average.

Gracious in victory again, View.

Good first half.Scotland imploded for 10 minutes at the start of second-half which killed the game.
Nobody was "robbed" today so I find the carping about the ref a bit sad.
Scoreline was about right.Not a classic but fairly entertaining.Lydiate was superb.Wish we had a genuine contender for 9 position.Hope Ryan Jones will be ok.If he doesnt make it we are in deep do-do against England.Hopefully we will have time to get some sort of 2nd row.Wales 7/10 Scotland 6/10.

Just wondering what it is that Lydiate did that was so superb?

Taffineastbourne wrote:Good first half.Scotland imploded for 10 minutes at the start of second-half which killed the game.
Nobody was "robbed" today so I find the carping about the ref a bit sad.
Scoreline was about right.Not a classic but fairly entertainng....Wales 7/10 Scotland 6/10.

+1

Well said, Taff, an excellent summation. Well done Wales

Lydiate closed down any attack around the ruck forcing the ball to go out to 10 and beyond which Wales were happy to defend all day.

Scotland's ball carriers whom may i add are very mobile and destructive had little room because of lydiates work rate.

He made the least tackles and missed the most out of the welsh backrow, and made the least metres with ball in hand. He was fairly outplayed by Denton and Rennie also.

Rory if you don't understand what he did i guess im beating my head against the wall,
Shingler and Faletau did more cover tackles around the pitch and are able to do this because Lydiate stays close to the ruck.

But hey if your happy to rubbish it thats your choice even thou the pundits reckon his work rate was immense.

His work rate was good, but no better than Denton or Rennie, or Gray either. And since tackling is meant to be his greatest asset, or so I am told, he was average in that regard.

RuckingFlanker86 wrote:Think we need an official ''apology to all England fans for Wales winning'' thread, it's obviously very upsetting for them

We certainly do.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:He made the least tackles and missed the most out of the welsh backrow, and made the least metres with ball in hand. He was fairly outplayed by Denton and Rennie also.

Rory,never mind the stats which are often suspect.Watch the game again and I hope all will be revealed.The fact that Wales won with less ball tells me that our backrow + Gethin were doing something right.Where were his tackles?When were his tackles?Against whom were his tackles?Dont rely on stats,try using appreciation of Rugby.

Wales won. Just. Because they were the better team.

Full stop.

At the time he was given MOM I said that is a strange call, as I thought he wasn't that effective, and that the likes of Jones and Jenkins were much more effective. I checked the stats to see if he had done a whole lot, and he hadn't according to them. Whereas it was quite clear the difference Rennie, Gray and Denton made to the scottish pack, and it showed on the stats also.

In fairness Rory, i thought that Lydiate had a stormer. He was everywhere and disrupted Scotland excellently. I thought that he was deserved of the MoTM.

Rory,Goodnight.There is none so blind as he who will not see.

Or maybe I just don't think he was as good as Denton, Rennie or Gray?

Rory I'm really sorry that a Scottish back row player or Gray didn't get MOTM, but there's nothing we can do now. Dry your eyes, go get a stiff drink and just try to get yourself through this difficult time in your life. I mean, at the end of the day, who MOTM is awarded to really, REALLY matters in the grand scheme of things.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:Or maybe I just don't think he was as good as Denton, Rennie or Gray?

Those three defo had good games as well but for me Lydiate was on song today.

And that is fair enough eirebilly, I asked what it is that Lydiate did so well as personally I didn't think he had as much of an impact, and when I checked the stats they seemed to prove it. Thanks for stating your opinion without resorting to petty insults at least.

Rory got an issue? Here's a tissue -

No probs Rory

There is alot of passion on the thread today, best to let the Welsh lads sit back and enjoy it on their own. They deserve a good party because their team is looking pretty damned good now

Jacobsen was MOTM for me.

Morgannwg wrote:Rory got an issue? Here's a tissue -

Glad you get your jokes off Austin Powers. You must be so proud!

Guys it's been fun,but Wales won and never looked like losing.
So it's over now get used to it and for that reason im out........of this thread and i wish Scotland the best of luck for the rest of the Six Nations.

If Lydiate wasn't man of the match it would be half penny.Faletau was brilliant too.

Rory - Wales well deserved the win. I agree Lydiate was fairly anonymous and for me Shingler was their best backrower. Scotland outplayed Wales by about 10% in the forwards but Wales were 50% better in the backs.

Gatland has to take the credit for the tactics and getting the players to execute them. I don't particularly like some of them like lying on the wrong side, holding on to players after the ball is long gone and lazy runners like Adam Jones but hey it's working and the ref is happy.

IMO Warren has nailed on the Lion's gig and will pick the whole Welsh backline although can't see more than one or two forwards making it.