6N 2018: Wales v Scotland, 3 February

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WALES v SCOTLAND
3 February 2018
KO: 14:15 GMT
Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Live on [ITV, RTE, SC4, FR2, DMAX / BBC (H)]

Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
Assistant 1: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant 2: Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: David Grashoff (England)

A. Head to Head

122 Played 122
70 Won 49
3 Drawn 3
49 Lost 70
1,624 Points 1,263

B. Recent Form

9 March 2013
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
18–28 to Wales

15 March 2014
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
51–3 to Wales

15 February 2015
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
23–26 to Wales

13 February 2016
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
27–23 to Wales

25 February 2017
Murrayfield, Edinburgh
29–13 to Scotland

C. Teams

WALES 

Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets); Josh Adams (Worcester), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets), Steff Evans (Scarlets); Rhys Patchell (Scarlets), Gareth Davies (Scarlets); Rob Evans (Scarlets), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Cory Hill (Dragons), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys, capt), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets), Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues), Ross Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements: Elliot Dee (Dragons), Wyn Jones (Scarlets), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Aled Davies (Scarlets), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues), Owen Watkin (Ospreys).

SCOTLAND

Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks); Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors); Gordon Reid (London Irish), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Jon Welsh (Newcastle Falcons), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray, John Barclay (Scarlets, captain), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), Cornell du Preez (Edinburgh).

Replacements: Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Murray McCallum (Edinburgh), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne), Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Saracens).

So you guys fell for an obvious windup? Hopefully your team does too.

Scottrf wrote:

R!skysports wrote:On another topic, did anyone listen to Eddie Jones on the 606v2 podcast - what a complete tool

Why is he a tool?

He played the total victim, making out that the whole world was unfair against him. Slagged of other nations. Made out that everyone was so mean to him and England and just came across as a unpleasant person

Scottrf wrote:So you guys fell for an obvious windup? Hopefully your team does too.

Not really, he just comes across as a petty unpleasant person

Come on guys, Eddie was put on this earth to make mischief through the media. Taking anything he says to them as a sign of his abilities as a coach is bonkers, he's just out to stir the pot

Cardiff Dave wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:I think Scarlet's run in Europe is over, as it looks like their backline has to play a whole 6 nations first.

Got used to that with Cardiff.
Often out of contention before xmas following the 4 nations bash.
There we are.

Claiming the 6 nations is responsible for Cardiff being poor in Europe is like Howley claiming responsibility for the Turks run of form

I note that the WRU are stating that due to increased security, fans need to get in early to avoid any delays.

Is this a ploy to get people buying their overpriced pish instead of pubs or can anyone confirm that it does take ages to get in?

Also.....are they searching bags/sporrans? Will they make me empty my hip flask?

I think every ground searches bags these days? I'd definitely prepare to get it searched. Put your hip flask in your coat?

If you prefer the pub to the pish then I suggest maybe watching the game on the TV? I'm sure the pubs will have it playing.

Probably the most annoying thing in the world for people that don't drink pish or need a pub is the late comers coming in their cattle stampedes into their late seats, all apologies and wobbly legged from the better version of pish in the pubs

There's a woman at the Saints who goes to the bar around an average of 2/3 times per half.

I wonder why she doesn't watch at the pub?

SecretFly wrote:If you prefer the pub to the pish then I suggest maybe watching the game on the TV?  I'm sure the pubs will have it playing.

Probably the most annoying thing in the world for people that don't drink pish or need a pub is the late comers coming in their cattle stampedes into their late seats, all apologies and wobbly legged from the better version of pish in the pubs  

Getting up every couple of minutes to let people get out to either pee or buy more beer requiring more pee breaks, then having to let them back in again. Grrrrr

SecretFly wrote:If you prefer the pub to the pish then I suggest maybe watching the game on the TV?  I'm sure the pubs will have it playing.

Probably the most annoying thing in the world for people that don't drink pish or need a pub is the late comers coming in their cattle stampedes into their late seats, all apologies and wobbly legged from the better version of pish in the pubs  

After spending £85 on a ticket, I'm going into that ground - late or not, avec or sans hip flask.

Yeah, there were complaints during the AIs because fans missed the start of the game due to increased security checks.  Hence the advice to get there earlier to allow time for the necessary checks.  Don't blame the WRU.  Blame ISIS.  Or America.  Or Blair.  Or wherever your politics lies.  Just don't blame the poor sods who are worried for your safety!

Edit: "are they searching bags/sporans?" Full body cavity searches last I heard, hence the delays

The Oracle wrote:Yeah, there were complaints during the AIs because fans missed the start of the game due to increased security checks.  Hence the advice to get there earlier to allow time for the necessary checks.  Don't blame the WRU.  Blame ISIS.  Or America.  Or Blair.  Or wherever your politics lies.  Just don't blame the poor sods who are worried for your safety!

Blame the overpriced pish?

SecretFly wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Yeah, there were complaints during the AIs because fans missed the start of the game due to increased security checks.  Hence the advice to get there earlier to allow time for the necessary checks.  Don't blame the WRU.  Blame ISIS.  Or America.  Or Blair.  Or wherever your politics lies.  Just don't blame the poor sods who are worried for your safety!

Blame the overpriced pish?

No, blame the overpriced pish for spoiling your enjoyment of the game once you're inside the stadium! Or Mecca, as I like to call it

Anyway enjoy the best stadium in the UK IMO.

They can't confiscate anyone's hip flask, surely?

(And don't call me Shirley....)

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:They can't confiscate anyone's hip flask, surely?

(And don't call me Shirley....)

They can stop you bringing alcohol into the ground, obviously.

Seem to remember a story about someone smuggling in beer to a stadium in two hot water bottles attached via a rope around the wearer's neck.  Gave the impression that the wearer was a bit tubbier around the middle than he actually was!  Surely the contents would then just taste rubbery?!  (No Chinese jokes please).

Stadium security is normally pretty lax even when they say they are doing thorough searches - I've never understood why they only search bags when people can hide things in their coats so easily! Especially in the winter where everyone wears big coats.

You could smuggle a load of booze and food in your coat if you wanted to!

RDW_Scotland wrote:Stadium security is normally pretty lax even when they say they are doing thorough searches - I've never understood why they only search bags when people can hide things in their coats so easily! Especially in the winter where everyone wears big coats.

You could smuggle a load of booze and food in your coat if you wanted to!

Yes, in the AIs roles were reversed between my wife and I. Usually I'd put stuff in her handbag, but given the SRU's decision to require any bags to be smaller than the smallest bags manufactured, and smaller than the programme you'd ordinarily put in it... She instead gave me the various detritus that resides in a handbag - so I was absolutely fine walking in with bulging pockets from the extra scarves, battery chargers etc, but still they wanted to look inside her handbag that could barely accommodate a purse.

It's getting like certain US attractions - when we visited Pearl Harbor you couldn't carry any bags at all, in case you were "concealing". So everyone wore cargo shorts with big pockets. But then, they'd quite happily let you store your bag for a fee!

Cardiff Dave wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:I think Scarlet's run in Europe is over, as it looks like their backline has to play a whole 6 nations first.

Got used to that with Cardiff.
Often out of contention before xmas following the 4 nations bash.
There we are.

Its what happened to Glasgow last year. tired players ran out of steam at the end of the season

highland_scot wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Stadium security is normally pretty lax even when they say they are doing thorough searches - I've never understood why they only search bags when people can hide things in their coats so easily! Especially in the winter where everyone wears big coats.

You could smuggle a load of booze and food in your coat if you wanted to!

Yes, in the AIs roles were reversed between my wife and I. Usually I'd put stuff in her handbag, but given the SRU's decision to require any bags to be smaller than the smallest bags manufactured, and smaller than the programme you'd ordinarily put in it... She instead gave me the various detritus that resides in a handbag - so I was absolutely fine walking in with bulging pockets from the extra scarves, battery chargers etc, but still they wanted to look inside her handbag that could barely accommodate a purse.

It's getting like certain US attractions - when we visited Pearl Harbor you couldn't carry any bags at all, in case you were "concealing". So everyone wore cargo shorts with big pockets. But then, they'd quite happily let you store your bag for a fee!

Getting well off topic here but American tourists attractions really aren't good for that - they demand you put your stuff in a locker but you have to pay for the locker! Airport style security too.

I can't see how a stadium could ever implement airport style level of checks, although they could pat you down and look in your pockets relatively quickly.

Scottrf wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:They can't confiscate anyone's hip flask, surely?

(And don't call me Shirley....)

They can stop you bringing alcohol into the ground, obviously.

But that won't be what they're searching people for, will it? Or it really will take ages to get everyone into the ground.

I've just done a 'guess the score' at work. Turns out I have Wales only beating Italy, and Scotland winning the Grand Slam!

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:They can't confiscate anyone's hip flask, surely?

(And don't call me Shirley....)

They can stop you bringing alcohol into the ground, obviously.

But that won't be what they're searching people for, will it? Or it really will take ages to get everyone into the ground.

If it's in your bag, they should spot it? May as well just put into a coat.

Of course you'd carry a hipflask in your coat pocket.

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:Of course you'd carry a hipflask in your coat pocket.

Well he made it sound like it would be in his bag... "Also.....are they searching bags/sporrans? Will they make me empty my hip flask?"

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:They can't confiscate anyone's hip flask, surely?

(And don't call me Shirley....)

They can stop you bringing alcohol into the ground, obviously.

But that won't be what they're searching people for, will it? Or it really will take ages to get everyone into the ground.

I've just done a 'guess the score' at work. Turns out I have Wales only beating Italy, and Scotland winning the Grand Slam!

I hope there is a cash prize, as you're onto a winner there

EDIT: For the avoidance of doubt and starting up the delusional chat again, this was a joke.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Stadium security is normally pretty lax even when they say they are doing thorough searches - I've never understood why they only search bags when people can hide things in their coats so easily! Especially in the winter where everyone wears big coats.

You could smuggle a load of booze and food in your coat if you wanted to!

At the NZ game at MF in November, the security found my hip flask in my sporran and said you can't bring it in. He then said "walk over there, put it in your coat pocket then come back".

Then I got in.

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:Stadium security is normally pretty lax even when they say they are doing thorough searches - I've never understood why they only search bags when people can hide things in their coats so easily! Especially in the winter where everyone wears big coats.

You could smuggle a load of booze and food in your coat if you wanted to!

At the NZ game at MF in November, the security found my hip flask in my sporran and said you can't bring it in. He then said "walk over there, put it in your coat pocket then come back".

Then I got in.

EWT Spoons wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:They can't confiscate anyone's hip flask, surely?

(And don't call me Shirley....)

They can stop you bringing alcohol into the ground, obviously.

But that won't be what they're searching people for, will it? Or it really will take ages to get everyone into the ground.

I've just done a 'guess the score' at work. Turns out I have Wales only beating Italy, and Scotland winning the Grand Slam!

I hope there is a cash prize, as you're onto a winner there

EDIT: For the avoidance of doubt and starting up the delusional chat again, this was a joke.

Such an arrogant joke

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

Luckless Pedestrian wrote:They can't confiscate anyone's hip flask, surely?

(And don't call me Shirley....)

They can stop you bringing alcohol into the ground, obviously.

But that won't be what they're searching people for, will it? Or it really will take ages to get everyone into the ground.

I've just done a 'guess the score' at work. Turns out I have Wales only beating Italy, and Scotland winning the Grand Slam!

I hope there is a cash prize, as you're onto a winner there

EDIT: For the avoidance of doubt and starting up the delusional chat again, this was a joke.

Such an arrogant joke

What an arrogant use of an emoji

Where is the v2 podcast Jones is on?

Scott, it's actually a BBC Five Live radio show, which is also released as a podcast - it was on at 8pm last night.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09rfgsk

Thanks. He referred to it as a 606v2 podcast which confused me.

Scottrf wrote:Thanks. He referred to it as a 606v2 podcast which confused me.

To be fair, it was about as well informed as the usual 606v2 thread.

Except for the interviews with the god-kings Barclay and Townsend...

Scottrf wrote:Thanks. He referred to it as a 606v2 podcast which confused me.

It is this site - it just ingrains itself into my mind

All I see is 606v2 here, 606v2 there

If Wales continue their more attacking style from the Autumn and the Scarlets, and Scotland keep up their great form, I'm expecting a fantastic match. And I think a narrow Scotland win, but most matches this 6N could easily go either way

The Oracle wrote:

TJ wrote:FFS chaps - stop bickering.  Its obvious to anyone with half a brain this game cold go either way.  Scotland have the best recent record and are ranked higher.  Wales have home advantage and we haven't won in Cardiff for years.  Injuries have hit both teams and could turn out to be critical

Personally I don't Wales have the firepower to score enough to win whereas I am confident Scotland will score tries

That's better!

Nice to see a sensible comment for a change, rather than those humping predictions. I think it's incorrect to say Wales don't have the firepower. With their Scarlets players they certainly do, but it's whether they play that way or play Howley's way...

Scotland should target North and whoever else plays on the wing as all our other wingers have been injured or suspended. If Aled Davies comes onto the pitch your open-sides should be able to harass him quite easily, to the extent he'll throw an interception or box kick it 2 metres away when Scotland are in our 22.

So which positions are up for grabs?

Loose-head Prop:  assume Reid's experience will edge it over Bhatti
Loose-head Lock:  both the Edinburgh lads are in good form, I'd prefer Toolis but wouldn't be surprised if Gilco starts
Number Eight:  a real achilles heel for us right now, expect Wilson if fit but I suspect Denton may start if he's not
Inside-Centre:  if Dunbar is fit he starts, if Taylor is fit he starts, otherwise it'll probably be Horne
Winger:  Seymour's performance against Exeter saved his bacon imo, lots of choice on the other side but I'd love to see Kinghorn

The Wales team will really pick itself, minus who Gatland picks at fly half.

The front 5 has a great air of familiarity which, added to Scotland's injury problems there, could be the one area of ascendency.

Back rows look similar, however at half back, Scotland look like they hold all the cards. With Webb and Biggar there, I would say it's was very even, but whoever is paired with Davies will have had very little international game time at 10.

Dave Denton starts for Worcester at 8 today, suggesting he's not in the frame for next weekend. That or Townsend has thrown down the gauntlet asking him to earn his place!

This is just for curiosity but who do Scotland have missing for this one? Wales' causality list is:
Ball (lock), Lydiate, Warburton, Faletau (back-row), Webb (scrum-half), Biggar, Priestland (fly-half), Davies (centre).
Amos and Williams are 50/50, not sure when Stef Evans' ban is served. Meanwhile North has just pulled out of the Saints game under mysterious circumstances...

I think it's quite a significant list however on the upside we introduced some new players in the AI series, and surely means that the team will be mostly Scarlets now which is a good thing. I've a feeling Patchell or Anscombe could be at 15 though if we're this light on back 3 players going into the opening weekend, and also hope that is the case as starting with Cuthbert will be suicide.

Ruled out for the 6N:

Front row
WP Nel
Zander Fagerson
George Turner
Ross Ford
Fraser Brown
Al Dickinson

Missing for Wales game

Front row
Simon Berghan (banned)
Alan Dell
Daryl Marfo

Injury concern for Wales

Second row
Richie Gray

Back row
Ryan Wilson

Centre
Alex Dunbar
Duncan Taylor


So we're heavily hurt in the front row with 10 front row missing the Wales game and 6 of them missing the whole 6N. Duncan Taylor and Alex Dunbar are key players for us if they're missing, leaving us short at 12 against Wales

That's quite a hefty list RDW, I think Scotland will struggle away from home with those players out. I think the new boys in the squad will be a lot more comfortable playing at Murrayfield. Scotland's causality list a bit of a relief too given our list.

Also I should add that Stef Evans was free to play from midnight January 21st so it's likely he'll start on one wing, although 4 weeks of no rugby is a concern for me.

Scotland traditionally struggle against big packs in the 6N and there's a lot of grunt missing!

For all the talk about Wales playing like the Scarlets I can't help but think they should be targeting us up front.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Scotland traditionally struggle against big packs in the 6N and there's a lot of grunt missing!

For all the talk about Wales playing like the Scarlets I can't help but think they should be targeting us up front.

This exactly. Scotland are far moreused to the expansive game at test level than Wales. Our losses are up front whereas the loss of Faletau although bad, isn't as bad as losing Webb, Priestland, Biggar and JD. Those losses will be far more significant for Wales

The loss of our props although a shame its not what we have built our game around. I think the last time we dominated up front was the RWC, funnily enough it was also the last time Dickinson and Nel were fit

North pulled out of Northamptons match

Shame for North if he is out. Maybe it was a week or two too soon. With Williams likely out, Wales are losing a huge amount of experience in the backline.

Halfpenny pushed to a wing for Patchell to get Owen Williams in at 10 or does Josh Adams get the call?

On Fagerson and Nel, are they definitely out the entire 6 nations? I thought Nel was 3 months from mid-November so maybe around for the Ireland and Italy games

I'd be pretty happy if North was picked as he won't be match for at all.

Fagerson is out for the 6N but you're right about Nel - his prognosis was that he should be back in time for some of it but there's been no word since, so we really don't know. Either way he's not going to be match fit and he hasn't shad a run of games without injury since the world cup.