Six Nations 2016 Wales vs Scotland

First topic message reminder :

Wales v Scotland

4:50pm - Saturday the 13th of February 2016

Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Teams

Wales
15 Liam Williams
14 George North
13 Jonathan Davies
12 Jamie Roberts
11 Tom James
10 Dan Biggar
9 Gareth Davies
1 Rob Evans
2 Scott Baldwin
3 Samson Lee
4 Luke Charteris
5 Alun Wyn Jones
6 Sam Warburton (c)
7 Justin Tipuric
8 Taulupe Faletau

Reps: Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins, Tomas Francis, Bradley Davies, Dan Lydiate, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Anscombe

Scotland

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Sean Maitland
13. Mark Bennett
12. Dunc Taylor
11. Tommy Seymour
10. Finn Russell
09. Greig Laidlaw (c)

01. Alasdair Dickinson
02. Ross Ford
03. Willem Nel
04. Richie Gray
05. Jonny Gray
06. John Barclay
07. John Hardie
08. David Denton

Reps: McInally, Reid, Fagerson, Swinson, Cowan, Hidalgo-Clyne, Weir, Lamont



Referee is unfortunately George Clancy (IRFU) which ruins the game generally.

Touch judges: John Lacey (IRFU) & Federico Anselmi (UAR)

TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)

mikey_dragon wrote:

BedfordWelsh wrote: Think I know which CV employers would see as the better one.
   

Are you sure Cotter coached the Crusaders? I thought Deans was their coach during all their years of dominance.

mikey,

I unashamedly copy and pasted off wikipedia so it could all be wrong lol.

Still think I know which CV most employers would prefer.

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:

PhilBB wrote:

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:
I'm afraid they are.

There's no shame in it Phil - they're better than most teams. In fact, after their 'poor' period lately, I'd say they are now definitely better than everyone bar NZ.

Put it this way, we've beaten them a couple of times lately-ish (home and away) and then lost by a point in the 1/4 finals.

Despite that, I'm realistic and honest enough to admit that they, in general, are a far better team than Scotland.

If they were much better then the score lines should reflect that. In fact, the score lines suggest something very different and, if you look at how the games have been played out, you'll find another pattern again.

Wales could easily have more victories against them, but for coaching, in the last 8 years.

Moral victories don't count Phil.

Phil of the Boys Brigade, you can't really believe that Wales are better than Australia. The fact they have beaten you in 12 times in 13 encounters suggests they are significantly better than Wales.

The fact that Wales have a similar record against Scotland suggests Wales are better than Scotland too.

I wouldn't say significantly Radge but without any shadow of doubt they are better. Saturday I want to see Amos replacing James on the wing and Liam retained at FB - Its probably going to be Priestland at 10 but maybe we can escape with that one. Also Lydiate instead of Tipuric - Lets get this show on the road and go and express ourselves

Gaaah the optimism is starting to creep back in!

Surely we'll be much better than last weekend?
Surely we were just rusty?
Surely we have better players than that?
Surely we can surprise Wales and pull off or first win in Wales since 2002 and against Wales since 2006?
Surely????

First win since 07, RDW. So not as long as 06. More positivity

RiscaGame wrote:First win since 07, RDW. So not as long as 06. More positivity

There we go - I'm even more optimistic!

I think it is France we haven't beaten since 2006...

It's pretty dire that we haven't beaten these teams for so long. I think a couple of pre-emptive sorrow drowning pints will be required on Saturday.

At least Ireland should wallop France which will be fun.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Gaaah the optimism is starting to creep back in!

Surely we'll be much better than last weekend?
Surely we were just rusty?
Surely we have better players than that?
Surely we can surprise Wales and pull off or first win in Wales since 2002 and against Wales since 2006?
Surely????

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

We're doomed I tell you - doomed!

Wales team to face Scotland: Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Tom James; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Scott Baldwin, Samson Lee; Luke Charteris, Alun Wyn Jones; Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.

Reps: Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins, Tomas Francis, Bradley Davies, Dan Lydiate, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Anscombe

No surprises other than Mr Biggar fighting off the sprain to his ankle...!

Good news I hope.

maestegmafia wrote:No surprises other than Mr Biggar fighting off the sprain to his ankle...!

Good news I hope.

Yeah - little worrying. No Amos which is annoying as he could have played against Craggy Island this evening

15. Stuart Hogg
14. Sean Maitland
13. Mark Bennett
12. Dunc Taylor
11. Tommy Seymour
10. Finn Russell
09. Greig Laidlaw (captain)

01. Alasdair Dickinson
02. Ross Ford
03. Willem Nel
04. Richie Gray
05. Jonny Gray
06. John Barclay
07. John Hardie
08. David Denton

16 McInally
17 Reid
18 Fagerson
19 Swinson
20 Cowan
21 Hidalgo-Clyne
22 Weir
23 Lamont

munkian wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:No surprises other than Mr Biggar fighting off the sprain to his ankle...!

Good news I hope.

Yeah - little worrying. No Amos which is annoying as he could have played against Craggy Island this evening

Aye

I heard father Dougal was glad not to see him in the team.

It's not a surprise for them to go with two subs who can cover fullback and flyhalf though over a winger/fullback I guess

nickj wrote:15. Stuart Hogg
14. Sean Maitland
13. Mark Bennett
12. Dunc Taylor
11. Tommy Seymour
10. Finn Russell
09. Greig Laidlaw (captain)

01. Alasdair Dickinson
02. Ross Ford
03. Willem Nel
04. Richie Gray
05. Jonny Gray
06. John Barclay
07. John Hardie
08. David Denton

16 McInally
17 Reid
18 Fagerson
19 Swinson
20 Cowan
21 Hidalgo-Clyne
22 Weir
23 Lamont

Cheers mate...!

A couple of changes there looks interesting

I'm not convinced Biggar is fit. I think he will drop out. Hasn't even trained this week yet.

I thought there may be a change in the back row (Lydiate for Tipuric) and maybe Owens for Baldwin

I didn't know Matt Scott was carrying a knock. Other than that, we're giving the same 23 a chance. Personally I hoped we'd have Strauss on the bench and Dunbar was back fit to take Schlong's slot on the bench.

RiscaGame wrote:I'm not convinced Biggar is fit. I think he will drop out. Hasn't even trained this week yet.

I thought there may be a change in the back row (Lydiate for Tipuric) and maybe Owens for Baldwin

I concur... I thought Owens might have edged a reasonably poor effort last week by Baldrick.

Same thoughts re Lydiate I guess he may come in for the next games? Depends how well we do at playing a wide open game

Slightly better bench this week without Cuthbert. I'm still not convinced on Biggar's fitness either.

Shame for Matt Scott - hopefully it's not too serious.

Given that we struggled with England's physicality at times it is a worry he's not changed anything in his selection to rectify that against an equally physical Wales team.

Why Swinson???

I quite fancy this for Wales, provided we aren't crushed by their pack, them I'm happy Wales can run over their backs.
Wales have a faster back row so provided we get the ball away quickly I fancy us for 3-5 tries. We have the fire power on the field to hurt them.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Shame for Matt Scott - hopefully it's not too serious.

Given that we struggled with England's physicality at times it is a worry he's not changed anything in his selection to rectify that against an equally physical Wales team.

Why Swinson???

Swinson brings physicality. He will happily lamp someone in the maul.

Happy to see Dunc Taylor get a chance and Bennett should be better a week further removed from injury. Shame about Scott, hopefully him and Dunbar are okay for the Italy game.

Shifty wrote:I quite fancy this for Wales, provided we aren't crushed by their pack, them I'm happy Wales can run over their backs.  

There is a marked difference in physicality in the backlines - Duncan Taylor is our biggest back and, although not small, he's not a massively physical player. Certainly not big enough to compensate for the smaller players around him.

I expect Wales to aim to get across the gainline a lot against the Russell-Taylor-Bennett midfield.

Scotland's backline looks awesome, they just need to refrain from brain farts (Hogg).

Yeah, I reckon the coaches always take the first two games as a block and keep changes to a minimum. Any changes will be made for Rome, so hopefully we see Dunbar, Strauss and Toolis come onto the bench.

mikey_dragon wrote:Scotland's backline looks awesome, they just need to refrain from brain farts (Hogg).

If Scotland keep 15 players on the pitch against us that will be a huge improvement for them.

Hogg is a huge bell whiff mind.

Head Coach Vern Cotter today named one change to the Scotland team to start against Wales in Cardiff this Saturday (13 February, kick-off 4.50pm) – live on BBC.

Both teams go into the match seeking their first win of the 2016 campaign, after the Scot’s home loss to England (15-9), and Wales’ 16-16 draw with Ireland in Dublin.

The selection of 26-year-old Saracens centre Duncan Taylor in midfield is one of two changes to the 23-man squad – promoted from the bench to partner Mark Bennett after Matt Scott injured his quad in training yesterday – with Sean Lamont taking the vacated place among the replacements.

The match will be Taylor’s fifth start in 14 caps for Scotland, and his first since the 2014 summer tour win over USA (24-6), with an untimely succession of injuries curtailing his involvement for the national team over the past two seasons.

Despite missing out on international opportunities, Taylor has excelled for his club side, building on their English Premiership title success last season with stirring performances in the current campaign.

All else is unchanged for the men in dark blue meaning Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour make up the back three, with the backs completed by Finn Russell and captain Greig Laidlaw.

The unchanged pack will again see John Barclay, John Hardie and David Denton in the back-row, and brothers Jonny and Richie Gray at lock, behind the all-Edinburgh Rugby front-row of Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford and Willem Nel.

Scotland Head Coach, Vern Cotter, said: “This group have worked exceptionally hard this week to improve their accuracy under pressure after a frustrating opening game against England.

“We created opportunities that could have been capitalised upon, and converted into points.

“As a team we know we can perform better and believe we’re capable of making improvements all over the park.

“We know that Wales in Cardiff will not be easy but our focus is on improving our attacking and defensive mindset.”

Scotland team to face Wales at the Principality Stadium this Saturday (13 February, kick-off 4.50pm) – live on BBC

15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 39 caps; 9 tries, 2 pens, 51 points

14. Sean Maitland (London Irish) – 21 caps; 3 tries, 15 points
13. Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors) – 14 caps, 6 tries, 30 points
12. Duncan Taylor (Saracens) – 13 caps
11. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 23 caps; 11 tries, 55 points

10. Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 16 caps, 2 tries, 3 cons, 1 pen, 19 points
9. Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester) CAPTAIN – 47 caps, 4 tries, 57 cons, 107 pens, 455 points

1. Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 53 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
2. Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 95 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
3. Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) – 9 caps, 1 try, 5 points
4. Richie Gray (Castres) – 52 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6. John Barclay (Scarlets) – 46 caps; 3 tries, 15 points
7. John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) – 6 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
8. David Denton (Bath Rugby) – 33 caps

Substitutes
16. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) – 3 caps
17. Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 16 caps
18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap
19. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps
20. Blair Cowan (London Irish) – 16 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
21. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby) – 8 caps
22. Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) – 21 caps, 2 tries, 6 cons, 10 pens, 1 drop, 55 points
23. Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors) – 101 caps, 14 tries, 70 points

Unavailable through injury: Adam Ashe (shoulder), Fraser Brown (ankle), Alex Dunbar (posterior thigh), Grant Gilchrist (groin), Henry Pyrgos (wrist), Peter Horne (foot), Matt Scott (quad), Richie Vernon (Shoulder), Tim Visser (hamstring).

munkian wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Scotland's backline looks awesome, they just need to refrain from brain farts (Hogg).

If Scotland keep 15 players on the pitch against us that will be a huge improvement for them.

Hogg is a huge bell whiff mind.

Good player and a bit abrasive. Every team needs those. I don't remember him doing much to annoy me personally.

mikey_dragon wrote:

munkian wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Scotland's backline looks awesome, they just need to refrain from brain farts (Hogg).

If Scotland keep 15 players on the pitch against us that will be a huge improvement for them.

Hogg is a huge bell whiff mind.

Good player and a bit abrasive. Every team needs those. I don't remember him doing much to annoy me personally.

Taking Biggar out in the air, dropping a knee on Sanjay when he scored a try, faux acting injured and other general bellwhiffery.


There's abrasive then theres being a man sausage and being carded.

mikey_dragon wrote:

munkian wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Scotland's backline looks awesome, they just need to refrain from brain farts (Hogg).

If Scotland keep 15 players on the pitch against us that will be a huge improvement for them.

Hogg is a huge bell whiff mind.

Good player and a bit abrasive. Every team needs those. I don't remember him doing much to annoy me personally.

His sending off last time they played Wales in Cardiff was silly and in many ways ruined the game for both teams and their fans. It was an accident and I am sure we all hope it doesn't happen again.

Because the Welsh team is of course full of angels who are always on their best behaviour...

maestegmafia wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

munkian wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Scotland's backline looks awesome, they just need to refrain from brain farts (Hogg).

If Scotland keep 15 players on the pitch against us that will be a huge improvement for them.

Hogg is a huge bell whiff mind.

Good player and a bit abrasive. Every team needs those. I don't remember him doing much to annoy me personally.

His sending off last time they played Wales in Cardiff was silly and in many ways ruined the game for both teams and their fans. It was an accident and I am sure we all hope it doesn't happen again.

Accident ?  Really ? Why the red then ?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImYlu7THs9o

RDW_Scotland wrote:Because the Welsh team is of course full of angels who are always on their best behaviour...

Hense we expect the same of our guests

munkian wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:

munkian wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Scotland's backline looks awesome, they just need to refrain from brain farts (Hogg).

If Scotland keep 15 players on the pitch against us that will be a huge improvement for them.

Hogg is a huge bell whiff mind.

Good player and a bit abrasive. Every team needs those. I don't remember him doing much to annoy me personally.

His sending off last time they played Wales in Cardiff was silly and in many ways ruined the game for both teams and their fans. It was an accident and I am sure we all hope it doesn't happen again.

Accident ?  Really ?

Didn't look deliberate to me.

I just hope there are no incidents like this again. It made the game one sided and spooky the match.

I hope Scotland and Wales both play great rugby and the deserved team wins.

Duncan Taylor was slightly unlucky not to start last week on current form, he's probably a more solid player defensively than Matt Scott in any case so is a good pick against Jamie Roberts. Taylor is also a very good distributor and creates a lot of chances for others at Sarries so I hope he goes well at the weekend.
Still disappointed to see Swinson rather than Toolis on the bench and Denton will have to up his game significantly this week.

Before people really get on their high horses on Hogg, do we really need to?

It has been discussed to death in the past on these boards (as have Mike Brown, Liam Willaims etc) and generally always just leads to petty squabbling.

This thread has been very good so far so would quite like to avoid that!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Before people really get on their high horses on Hogg, do we really need to?

It has been discussed to death in the past on these boards (as have Mike Brown, Liam Willaims etc) and generally always just leads to petty squabbling.

This thread has been very good so far so would quite like to avoid that!

So you only encourage this on non Scotland threads then ?

munkian wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Before people really get on their high horses on Hogg, do we really need to?

It has been discussed to death in the past on these boards (as have Mike Brown, Liam Willaims etc) and generally always just leads to petty squabbling.

This thread has been very good so far so would quite like to avoid that!

So you only encourage this on non Scotland threads then ?

I wouldn't say I encourage it anywhere!

But particularly not on threads that have gone very well so far.

I have absolutely no optimism for this match at all, I'm in full Private Fraser mode. A comfortable win for Wales, bit of a shame as I'm going to the match but I'm looking forward to the atmosphere as it'll be my first experience of the piece of civil engineering formerly known as the Millenium stadium!

It did look deliberate, but it was dealt with. Given Hogg also publically apologised I've got no reason to be angry about it, nobody else should either (except hogg maybe).

Ah, sorry RDW_Scotland - that was George Carlin

munkian wrote:Ah, sorry RDW_Scotland  - that was George Carlin

He's a trouble maker - don't listen to him!

RDW_Scotland wrote:

munkian wrote:Ah, sorry RDW_Scotland  - that was George Carlin

He's a trouble maker - don't listen to him!

Fair enough !

Back on topic - Cotter has said he wants the roof closed !

They will. Weather is meant to be bad on Saturday, I believe. Laidlaw said it is weather dependant.

munkian wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

munkian wrote:Ah, sorry RDW_Scotland  - that was George Carlin

He's a trouble maker - don't listen to him!

Fair enough !

Back on topic - Cotter has said he wants the roof closed !

Weather looks alright doesn't it? Cloudy but shouldn't be much rain.

Can't see past a Scotland drubbing - but here's hoping I'm wrong!

If the players actually show up this week anything could happen...

Pleased Taylor's getting a start mind, arguably on better form than Scott at the moment, and finally in his preferred position... Reminds me a lot of Ansbro :'( Could this be a revolutionary move at IC in light of our luck with injuries to Dunbar and Scott?

NeilyBroon wrote:Can't see past a Scotland drubbing - but here's hoping I'm wrong!

If the players actually show up this week anything could happen...

Pleased Taylor's getting a start mind, arguably on better form than Scott at the moment, and finally in his preferred position... Reminds me a lot of Ansbro :'( Could this be a revolutionary move at IC in light of our luck with injuries to Dunbar and Scott?

Is 12 his preferred position? He's been on fire at 13 for Sarries this season.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

NeilyBroon wrote:Can't see past a Scotland drubbing - but here's hoping I'm wrong!

If the players actually show up this week anything could happen...

Pleased Taylor's getting a start mind, arguably on better form than Scott at the moment, and finally in his preferred position... Reminds me a lot of Ansbro :'( Could this be a revolutionary move at IC in light of our luck with injuries to Dunbar and Scott?

Is 12 his preferred position? He's been on fire at 13 for Sarries this season.

It's all relative!

Got to take some positives after last week's dire display!

I'm pretty pleased with the continuity from Cotter, and I fully understand why Taylor is in there opposite Jamie Roberts. Scott is a fine player but he's not the most robust in defence and we absolutely have to stop the Welsh carriers in their tracks for the full 80 minutes. Taylor, in short, is a better and more physical tackler than Scott.

Prediction time: Wales by 15.

That was another strange sub last week - why take Seymour off for Taylor on the wing? Especially with Bennett lacking match practice and probably blowing out his hoop.

Also, given that we were chasing the game why not bring Hidalgo-Clyne on to significantly up the anti?

It'll be a tough game, attritional. Hoping for a Wales win, but Scotland scare me, they look like a side who are on the cusp. Wales will really need to be on top this weekend, and play better than we did last week.