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)

Awh maaan, I'm actually starting to feel sorry for Scotland...fans and players alike.

Ford lineout issue again. Nice try, but you have to wonder whether we would be doing this v 15 a little bit.

Losing your fullback shouldn't mean your forwards perform like a sack of crap.

Risca Rev wrote:Ford lineout issue again. Nice try, but you have to wonder whether we would be doing this v 15 a little bit.

No one jumped - not just Ford'd fault.

What will SJ say after this one:

Look i got mixed up last time i was here i was coaching red, ah feck it, we won didn't we!! those blue guys were shoite today. All this negativity is draining my man essence.

Ford threw it long, but no one made any effort to try and catch it...except Sam Warburton.

Seal clubbing is less one sided than this...

Oh for crissakes, this is too easy...

Look at the score, and we've got 25 minutes to go yet!

if Jiffy say's 'it's on' one more time i will turn it off.

Tipuric on!   

You know when Wales are winning well...the youngsters are on.

Really good link play from Wales, good handling on the backs and understanding of where each player will be in support.

Something England can aspire to.

Nice to see the Scottish fans singing anyway (even if it is beer induced...)

Those Scotland fans at the Millenium are quality!!!!
"Ohhh flower of Scotland"

GLove39 wrote:Those Scotland fans at the Millenium are quality!!!!
"Ohhh flower of Scotland"

Absolute top notch. Here are the predicted scrum woes.

GLove39 wrote:Those Scotland fans at the Millenium are quality!!!!
"Ohhh flower of Scotland"

The visiting Scottish fans are always quality. Seen loads of them about yesterday in town. Got to applaud their enthusiasm.

The Fat Hairdresser on.

Great to see from the Scot fans, and a response from the Welsh. The game was over as a contest once Hogg was sent off, but fair play to the fans for helping to create a great atmosphere nonetheless.

If we can keep this below 70 I'll take it as a positive.

There they go hopefully

I know there's a bit of a lull at the minute, but I wish the cameras would stop showing fans all the time. I would like to see what is (or what isn't) going on the pitch.

Biggest ever win for Wales over Scotland coming up... eclipsing the 46-22 in 2005.

This must be the biggest ever aggregate score for a 6N weekend too.
110 points scored already and 1.25 games to go.

We need another drop goal from Meatball to create excitement!

The IRB have clarified the ref was allowed to use the screen.

ooh nearly an interception! And a man losing his shirt! Excitement at last!

To be fair my MOM right now is Denton, to perform like that in a failing side is outstanding

Gatland sends Hook on   

JAMES HOOK IS ON AT LAST!   

Don't like some "fans" booing Priestland. Pathetic.

Next scores the winner anyone?

Risca Rev wrote:The IRB have clarified the ref was allowed to use the screen.

Good to know. And makes sense but does mean whether the TV people show something or not can influence the game, which I think is the argument against it.

Cari wrote:I know there's a bit of a lull at the minute, but I wish the cameras would stop showing fans all the time.  I would like to see what is (or what isn't) going on the pitch.

Exactly Cari.
I hate it when the cameras spend too much time on the fans at the end of matches. I'd much rather see the looks on the players faces as they shake hands, etc. They are the main subjects... surely. It's OK to show the coach for a second or 2... but not much longer than that right at the moment of celebration/exhaustion.

Arrrrrgh noooo Weir!!!   

Why kick then Weir, keep it in the hands and a try...

Linebreaker wrote:

Cari wrote:I know there's a bit of a lull at the minute, but I wish the cameras would stop showing fans all the time.  I would like to see what is (or what isn't) going on the pitch.

Exactly Cari.
I hate it when the cameras spend too much time on the fans at the end of matches. I'd much rather see the looks on the players faces as they shake hands, etc. They are the main subjects... surely. It's OK to show the coach for a second or 2... but not much longer than that right at the moment of celebration/exhaustion.

It just annoyed me a little bit there because obviously something was delaying the scrums but we don't know what because the cameras would rather show pished people being silly on telly.   If it was radio they'd be describing what was going on not "There's some happy looking Welsh fans with pints..."

couple of times jd2 should have given it to george north

Hell of a first cap for Dougie Fife.

Thought fife has done well on his debut - not the easiest game for him!

JD2's grubbers: 60% of the time, they work every time

Haha, the Irish fan with 'been here 3 days and haven't seen the Eiffel Tower'. That's why we like shots of the crowd.

Ha! Top Irish fan there with the sign saying "I've been here three days, and I still haven't seen the Eiffel Tower".

much improved scottish perf this 1/4, retained possession and much more pace and purpose

Love it

The flurry of Welsh changes has disrupted their rhythm but kudos to the Scots for showing some resilience after that quick score following HT. Naturally the scoreline doesn't look good but it could have been much worse, they've shown some good character under difficult circumstances

Players should be fined for needless kicking the ball away...

True that. We've only got nine minutes to go, and at one point it looked like we'd get into the 70s..

Great Scottish tackle!

Yeah credit to Scotland for making the last 20 minutes competitive!

See now, what was the point of that?! She just looked bored and he looks like he should be at the cricket or something.

Superb ball retention by the pretty lady

Indeed. Scotland seemed to get it together and have done very well after an early red card.

Johnson looks unwell...   

Who's MOTM then? Hoggy...?   

ALPanorak wrote:The flurry of Welsh changes has disrupted their rhythm but kudos to the Scots for showing some resilience after that quick score following HT. Naturally the scoreline doesn't look good but it could have been much worse, they've shown some good character under difficult circumstances

Agree with all that aye.