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).

LordDowlais wrote:Gatland has been banging on about changing the style of play.

Yes, Gats.  It's Less banging the fans want.  Less banging.

Not sure how the injuries both side are suffering will effect the game.

The loss of Biggar may not be such a bad thing for Wales, likewise Scotland will have to find some front row alternatives.

Until the team selection it will be hard to guess where the coaches are heading.

Wales issue if they go for flair is that they will only have second rate goal kickers and that might alone see a selection with less flair

Jesus Maesteg!

Does this mean................?

Does this mean................. the auld familiar Welsh boys are returning bit by bit to the war zone????

They'd be most welcome

These injuries give gats the opportunity to go full Scarlets with his back line. Is he willing thought?

Wales to win, playing poorly but also never looking like they'll lose.

Scotland to huff and puff and try lots but not get anywhere, capped off with a frantic last 10 which makes everyone panic.

yappysnap wrote:Wales to win, playing poorly but also never looking like they'll lose.

Scotland to huff and puff and try lots but not get anywhere, capped off with a frantic last 10 which makes everyone panic.

I've been on dates like that.

This is quite an intriguing match from a neutrals point of view. I don't think the Welsh scrum will be that much stronger (although they have a very good outfit), but I can see a slight edge. Welsh and Reid are no mugs, this won't be a deciding factor on the game imo.

Both packs are strong, but again I think the Welsh just shade it. I'm looking forward to seeing how the Welsh go about the game though. When they play high tempo rugby, they look fantastic, but this seems to rarely happen.

The Scots have obviously stepped up, but can they do it away from home, against one of the sides they usually struggle against?

I honestly can't pick a winner, this one one should be so close.

Hazel Sapling wrote:Wales are still learning to play the new way. If Scotland get parity at the scrum, they really should be able to pull apart Wales. That may be down to the ref more than anything. Where it gets difficult for Scotland is when the subs come on. Francis is a top tighthead and Bhatti will likely have a heck of a battle (although he recently took on Exeter and may have confidence from that).

Because our defence is awful...

You lads have a lot to live up to now

The two of you.  

This has become the Official Most Beautiful and Spectacular Game of the 2018 Six Nations!  Yis are doing a lot of pre-publicity on it.  They've even banned the fireworks before the game because they think they might be too low key a gimmick for such a game of the ages.

The French-Ireland game is down as the Greatest MMA Fight of the Century.  The Academy boys for both Teams will take over the rest of the tournament when the blood is wiped off the field.

The Italy-England game is down as a Terrorist Attack by a group of White Clad men on the nation of Italy.

I'm going to nail Bru's stones to the mast early doors and go for:

Wales 22 - 34 Scotland

My poor stones!

I'm going for Wales 10 - Scotland 29

10? Most optimistic defensive prediction ever.

Don't get me wrong, I think Wales can be dangerous, but their red zone conversion in last year's tournament was abysmal, and Scotland (and Glasgow) have developed a real strength at defending through the phases before forcing a turnover. See Glasgow v Exeter on Saturday.

If Wales do score tries against us, it'll be from set-piece plays or those rapid counterattacks that George North seems to specialise in.

Of course, I might be wrong. In fact, I'm definitely wrong. Wales are going to utterly hammer us like Lee at the Battle of Chancellorsville.

After all the hype and talk of attacking champagne rugby…..

Wales 9 – Scotland 3

EWT Spoons wrote:After all the hype and talk of attacking champagne rugby…..

Wales 9 – Scotland 3

:-)

IanBru wrote:Don't get me wrong, I think Wales can be dangerous, but their red zone conversion in last year's tournament was abysmal

It's been abysmal for ages. We're painfully inefficient.

EWT Spoons wrote:After all the hype and talk of attacking champagne rugby…..

Wales 9 – Scotland 3

I'll take that.

munkian wrote:

EWT Spoons wrote:After all the hype and talk of attacking champagne rugby…..

Wales 9 – Scotland 3

I'll take that.

And I'd quite happily take the reverse of that!

Wales 23-Scotland 10 (count of scrums won)

I was at that game...

Same HS. All we need is scrum parity and a good pitch.

I don't know what else of Bru's are allowed to be nailed to the mast but will go

Wales 19 - 34 Scotland

Hazel Sapling wrote:Same HS. All we need is scrum parity and a good pitch.

I don't know what else of Bru's are allowed to be nailed to the mast but will go

Wales 19 - 34 Scotland

You realise that history and common sense are against you, right ?

Head says Wales 24 - Scotland 20 with Scotland pushing for the win but coming up short

Heart says Wales 19 - Scotland 28 with Scotland scoring a late try to kill off the game!

In all seriousness, I think some Scottish fans have been underrating Wales, especially given they have home advantage. Gatland must surely take notice of the fact that the Scarlets are flying, playing attractive rugby, and be able to translate it into international form...

I could see a relatively close final score, 35-31 maybe. Scotland getting a late try to secure a LBP and TBP.

I don't think it's unreasonable for people to be predicting a Scottish win. Certainly in better form, and Wales missing a number of Lions.

highland_scot wrote:In all seriousness, I think some Scottish fans have been underrating Wales, especially given they have home advantage. Gatland must surely take notice of the fact that the Scarlets are flying, playing attractive rugby, and be able to translate it into international form...

I could see a relatively close final score, 35-31 maybe. Scotland getting a late try to secure a LBP and TBP.

This.

Scotland's last away win in the 6 Nations was 2016 against Italy.

Last away win of note was Ireland in 2010.

Last time you beat Wales in Cardiff was 2002 and that was by 5.

Every time Scotland get a scalp in the AIs they are bigged up then don't deliver.

Scotland will win this at a canter. They have to for all of the talk. If not, they will have a difficult time explaining things.

The Oracle wrote:Scotland will win this at a canter. They have to for all of the talk. If not, they will have a difficult time explaining things.

Welcome Oracle. The most passive aggressive post I've seen in days.

What is this "all of the talk" you speak of? Do you mean the 4 Scotland fans above who believe we can be very competitive?

George Carlin wrote:

The Oracle wrote:Scotland will win this at a canter. They have to for all of the talk. If not, they will have a difficult time explaining things.

Welcome Oracle. The most passive aggressive post I've seen in days.

What is this "all of the talk" you speak of? Do you mean the 4 Scotland fans above who believe we can be very competitive?

Just the talk since the last 6N, before during and after the Lions tour (along the lines of ‘can’t wait for payback in the 6N for Gats not selecting more scots’), before during and after the AIs, etc. Not all on here necessarily. Although there has been a fair bit at the times mentioned above. But in the media and other forums online too. Warranted too I might say. I’m not denying that they’re not deserved favourites. Just saying that it has to turn into a win or there will be some egg on the face and a bit of backtracking!

“All we need is scrum parity and a good pitch”. From this very thread in the last 3 hours. It’s gonna be easy!

In The Oracle's defence, there does seem to be a lot of chest thumping coming from our Celtic cousins up north.

Lets just see how this one pans out, we are both decimated by injuries in certain positions, but I believe Wales have the better strength in depth, I am very nervous about this fixture for the first time in donkeys years, usually I take it as a given, but not this time. I hope, Wales better strength in depth get us through this one.

Scotland have the form, higher world ranking position, better attack, more innovative coach, better bagpipes and a more gender neutral first minister (!) - Scotland for the win

munkian wrote:

highland_scot wrote:In all seriousness, I think some Scottish fans have been underrating Wales, especially given they have home advantage. Gatland must surely take notice of the fact that the Scarlets are flying, playing attractive rugby, and be able to translate it into international form...

I could see a relatively close final score, 35-31 maybe. Scotland getting a late try to secure a LBP and TBP.

This.

Scotland's last away win in the 6 Nations was 2016 against Italy.

Last away win of note was Ireland in 2010.

Last time you beat Wales in Cardiff was 2002 and that was by 5.

Every time Scotland get a scalp in the AIs they are bigged up then don't deliver.

Last time Scotland played Wales in Cardiff - Hogg was replaced by Jackson at the 28 minute mark, Davies scored a controversial try early on that was converted, with the scoreline at 27 - 16 at 78mins Scotland couldn't win, but had the Davies try not been awarded they would have been battling for the win rather than a more flattering scoreline.

It's going to be a very interesting fixture and I am eagerly awaiting it, the past 3 fixtures have been very close so I would be very surprised if either team walks this one. On form and results I think Scotland are ahead but Wales have home advantage which swings things a bit. 2010 Part 2? I really, really hope not.. Both sides carrying some injuries, Wales with some particularly bad ones across a variety of positions.

Hogg surely can't be off early this time, 2014 and 2016 he was off before the 30 minute mark. I'm confident Scotland can travel down there and pick up a gutsy and determined win.

bsando wrote:

munkian wrote:

highland_scot wrote:In all seriousness, I think some Scottish fans have been underrating Wales, especially given they have home advantage. Gatland must surely take notice of the fact that the Scarlets are flying, playing attractive rugby, and be able to translate it into international form...

I could see a relatively close final score, 35-31 maybe. Scotland getting a late try to secure a LBP and TBP.

This.

Scotland's last away win in the 6 Nations was 2016 against Italy.

Last away win of note was Ireland in 2010.

Last time you beat Wales in Cardiff was 2002 and that was by 5.

Every time Scotland get a scalp in the AIs they are bigged up then don't deliver.

Last time Scotland played Wales in Cardiff - Hogg was replaced by Jackson at the 28 minute mark, Davies scored a controversial try early on that was converted, with the scoreline at 27 - 16 at 78mins Scotland couldn't win, but had the Davies try not been awarded they would have been battling for the win rather than a more flattering scoreline.

It's going to be a very interesting fixture and I am eagerly awaiting it, the past 3 fixtures have been very close so I would be very surprised if either team walks this one. On form and results I think Scotland are ahead but Wales have home advantage which swings things a bit. 2010 Part 2? I really, really hope not.. Both sides carrying some injuries, Wales with some particularly bad ones across a variety of positions.

Hogg surely can't be off early this time, 2014 and 2016 he was off before the 30 minute mark. I'm confident Scotland can travel down there and pick up a gutsy and determined win.

I was at that game, and that scoreline actually flattered Scotland.

[quote="quote]

I’m not denying that they’re not deserved favourites. [/quote]

Hello Oracle and welcome to Jimbo's World Of Advanced Pedantry.

How many negatives in your sentence quoted above?

Is there any meaning lurking in there?

Are you Trump in disguise?

Stick around, you'll enjoy it bigly.

Wales have definitely had the hex on Scotland for the past decade. On the whole, because they have been a lot better than us, it has been a bit of a golden age for the Welsh team.

It has closed up over the last few years with most games being a lot closer. The win last year was so important towards getting rid of the elephant in the room. We wobbled in that game to, before finally pulling ourselves together and winning quite comfortably.

A lot of our players now know they can beat Wales, which the previous generation, clearly did not.

Will we win, well I am not really one for making predictions, but I don't think we will have lost the game before we have left home as we have done in other years.

It is a massively important game, knowing how important it is to get the season off to a decent start and it could be a long road ahead for whoever loses.

Bring it on, can't wait. That's the great thing about the 6N, every year, new hope and I honestly believe that Scotland do have some hope this year, we are a decent team now.

jimbopip wrote:

\"quote wrote:

 I’m not denying that they’re not deserved favourites.

Hello Oracle and welcome to Jimbo's World Of Advanced Pedantry.

How many negatives in your sentence quoted above?  

Is there any meaning lurking in there?

Are you Trump in disguise?

Stick around, you'll enjoy it bigly.

Funnily enough I actually edited the post and added in the second ‘not’ as it didn’t sound right the first time! But you’re right, it’s worded incorrectly. Should read ‘I’m not denying that they are deserved favourites’. Which I think they are.

No intended Trumpisms here!

Well said Mr Oracle! you'll fit in well here.

As for the game....

I think that if Wales had a full complement we'd be sure to see lots of Warrenball. In which case I think Toonie would have played Blair Kinghorn on the wing, giving us two very dangerous full backs to run the ball back. However, injuries may well force Gatland to select more Scarlets' players then he might have liked and this may well force him to adopt a more "adventurous" brand of rugby.
Conversely, the Scarlets style is not too dissimilar to Glasgow's and we could see six Warriors in the backs for Scotland. So, both sets of backs looking to play fast and loose and off-loads a-go-go?
The match ups that I'm most looking forward to?

Owens v McInally

Finn Russell v whoever is at 10, Dancer has a point to prove after the Lions' debacle.

The back rows..
Wilson-Barclay-Watson v Shingler-?- Tipuric mobile, aggressive, skilful. Should be good.

I honestly can't decide on who I think will win.
But my heart says

jimbopip wrote:
The match ups that I'm most looking forward to?

Jimbo v the Sandy Park barlady

"Oh my, that beer's very tasty. Is it local?"
"I'll just check. Yes."

Wales will win this at a canter. By around 15-20.

bsando wrote:Last time Scotland played Wales in Cardiff - Hogg was replaced by Jackson at the 28 minute mark, Davies scored a controversial try early on that was converted, with the scoreline at 27 - 16 at 78mins Scotland couldn't win, but had the Davies try not been awarded they would have been battling for the win rather than a more flattering scoreline.

Oh dear this far on and they're still bringing up ref-innuendo's when they lose to Wales. You've done this how many years now? (and there's a lot of losses in there)



Reading on here I think the overconfidence from some Scots is bordering on delusional and arrogant. Where is the confidence coming from exactly? If your coach was Graham Henry and your team had a recent record like England or New Zealand's then one would understand and probably agree with you. For some of these predictions to be close to accurate you would need Howley to be head coach, playing re-runs of Wales' tactics in 2010. I think the forwards that are available between Scarlets and Ospreys are too much for Scotland with their current injury list so I'll predict a narrow Wales win, a contrast from the 36-10 to Scotland .

LordDowlais wrote:I think a lot of people will be surprised by the Welsh pack this year.

Ken Owens
Samson Lee
Rob Evans
AWJ
Bradley Davies
Tuperic
Navidi/Shingler
Moriarty

Thats not a bad pack, with a lot of very good replacements on the bench as well.

Dowlais, I don't see much club rugby over here but since they've been reunited I hear AWJ and Davies have been playing very well, doing all the hard stuff up front? With Jake Ball out I think they'd go well behind the Scarlets front row.

If we're expected to have the ascendency at scrum time then Navidi starts at 8 for me, with Shingler/Moriarty at 6 and Tipuric at 7. Backline should be mostly Scarlets although the back 3 is probably a bit predictable with the injuries there. Bench I'm not too concerned about but it should contain hard carriers (Beard) and good backline players (Watkin as opposed to Cuthbert).

George Carlin wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Wales to win, playing poorly but also never looking like they'll lose.

Scotland to huff and puff and try lots but not get anywhere, capped off with a frantic last 10 which makes everyone panic.

I've been on dates like that.

I reckon it'll be close - hoping for a Scotland win but we're the walking wounded key positions in the pack and just one bad fall/twisted ankle from our 3rd/4th choices in a couple of positions, so a mammoth task has become a mountain.

Head - 21-20 to Wales

Heart - 30-21 to Scotland

Provided the weather holds should be a humdinger!

NeilyBroon wrote:I reckon it'll be close - hoping for a Scotland win but we're the walking wounded key positions in the pack and just one bad fall/twisted ankle from our 3rd/4th choices in a couple of positions, so a mammoth task has become a mountain.

Head - 21-20 to Wales

Heart - 30-21 to Scotland

Provided the weather holds should be a humdinger!

There's always the roof................!

(Oh no he didn't, did he?!)

mikey_dragon wrote:Reading on here I think the overconfidence from some Scots is bordering on delusional and arrogant. Where is the confidence coming from exactly?

It's really not. They beat Wales last 6 Nations, did you forget? And Ireland. They beat Australia 53-24 in November. And beat them away from home last year. Last Welsh win vs Australia was 2008. You have to go back to 2005 to find the second Welsh win there, Scotland had 2 last year. They got very close to New Zealand. They are in good form, and Wales are missing some of their big players.

The Oracle wrote:

NeilyBroon wrote:I reckon it'll be close - hoping for a Scotland win but we're the walking wounded key positions in the pack and just one bad fall/twisted ankle from our 3rd/4th choices in a couple of positions, so a mammoth task has become a mountain.

Head - 21-20 to Wales

Heart - 30-21 to Scotland

Provided the weather holds should be a humdinger!

There's always the roof................!  

(Oh no he didn't, did he?!)

as long as the weather holds up

Wales will not want to get into too much of a running game vs Scotland, I fully expect Gatland & Co to create a game plan that is as dull as dish water with Wales happy to win an odd penalty here and there and rely on 1/2p's boot. The key to this game is whether AWJ can get the Ref onside or not.

NeilyBroon wrote:

The Oracle wrote:

NeilyBroon wrote:I reckon it'll be close - hoping for a Scotland win but we're the walking wounded key positions in the pack and just one bad fall/twisted ankle from our 3rd/4th choices in a couple of positions, so a mammoth task has become a mountain.

Head - 21-20 to Wales

Heart - 30-21 to Scotland

Provided the weather holds should be a humdinger!

There's always the roof................!  

(Oh no he didn't, did he?!)

as long as the weather holds up

It could also be a humdinger if the weather turns bad, by using the roof. We have options!

Scottrf wrote:

mikey_dragon wrote:Reading on here I think the overconfidence from some Scots is bordering on delusional and arrogant. Where is the confidence coming from exactly?

It's really not. They beat Wales last 6 Nations, did you forget? And Ireland. They beat Australia 53-24 in November. And beat them away from home last year. Last Welsh win vs Australia was 2008. You have to go back to 2005 to find the second Welsh win there, Scotland had 2 last year. They got very close to New Zealand. They are in good form, and Wales are missing some of their big players.

I agree. Scotland to run riot and thrash Wales. We could be looking at a cricket score, if the Scotland v Oz game is anything to go by.

If the AI`S are any sort of guide,Scotland should win this one,but this depends cards aside.
On the availability of players and strength of squads,injuries etc.such is the rate attrition
you need a large fit squad.
Scotland were very good in AI`s ,Wales were average to poor,logically they lost to SA
too.Only the TMO could see that the Hooker didn't score.