6N 2018: Wales v Scotland, 3 February

First topic message reminder :



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).

Scots will blow themselves out in the next 15 and then Wales will open up

Why did we go for a scrum?!

We look like we've just met in the carpark - Wales just need to be patient and keep their shape and they'll tear us to pieces

Finn bloody Russell!!!

Idiotic so far. Scotland need to start using their brains and stop rushing and forcing everything.

Gwlad wrote:Scots will blow themselves out in the next 15 and then Wales will open up

Not so sure about that, Scotland are a much fitter side than in years gone by. There are try's in this match for Scotland but I think there are more for Wales as well.

outside the 2 tries the games pretty even

Quote of the Day lmfao

Scotland’s tactic of playing like it’s a rugby 7s match isn’t bearing fruit so far. Wales looking much fitter as well, eager to keep the ball in play rather than find touch.

True. Think it's been a touch more scotland.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Finn bloody Russell!!!

I know people love him but behind the back pass to a hooker with counterattack opportunities and no benefit if it comes off is why I'm a bit easy on the hype.

Patchell by far the better 10 out there today so far

If we make it to half time without conceding any more points hopefully the boys can get their $h*t together!

Fair play to Wales they've really taken the game to us though

The Welsh midfield have been superb both defensively and in attack. This is the difference between the sides for me.

Even Scotland's backs moves are looking laboured - Finn just shuffles across the pitch. There's no directness.

Josh Navidi

Missed all the action at the start. Reading comments here, it seems like Scotland started as they did against England last year, ceding all momentum to the opposition.

Harris is looking very very slow

Huge moment this - we have to score

Basic skills from Scots looking poor so far

Harris has justified all concerns we had this game. I think we need Horne on

Scotland look threatening in attack, Russell needs to calm down, save the flash stuff for when you're in the opposition 22...no need to rush penalties...calm down, tries will come.

Oh Flowery Scotland when we will see your like again?

This is what Gatland brings as a coach, people may not like him but he is one of the best. He knew exactly what Scotland were going to do and has set Wales up to counter their tactics brilliantly.

mid_gen wrote:Scotland look threatening in attack, Russell needs to calm down, save the flash stuff for when you're in the opposition 22...no need to rush penalties...calm down, tries will come.

I disagree - we're playing like headless chickens.

Bring on Laidlaw;

eirebilly wrote:This is what Gatland brings as a coach, people may not like him but he is one of the best. He knew exactly what Scotland were going to do and has set Wales up to counter their tactics brilliantly.

That may be true but we've played right into their hands

Bring on Maitland and Horne, we need some calm heads in the backs

RDW_Scotland wrote:

eirebilly wrote:This is what Gatland brings as a coach, people may not like him but he is one of the best. He knew exactly what Scotland were going to do and has set Wales up to counter their tactics brilliantly.

That may be true but we've played right into their hands

Scotland have not played into Wales' hands, they have been directed too by Gatland's approach I feel.

Too many errors from Scotland. Coughing up possession whenever they get into a half-decent position.

That has comfortably been our worst 40 minutes in a very long time. And I include Twickenham in that!

Scotland looking fragile, not sure I can see this one turning around

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

eirebilly wrote:This is what Gatland brings as a coach, people may not like him but he is one of the best. He knew exactly what Scotland were going to do and has set Wales up to counter their tactics brilliantly.

That may be true but we've played right into their hands

Scotland have not played into Wales' hands, they have been directed too by Gatland's approach I feel.

Gatland didn't make us throw wild passes and make terrible decisions!

I feel Wales are also playing into Scottish hands to an extent. Why we keep giving players like Jones, Seymour and Hogg space I don't know.

Scot threat is clear but they have to know WHEN to play. e.g. not today

This is where townsend earns his money. I wouldn't write this game off yet. Need to be a little more direct. Seem to have settled their midfield defence and organisation a bit as well. First ten mins will be important. Don't think there's been a kick able pen yet as a side note has there?

Too many changes and the new player I in the back are not up to it.

Crazy amount of mistakes from Scotland. We are not going to win like this. We are lucky to still be in the game

eirebilly wrote:

Gwlad wrote:Scots will blow themselves out in the next 15 and then Wales will open up

Not so sure about that, Scotland are a much fitter side than in years gone by. There are try's in this match for Scotland but I think there are more for Wales as well.

Yeah and for all the talk of Scotland being underpowered they have looked quite strong so far. I hope the plan is to bring on subs and use them wisely, as I think we have the stronger forwards bench.

1st half review from Scotland

Scrum is holding. We're not out yet but Russell needs to control the game and price needs to sort himself out or laidlaw comes on.
Harris might be playing himself out of future caps.

McGuigan and Harris not having great games. We will see Horne coming on sooner rather than later I think.

This might be a game for the brains of Laidlaw as well

As a Scotland supporter this is very frustrating to watch. Wales feeding off Scotland's 100 mistakes at the moment and look much better drilled when stringing phases together. Scotland blew pretty much every attacking opportunity in the half, mostly on the first phase of attack as well. No structure in attack at the moment where as they looked slick against NZ and Aus in the Autumn. Might be time to bring on Horne and Maitland if this continues

Is Du Preez playing?

On a positive note (and I am struggling to find any) our scrum has looked very solid.

Scotland have been gash.

Wales have it in the bag.

Absolute pish.

The Scottish scrum half has to be half Welsh.

Wales need to be really careful. We've gone into the lead early on a number of times in the recent past only to switch off and throw the game away (or just abou). South Africa in the AIs was the last time, although we managed to score late on to win. Need to focus, but also I'm a big believer in 'attack is the best form of defence' so I want to see us carry that on rather than just try to absorb pressure. Scotland are too good for us to do that and they can score 3 quick tries no problem.

RDW_Scotland wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

eirebilly wrote:This is what Gatland brings as a coach, people may not like him but he is one of the best. He knew exactly what Scotland were going to do and has set Wales up to counter their tactics brilliantly.

That may be true but we've played right into their hands

Scotland have not played into Wales' hands, they have been directed too by Gatland's approach I feel.

Gatland didn't make us throw wild passes and make terrible decisions!

The counter to that is that Gatland's tactics have put Scotland under so much pressure in the right areas (targeted areas) that has led to Scotland loosing their composure and pushing things when they do not need to. It really is one of Gatland's greatest strengths, he does this against Ireland as well.

As long as Gatland doesn't deliver his normal half time team talk then Wales are 1 from 1.

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

RDW_Scotland wrote:

eirebilly wrote:This is what Gatland brings as a coach, people may not like him but he is one of the best. He knew exactly what Scotland were going to do and has set Wales up to counter their tactics brilliantly.

That may be true but we've played right into their hands

Scotland have not played into Wales' hands, they have been directed too by Gatland's approach I feel.

Gatland didn't make us throw wild passes and make terrible decisions!

The counter to that is that Gatland's tactics have put Scotland under so much pressure in the right areas (targeted areas) that has led to Scotland loosing their composure and pushing things when they do not need to. It really is one of Gatland's greatest strengths, he does this against Ireland as well.

Lot of Scottish knock on's and not to mention the scrum turnover 5m out, the poor lineout 20m out.. I think eirbilly is right though, Gatland has Scotland's number and Wales are defending very well to counter the flow of Scotland's attack. The set move Scotland tried to get the ball wide twice was countered easily so they need to revert to some different tactics in set piece attack i think. Get the ball carriers moving!! Btw, Johnny Gray's run and fend! I thought he was gonna go all the way