6N Round 2: Scotland v Wales, 15 February

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SCOTLAND v WALES
Sunday 15 February 2015
KO 15:00 (GMT)
BT Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Live on BBC1

Referee: Glen Jackson (NZR)
AR1: George Clancy (IRFU)
AR2: Dudley Phillips (IRFU)
TMO: Simon McDowell (IRFU)

A. Teams:

1. SCOTLAND

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors);
14 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors);
13 Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors);
12 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors);
11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby);
10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors);
9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester);

1 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby);
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby);
3 Geoff Cross (London Irish);
4 Richie Gray (Castres);
5 Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors);
6 Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors),
7 Blair Cowan (London Irish);
8 Johnnie Beattie (Castres);

16 Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors);
17 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors);
18 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors);
19 Jim Hamilton (Saracens);
20 Alasdair Strokosch (USA Perpignan);
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby);
22 Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby);
23 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby);

2. WALES

15 Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon)
14 Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues)
13 Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
12 Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro)
11 Liam Williams (Scarlets)
10 Dan Biggar (Ospreys)
09 Rhys Webb (Ospreys)

01 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues)
02 Richard Hibbard (Gloucester)
03 Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys)
04 Jake Ball (Scarlets)
05 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
06 Dan Lydiate (Ospreys)
07 Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT)
08 Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons)

16 Scott Baldwin (Ospreys)
17 Paul James (Bath Rugby)
18 Scott Andrews (Cardiff Blues)
19 Luke Charteris (Racing Metro)
20 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)
21 Mike Phillips (Racing Metro)
22 Rhys Priestland (Scarlets)
23 Scott Williams (Scarlets)

B. Form (last 4 games):

1. SCOTLAND

07/02/15 - France 15 - 8 Scotland

22/11/14 - Scotland 37 - 12 Tonga

15/11/14 - Scotland 16 - 24 New Zealand

08/11/14 - Scotland 41 - 31 Argentina

2. WALES

06/02/15 - Wales 16 - 21 England

29/11/14 - Wales 12 - 6 South Africa

22/11/14 - Wales 16 - 34 New Zealand

15/11/14  - Wales 17 - 13 Fiji

C. Head to Head:

120 Played 120

48 Wins 69

69 Losses 48

3 Draws 3

180 Tries 227

80 Conversions 112

130 Penalties 142

30 Drop Goals 25

1,204 Points 1,578

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'd just settle for a Glasgow loss

LOLmageddon.

Scotland woman are abysmal - they only scored 5 points last entire 6N!

That one is definitely in the bag!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Scotland woman are abysmal - they only scored 5 points last entire 6N!

That one is definitely in the bag!

I think Visser doubles up as their defence coach! They remind me of Edinburgh under Moffat.

Risca Rev wrote:

IanBru wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:2-0 Scotland!

It's a relief to see Scotland take the series so quickly!

Since the last match is a dead rubber, could I suggest that Gatland & Co put out a development squad on Sunday? It will do wonders for youth development, and you'll come back stronger next year. You've got to think about the long term, folks.

Hold on a minute. When do the women play? We still have very very minuscule hopes of a draw

Tomorrow at 5pm.
Was looking back at the last 11 games for our women in the 6 nations.
Points scored 8. Points conceded 506!!!!!!!
1 try scored to 81 conceded

Haha. Maybe 2-1 and a series decider it is then.

Risca Rev wrote:Haha. Maybe 2-1 and a series decider it is then.

Looks that way

irnbrew wrote:Bedford Welsh if you look on here who started ripping Lyds apart it was the same Irish supporter who always went on a rant at the very mention of Lyds name all the way up to him being picked for the Lions.  Top back row 3 caps .As you said Lyds plays to orders of that i have no doubt tackle tackle and tackle again some don,t like it but then again they don,t pick the Welsh team  .Now get ready for the following rants that i am sure will follow

Are you talking about me? I think I commented first on Lydiate after one of the Welsh chaps did. If so, I resent being called Irish, I'm English!! Maybe Indian if you take a first glance, but definitely English!

BamBam wrote:[

Are you talking about me? I think I commented first on Lydiate after one of the Welsh chaps did. If so, I resent being called Irish, I'm English!! Maybe Indian if you take a first glance, but definitely English!

:-)

Heard Samson lee is out. Jarvis to start doesn't give me too much confidence oin the scrum.

Got to say I agree that lydiate is to limited. A couple of years ago he got away with it. The game has moved on and its justnot

Got to say I agree that lydiate is to limited. A couple of years ago he got away with it. The game has moved on and its just not enough to be a demon tackler. He offers absolutely nothing else. He can't carry for toffee (Wales had a real problem with a lack of ball carriers against England) neither does he turn over ball nor operate in the lineout. I just feel you have to have more than one string to your bow as a back row player in the international arena.

Esoteric post alert:

Any ideas on how one might see / hear the match from Nepal? VPN might be possible - other wise random bbc affiliated channels?

usual suspects for pirate feeds?

That is a Very Important suggestion... Will keep fingers crossed and see what works.

takethelongroad wrote:Esoteric post alert:

Any ideas on how one might see  / hear the match from Nepal? VPN might be possible - other wise random bbc affiliated channels?

if you want a sure fire winner skype a relative and get them turn on hd then put the laptop camera in front of the television.

worked for me

Now THAT is a good idea! Crowd sourcing at its best, thanks fella!

That's just brilliant!

wrfc1980 wrote:Got to say I agree that lydiate is to limited. A couple of years ago he got away with it. The game has moved on and its just not enough to be a demon tackler. He offers absolutely nothing else. He can't carry for toffee (Wales had a real problem with a lack of ball carriers against England) neither does he turn over ball nor operate in the lineout. I just feel you have to have more than one string to your bow as a back row player in the international arena.

I've never denied he is limited but as I said he plays the game he is asked to play and he still does that very well, one of the best about. If Gatland wanted something different (we all wish he did) then he wouldn't get in but until Gatland decides to change out style which he won't then we can all pick the Welsh side fairly easily bar the odd exception.

Genuine question for the Scots: do your boys cope well with the favourites tag? Wales teams never seem to cope well with it for some reason so Sunday and the underdogs tag suits us quite well I think. Is this sort of new ground for this Scottish team (being seen as favourites I mean)? Will it affect them negatively or positively, do you think?

Griff wrote:Genuine question for the Scots: do your boys cope well with the favourites tag? Wales teams never seem to cope well with it for some reason so Sunday and the underdogs tag suits us quite well I think. Is this sort of new ground for this Scottish team (being seen as favourites I mean)? Will it affect them negatively or positively, do you think?

Who is seeing us as favourites?

Not the media, or the fans and the Welsh team seem to be giving out the message that they expect to win. Given our recent record against Wales, how can we be favourites?

Scotland certainly don't cope with being favourites, but I wouldn't say we were favourites this weekend.

The bookies agree too!

IanBru wrote:That's just brilliant!

thanks
ive always known i was in the wrong business

Griff, I'm not sure we are favourites. Recent history must put you guys in that spot. We are rubbish and genuine no-hopers. Your boys are all world class, We have no chance. Hope that answers your question.

High spot of the long and tedious drive north yesterday was almost the stop at Tebay services and seeing the Welsh, and Ospreys, jerseys and remembering that young Pipetto will be experiencing his first match on Sunday. Almost, but that was eclipsed when just after driving over the border Dougie McLean came on the cd player and MrsPip got to be serenaded by myself and the young one, "Let me tell you that I love you and I think about you all the time Caledonia you're all I ever had" .
He may have been born in Essex but he knows where he comes from.
Mrs Pip however, believes that Scots who choose to live in exile and then sing about how much they miss their wee butt an ben should be shot on sight.
Finally, Dunbar-Bennett could seriously run rings round the doc and JD2, but let's hope the ball never gets out to the Welsh wingers.

Latest betting not that i ever bet is (from a welsh online website   )

The Welsh side are 4/7 to record the victory, with Scotland at 6/4, despite showing huge promise in their narrow defeat against France in Paris.

A Dragons win by one to 12 points is the favourite at 6/4, though, conversely, Ladbrokes have 2/1 on a Scots’ success by the same margin.

If punters want to narrow it down, an away win by one to five points is available at 9/2.

The first try betting still favours the speedsters on the wing, despite our 12/1 tip of last week, Rhys Webb, going over first at the Millennium.

Webb has been chipped in to 10/1 this time around, with Alex Cuthbert and Tim Visser joint favourites at 8/1.

It would be just like Liam Williams, though, to steal their thunder with the opening touchdown at 9/1.

Exciting Scotland fly-half Finn Russell is a big 28/1 for the first try, but he could be worth an anytime five-pointer at 7/1.

Griff wrote:Genuine question for the Scots: do your boys cope well with the favourites tag? Wales teams never seem to cope well with it for some reason so Sunday and the underdogs tag suits us quite well I think. Is this sort of new ground for this Scottish team (being seen as favourites I mean)? Will it affect them negatively or positively, do you think?

Are there any Scots who can remember what its like to have the favoutites tag?

Does anyone know what the script with Maitland is? He isn't listed on the injury list and one would assume a more conventional selection would be Maitland on the wing rather than Lamont as he offers just as much in defense and arguably more in attack?

Does anyone think this may have to do with his London Irish move? Do the SRU have a secret policy that if you opt to reject a contract from either Edinburgh or Glasgow you wont be picked for the National Team? Would certainly explain John Barcley's absence?

The only guys i can remember recently who moved south and are in the national team are Laidlaw and Cross and i could see how it would make sense for the SRU to allow them to move it certainly has re-invigorated Laidlaw.

Come to think of it has Cusitor been picked since he went to Sale? The only counter example i can remember recently is Ritchie Grey when he moved South two Years ago but he is Worth big Bucks Merchandising wise?

Prothero wrote:Does anyone know what the script with Maitland is? He isn't listed on the injury list and one would assume a more conventional selection would be Maitland on the wing rather than Lamont as he offers just as much in defense and arguably more in attack?

Does anyone think this may have to do with his London Irish move? Do the SRU have a secret policy that if you opt to reject a contract from either Edinburgh or Glasgow you wont be picked for the National Team? Would certainly explain John Barcley's absence?

The only guys i can remember recently who moved south and are in the national team are Laidlaw and Cross and i could see how it would make sense for the SRU to allow them to move it certainly has re-invigorated Laidlaw.

Come to think of it has Cusitor been picked since he went to Sale? The only counter example i can remember recently is Ritchie Grey when he moved South two Years ago but he is Worth  big Bucks Merchandising wise?  

Maitland is listed as injured on the Glasgow team announcement, his initial prognosis was that he would miss the first two games, hopefully he may play for Glasgow next weekend.

Cusitor did play in the AI's but is currently injured. He might have struggled to get picked on form as well!

asked and answered , but it would still look like a strange oversight to not include him on the Scotland injured list? He is a big name that the casual rugby fan would want a explanation for his absence? call me a paranoid conspiracy nut but ill be watching that situation with interest.

Paddy power have Wales as minus 4 on the handicapped so slight favourites.

I hadn't looked at the bookies odds to be honest. It was just the generally impression and/or feeling that I had from here and the media - Gatland's plan A being finally rumbled, one dimensional wales, form players not being picked, an under strength tight head option, a much improved scotland, the vern cotter factor, home advantage, etc.

Griff wrote:Genuine question for the Scots: do your boys cope well with the favourites tag? Wales teams never seem to cope well with it for some reason so Sunday and the underdogs tag suits us quite well I think. Is this sort of new ground for this Scottish team (being seen as favourites I mean)? Will it affect them negatively or positively, do you think?

Are we favourites?
I don't really know how the team cope. Its not something thats happened for a while

Look at me.
Look at our 6 Nations record against Wales.
Look at what happened the last time we played Wales.
Now back to me.

We are NOT favourites to win.

Favourites as in wooden spoon yes?

Even before last weeks game I was nervous about this game and after the two results from last week I am even less confident add to that the Lee injury and who the back ups now are then I think Scotland will have the edge up front.

Seeing how our line out fell apart then the Gray boys will fancy their chances at upsetting our ball as often as possible.

Been really impressed with Russell as well.

If we are to win then we have to hit the ground running like last week and get ourselves into the game, our big names have to stand up and be counted and I hope Li Williams gets the chance to show what he can do.

If we start like we finished last week then Scotland will win and win comfortably.

I agree with Bedford, I have little confidence in the Wales pack with Lee out makes it worse Wales may have no platform, Gatland paying very quickly for leaving A Jones out of the squad. I also agree with some of the comments regarding Lydiate we are badly missing the all around ability and size of R Jones another Gatland messed around, I am noy saying he should be in the squad as he is hardly playing due to various injuries. I still think I Evans should be in thw squad he is playing very well.

This will be a close game even if the Wales pack hold their own.

alun,

I have always liked Evans but while Bristol are in the Championship then I don't think he should be involved if they get promotion then hopefully he will come back into the reckoning.

Lydiate has been carrying a fair bit in his appearances for the Os but hardly carries for us which goes to show that Gatland is just picking him for his defensive capabilities and not asking him to do anything else and relying on others.

Ryan Jones moved to a championship team on his own accord. He ruled himself out by playing at that level. He was always a great No.6 in my eyes though.

If Gatland decides to change his style (doubt he will) then I think the Warbs/Tips combo could be a very good one if its given time to develop.

Warburton is no slouch at the tackle and can carry very well then you have the natural 'fetcher' in Tipuric. There are others out there to but as ever it will need a change in style/tactics which i don't think we will see anytime soon.

It gives a weight disadvantage in the back row though. Our U20 team has a proper 6, 7 and 8 - that should be the balance we're going for instead of this Wasps style combo.

Gatlands plan A hasn't been rumbled, year after year teams know how Wales are going to play and what they need to do to stop it, the problem is actually stopping it.

You need to be and strong enough to beat Wales around the break downs and get North and Cuthbert before they hit any spaces or build up any momentum.

Scotland have beaten Wales only once in the last 12 games and that was when Gareth Jenkins was in charge. I just feel that Wales game plan makes it a lot easier to beat Scotland than anyone else in the 6 nations, at the same times it's clear the way Ireland play the game seems to always give them an edge when playing Wales.

I was very confident of Wales winning until I saw Jarvis had come into the team, in truth I think he's a hopelessly bad scrumager and isn't an international quality player. Personally I think Scotland will start well, but Wales will take the game in the last 20 minutes.

Gatland will have roasted them after last week, saying how the reason they lost was that they didn't execute Peak Warrenball. So tomorrow, I expect Wales to be talking in Kiwi, doing that droopy eyes thing, and throwing themselves off stepladders for the full 80 minutes.

Watch out, Scotland!

Any Welsh fans (Scottish fans welcome to comment too!) prefer to see Paul James on the tighthead (out of positon) rather than Jarvis? I have always thought James was our best scrummaging loosehead but he didn't look great when he came on for Gethin the other day. However, he's been asked to play TH for us in the past too. How has he gone? Did he embarrass himself or did he manage to hold his own? Parity is all I ask for tomorrow and I worry that Jarvis is not up to this level. Would James be better, even out of position???

P.s. Just to add - Paul James doesn't do much round the park, a common criticism when compared to Jenkins, but Adam Jones did little either apart from scrummage so I don't feel we'd be losing much at TH if he came in (as long as his scrummaging was ok).

Griff,

I thought he had a way better game than Jenkins last week and would have started him this week well and last week in fact. As to your original question then yes I would or at least have gone with Evans and James on the bench with James being the T/Head cover.

Even through the dark days of the 90s I have always been a glass half full supporter but I really don't know what to expect tomorrow, I know our style on its day is very good but more and more sides have now work us out and that's when we struggle as we just can't seem to adapt.

Whilst I admire Gatland for giving the players a chance to redeem themselves which they have done in the past I just hope he has the guts to sub players if they are not doing the job, no matter how big a name they are or how early in the game it is.

Bedford, what I meant was whether James should be starting TH over Jarvis? I hear (mainly on here) that Jarvis is a poor scrummager, and I know that Andrews is even worse, so would you start James at TH and Jenkins LH??? I quite like the look of that from row. Just not sure if James can cut it at TH these days?

In terms of the game, when I see England and Ireland play these days they seem so much more aggressive at the ruck, quicker to their feet (Woodward mentioned that about Ireland earlier), quicker at hitting the ruck, all quicker than Wales. We seem to do everything in slow motion. If we're slow tomorrow we can forget any chance of winning. We must hit the rucks like maniacs - that's how England and especially Ireland do it. We must get fast ball on our ball and disrupt ball on their ball. We cannot be pedestrian. Against England 2 years ago is the intensity we need in every game. Not just when we play England (obviously!).

Griff,

If Jenkins was starting then yeah I would be tempted to play James they have done it before.

So 2-1 it is (as expected). A glimmer of hope for a tied series, though I still fancy Scotland to wrap it up tomorrow. So worried by our scrum, that it's an easy target for Scotland for penalties and maybe at least one penalty try. We'll see, but I do think Scotland will win by about 8-10

I've had a few glasses of vino collapso and maybe that explains why I'm feeling like we will win. No reason why I feel this way. Apart from the wine. I just think maybe they will be driven by the 'stick' (as in, carrot and stick). They performed poorly last week so Gatland will have threatened them with the boot and I think they'll go hell for leather to turn things around. Why? We've seen this before. Opening game blues followed by a marked improvement in performance. However, it will need at least parity in the scrum. I think we can forget the lineouts with those Gray boys running the show. But scrum time needs to be stable so we can get some front foot ball (and not concede kickable penalties).

Risca Rev wrote:So 2-1 it is (as expected). A glimmer of hope for a tied series, though I still fancy Scotland to wrap it up tomorrow. So worried by our scrum, that it's an easy target for Scotland for penalties and maybe at least one penalty try. We'll see, but I do think Scotland will win by about 8-10

I am concerned you are correct in your analysis, I hope there are very few scrums but I have little confidence with the line out only having AW Jones as a main jumper hence my earlier comment about I Evans I prefer him on the bench.

I think that's the concern of us all, just hope it's still the doom n gloom hangover from last weekend.