Wales v Scotland, 15 March

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Walesv Scotland  

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
15 March 2014, KO:14:45

Referee: Jérôme Garces (FFR)
First Assistant: Chris Pollock (NZR)
Second Assistant: Greg Garner (RFU)
TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)

A. Squads

1. Wales

Forwards: Paul James (Bath), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton Capt (Cardiff Blues), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets)

Backs: Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), James Hook (Perpignan), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

2. Scotland

Forwards: John Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (all Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low (London Irish), Moray Low, Pat MacArthur (both Glasgow Warriors), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson and Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors).

Backs: Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).

B. Previous Form

9 March 2013, Murrayfield
18 – 28 to Wales

12 February 2012, Millennium Stadium
27 – 13 to Wales

12 February 2011, Murrayfield
6 – 24 to Wales

13 February 2010, Millennium Stadium
31 – 24 to Wales

8 February 2009, Murrayfield
13 – 26 to Wales

9 February 2008, Millennium Stadium
30 – 15 to Wales

10 February 2007, Murrayfield
21 – 9 to Scotland

12 February 2006, Millennium Stadium
28 – 18 to Wales

13 March 2005, Murrayfield
22 – 46 to Wales

14 February 2004, Millennium Stadium
23 – 10 to Wales

30 August 2003, Millennium Stadium
23 – 9 to Wales (2003 Rugby World Cup preparatory game)

8 March 2003, Murrayfield
30 – 22 to Scotland

6 April 2002, Millennium Stadium
22 – 27 to Scotland

C. Teams

1. Wales

15 Liam Williams (Scarlets)
14 Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues)
13 Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)
12 Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro)
11 George North (Northampton Saints)
10 Dan Biggar (Ospreys)
09 Mike Phillips (Racing Metro)

01 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues)
02 Ken Owens (Scarlets)
03 Rhodri Jones (Scarlets)
04 Luke Charteris (Perpignan)
05 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
06 Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro)
07 Sam Warburton (CAPT – Cardiff Blues)
08 Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons)

Replacements:
16 Richard Hibbard (Ospreys)
17 Paul James (Bath Rugby)
18 Adam Jones (Ospreys)
19 Jake Ball (Scarlets)
20 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)
21 Rhodri Williams (Scarlets)
22 Rhys Priestland (Scarlets)
23 James Hook (Perpignan)

2. Scotland

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors)
14 Dougie Fife(Edinburgh Rugby)
13 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) 7
12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby)
11 Max Evans (Castres)
10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) vice-cpt

1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors)
2 Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons)
3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby)
4 Richie Gray (Castres)
5 Jim Hamilton (Montpellier)
6 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors)
7 Kelly Brown (Saracens) captain
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby)

Substitutes
16 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby)
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby)
18 Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors)
19 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors)
20 Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan)
21 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors)
22 Duncan Taylor (Saracens)
23 Jack Cuthbert (Edinburgh Rugby)

This is going to get ugly for Scotland...

that was comical by Phillips there. Running around like a headless chicken.

Poor from Cuthbert there, massive overlap wasted.

If Max Evans had got away with that intercept, that really would've lifted the game. Still, we can see some decent tries I hope...except that one. He was offside.

halfpenny who ?

Feck it. I'm Irish now.

So red card or not?

http://balls.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/hoggred.gif

Awh lovely pass from Foxy. J-Ro in!

Its going to get very ugly now.

Super Saturday is now turning into SuperSh1te day for me

IronMike wrote:So red card or not?

http://balls.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/hoggred.gif

That video shows red.

Poor Bloody Scotland. You are making us look better than we are, still think you have the makings of a good side but right now trying to do too much offload and getting wide when the smart thing to do woudl be to slow the game down

Dougie fife is having a busy debut!

IronMike wrote:So red card or not?

http://balls.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/hoggred.gif

Red card every day of the week.

It goes without saying (and yes its easier to play at home with an extra man) but its clear to see the upgrade at fly half, Biggar is running things very nicely - composed and attacking. This game could get ugly in the second half, but I think the referee got the red right.

Can't even vent by turning to the trusty #lackingclue, the mulleted muppet has many many failings but even he didn't tell Hogg to go out and behave list a prize Mr Winklechops!

I bet no other Scot feels a bad as Hoggy right now. I wouldn't like to be him...

No pressure on Ireland and France to produce the game of the weekend then!

really feel for the Scotts . can't celebrate against a team with a man down

Liam Williams looking good in attack as well

TheMildlyFranticLlama wrote:Can't even vent by turning to the trusty #lackingclue, the mulleted muppet has many many failings but even he didn't tell Hogg to go out and behave list a prize Mr Winklechops!

   definitely what I wrote

Wales have been pretty clinical, while Laidlaw's misses have hurt Scotland IMO. Nice to see Wales finally playing with a bit of freedom too.

Also, what's with all this swan-diving?

Yeah not a fan of the dives.

nathan wrote:that was comical by Phillips there. Running around like a headless chicken.

Nathan you can never bring yourself to say anything positive about Wales can you? Can't just be complimentary for once about a couple of well worked tries. It's people like you that mean I'll be cheering my heart out for Ireland to win tonight. Muppet

jimmyinthewell68 wrote:really feel for the Scotts . can't celebrate against a team with a man down

It's not Wales fault that Hogg did what he did. I think it was certain we were going to win, it'll just be a bigger margin. I'll celebrate, the French did in 2011.  

Not a fan of show boating either, especially since it was so easy and the game isn't exactly a contest.

Watch Hogg when Liam scores the first try.A little too pumped up methinks.

for the record I hate the diving too. Liam Williams can be an idiot

Wales really do blow hot and cold, when on form they are the best team in the 6N but when off, they look awful.

Even though there is a red card, still enjoying the match. Some quality handling skills by Wales on show.

tatterd wrote:for the record I hate the diving too. Liam Williams can be an idiot

1st International try why not. Playing out of his skin.

Taffineastbourne wrote:Watch Hogg when Liam scores the first try.A little too pumped up methinks.

Just like Williams did against Ireland then!   

Wales might surpass England's win over Italy this afternoon...

Great to see the Welsh playing and taking a few risks, even if they are now against 14 men. These kind of 'accidental' late hits to try and rattle the opposition have been going on all tournament (I'm looking at you, Farrell) and it might be a good thing in a wider sense that someone has finally been punished for it.

Fifty shades of Ashton

Exactly what I said earlier...in all fairness to Williams, that was his first international try, and you're going to be a bit excited. If he does it again though...  

Come on scotland ffs make a game of it

Not sure what this tells us?

Scotland would always struggle if they lost a man so early..

Cari wrote:Exactly what I said earlier...in all fairness to Williams, that was his first international try, and you're going to be a bit excited.  If he does it again though...  

We didn't mind when Shane did it?

There you go...a Scottish penalty leads to that. This is going to be a long second half...

So what can Scotland realistically try and do then?

Engine#4 wrote:Great to see the Welsh playing and taking a few risks, even if they are now against 14 men.  These kind of 'accidental' late hits to try and rattle the opposition have been going on all tournament (I'm looking at you, Farrell) and it might be a good thing in a wider sense that someone has finally been punished for it.

I'd prefer it if they all were punished tbh, but then consistency of officiating won't be something this tournament is remembered for

RDW_Scotland wrote:

Taffineastbourne wrote:Watch Hogg when Liam scores the first try.A little too pumped up methinks.

Just like Williams did against Ireland then!   

That makes it alright then  

This could be an epic thumping for the Scots... they're falling apart.

Wowsers...15 phases from Scotland here...

RDW_Scotland wrote:So what can Scotland realistically try and do then?

Work out a way of preventing SJ having any further involvement with Scottish rugby?

Oh dear...that was a bad line out for Scotland...and another try for Wales.

Not even jumping in the lineout - what did they discuss in that huddle??

Thumping.

bloody hell when doc can even score 2 you know you're in trouble...........

Somebody throw in the towel, stop the fight! They're killing them out there.

Fair play to Wales, they're putting some lovely rugby together