Wales vs Scotland, Saturday 13 Feb, KO 2pm. Match Thread

thomond2006

RBS SIX NATIONS - WALES v SCOTLAND

Venue: Millennium Stadium Date: Saturday, 13 February Kick-off: 1400 GMT



WALES:

Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), James Hook (Ospreys), Jamie Roberts (Cardiff Blues), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Cardiff Blues);
Paul James (Ospreys), Gareth Williams (Cardiff Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Andy Powell (Cardiff Blues), Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, captain).

Replacements: Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Bradley Davies (Cardiff Blues), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues), Richie Rees (Cardiff Blues), Andrew Bishop (Ospreys), Tom Shanklin (Cardiff Blues).

SCOTLAND:

C Paterson (Edinburgh); T Evans (Glasgow), S Lamont (Scarlets), G Morrison (Glasgow), R Lamont (Toulon); D Parks (Glasgow), C Cusiter (Glasgow, capt);
A Dickinson (Gloucester), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton), J Hamilton (Edinburgh), A Kellock (Glasgow), K Brown (Glasgow), J Barclay (Glasgow), J Beattie (Glasgow).

Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Gray (Glasgow), A MacDonald (Edinburgh), M Blair (Edinburgh), P Godman (Edinburgh), M Evans (Glasgow).

---

Chris Paterson is set to make his 100th appearance for Scotland when they face Wales at the Millenium Stadium on Saturday. Well done to him.

Dan Parks is brought in for Phil Godman at fly half, Sean Lamont moves to into the centre with Max Evans dropping to the bench. Rory Lamont lines out on the left wing. Euan Murray returns at tighthead. Mike Blair comes onto the bench in place of Gloucester's Rory Lawson.

For Wales, Leigh Halfpenny replaces his Cardiff Blues teammate Tom James on the right wing and Jonathan Thomas comes into the second row in place of Luke Charteris. Tom Shanklin comes onto the bench with Tom James dropping from the 22 altogether.

I am bemused by Gatland's retention of Gareth Williams and Gareth Cooper. Williams couldn't throw to save his life and Cooper was useless last week. Richie Rees must be seething that a man behind him at Cardiff gets preferential treatment in the national team.
If Gethin Jenkins is fit to be a replacement, why doesn't Gatland start him? Paul James is a very average player.
Andy Powell and Ryan Jones are overrated and have not performed in a Wales jersey for a long time.

Scotland have made some positive changes.

Dan Parks is far more creative than Godman and will give Scotland's backline opportunities to put pressure on Wales' defence.

At the same time, I don't like the look of the centre partnership. I don't rate Morrison at all, he is touted as a crash ball centre, I don't think he is capable of even doing that. Sean Lamont is a wing, not a centre.

chupacabra

Richie Rees still on the bench even after he made an immediate impact last week?

Webbs

A few strange ones in that selection, Cooper is probably the worst scrum half in the 6N so god knows what he is doing to get himself selected again, a scrum half that cant pass, cant kick and is like a rabbit in headlights when makes a break is not a good combination (he'll probably sore a hat-trick now i have said that)

Having both Bishop and Shanklin on the bench again is a strange one.
Can only assume as well that G jenkins is still not 100% hence the bench.

If Cooper wasnt playing I would expect Wales to have too much in the backline but as it is it will be a slow turgid affair which will suit Scotland down to the ground

thomond2006

Webbs wrote: »

If Cooper wasnt playing I would expect Wales to have too much in the backline but as it is it will be a slow turgid affair which will suit Scotland down to the ground

Agreed.

Cusiter will take Cooper to the cleaners.

Having said that, I still think Wales will just about win.

Judgement Day

Yep, Wales to win but I would love to see Scotland snatch it especially now that Dan Parks is back - if he had been playing in the French match I think they could well have won.

Hyperbullet

This is probably the first fixture in a few years where I really feel Scotland could win it. They played well (at times) against France, and Wales fell apart against England. I think Murray and Parks will have a positive impact and Lamont played very well last weekend.

Scotland by 5

Four-Percent

Dan Parks. No he doesn't, he takes the bus!

Wales to win by 6 i reckon.

sock puppet

Judgement Day wrote: »

Yep, Wales to win but I would love to see Scotland snatch it especially now that Dan Parks is back - if he had been playing in the French match I think they could well have won.

I don't know about that. This is exactly the kind of team Hadden would have picked. That Scottish backline is frankly appalling. Evans was okay in the centre so why drop him, especially when Lamont is the replacement. Also Dickinson was brutal at the weekend, and Welsh has been in good form this season. I think even given theyr limited resources it's a shocking selection.

Judgement Day

Four-Percent wrote: »

Dan Parks. No he doesn't, he takes the bus!

Wales to win by 6 i reckon.

As long as he doesn't get tanked up before the match he'll be okay - Scotland by a couple of penalty kicks?

thomond2006

Four-Percent wrote: »

Dan Parks. No he doesn't, he takes the bus!

Brilliant!

thomond2006

The referee for this will be our own George Clancy. :pac:

Digifriendly

Judgement Day wrote: »

Yep, Wales to win but I would love to see Scotland snatch it especially now that Dan Parks is back - if he had been playing in the French match I think they could well have won.

Could you elaborate on this as I think France won this by a country mile even if scoreboard didn't show it?

thomond2006

Nathan Hines ruled out (not serious), Jim Hamilton in.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/scottish/8508880.stm

sickpuppy

France didnt get out of second gear againest the scots.

Scotland dont look like they will ever score a try.

Besides Cooper its a backline full of pace for Wales.

Have Wales no blindside or are they stuck with ANDY headless chicken Powell

Near parity upront will guarantee a 10 point win for the welsh.

thomond2006

sickpuppy wrote: »

Have Wales no blindside or are they stuck with ANDY headless chicken Powell

Dafydd Jones would be the obvious BF but he's injured.

Lydiate or Jonathan Thomas could play there, they are far better options than Andy Powell.

Noffles

I'm surprised at a couple of the team but otherwise it's a winner, at home and breaking back from a loss should be winner.

Shame they lost Hines but all teams have lost someone or other...

Looking forward to the game though, BBC HD should be enjoyable... no matter what (means a win)!

thomond2006

I've changed my mind, I'm backing Scotland.

If Parks turns up, they have every chance of causing a major upset.

Ciaran-Irl

thomond2006 wrote: »

Dafydd Jones would be the obvious BF but he's injured.

Lydiate or Jonathan Thomas could play there, they are far better options than Andy Powell.

They must hate seeing Rhys Ruddock playing for the Ireland under 20s...

sock puppet

Ciaran-Irl wrote: »

They must hate seeing Rhys Ruddock playing for the Ireland under 20s...

There's no guarantee he'll play for Ireland though. If he doesn't get enough gametime at Leinster in a few years he could easily go to a Welsh region too.

Podge_irl

There's no guarantee, but Ruddocks have clearly picked Ireland as their future for now. They had their choice of the Welsh underage system or the Irish one and they chose to go to Leinster. If Rhys is anywhere near as good as he seems to be then he won't be lost to Irish rugby lightly, he "only" has McLaughlin to overcome at Leinster anyway. Rhys was born in Ireland too, despite his name.

damselnat

thomond2006 wrote: »

I've changed my mind, I'm backing Scotland.

If Parks turns up, they have every chance of causing a major upset.

Hope so, have them to win @ 10/3! Anyone know any news on Jenkins??

PhatPiggins

sock puppet wrote: »

I don't know about that. This is exactly the kind of team Hadden would have picked. That Scottish backline is frankly appalling. Evans was okay in the centre so why drop him, especially when Lamont is the replacement. Also Dickinson was brutal at the weekend, and Welsh has been in good form this season. I think even given theyr limited resources it's a shocking selection.

Isn't it just. They're not even going to attempt to play rugby against Wales. Just spoil,kick and ruck. Wales should win this comfortably.

I see Powell getting a bit of stick again, fair enough he's been brutal since AI's 08 but he had more tackles and carries(over the gain line) then any other Welsh forward last saturday.

Richie Rees is average at international level but looks great in comparison to Cooper, there are better options then either of them.

Williams had one bad game, he's usually excellent for Cardiff.. Deserves another start imo.

Delighted to see Halfpenny back in, some of the ball James dropped was sinful.

toomevara

'Roofgate' rumbles on, as I understand it, it can only be closed with the consent of both managers....unlikely to be forthcoming from AR....could this game be a banana skin for Wales, but then I guess you get back to the perennial question with Scotland, how in the name of god will they score a try?..Hundred caps for Patterson too, first scotsman to achieve this accolade...

toomevara

toomevara wrote: »

I guess you get back to the perennial question with Scotland, how in the name of god will they score a try?

Lash it out to Evans (either one) and hope for the best.

PhatPiggins

Deleted User wrote: »

Lash it out to Evans (either one) and hope for the best.

Only one of them playing and he has a bad habit of running away from his support.

Judgement Day

Scotland by more than 2 points at 13/2 is just too tempting! That's the last of my PP money spent and if I had anything left I'd have a punt on Lee Byrne (13/5) and Beattie (7/1) to score a try. I'm beside myself with excitement, don't know what to do for the next hour before heading to the pub.

thomond2006

"Oh Flower of Scotland, when will we see, you score a try...."

stackerman

Should be a good game, if the two teams can match two great anthems
Dont hold your breath though

stackerman

Hamilton you plonker !

laugh

Pity about Paterson, Scots going through the phases well, nice try.

stackerman

Try, pooooor tackle by the two Wales lads.
Dont think Patterson is gona see this game out, seems to have a prob with his sholder.

thomond2006

thomond2006 wrote: »

"Oh Flower of Scotland, when will we see, you score a try...."

Didn't take them too long.

Pathetic tackling from Hook and Cooper.

G'wan the Scots. :D:D

crisco10

Whatever about Cooper, he got himself in a shocking body position. Hook was in a good position and had Barclay in his grasp but just let him go....for a pro rugby player it was unacceptable.

thomond2006

Jesus, how did Wales blow that chance?

Looks like Paterson is OK.

alitoast

Scots look well up for this, smart rugby so far

thomond2006

Dan Parks drop goal.

Good phase building by the Scots.

10 - 3.

Aidric

Scotland are playing quite well so far, to their credit. They look well up for this.

sock puppet

The Welsh tackling is pathetic

Stev_o

2nd try up.

stackerman

Blood sub scores !!!
Where are Wales ??

BoarHunter

thanks Scotland for showing that France didn't do a bad job in Murrayfield last week

thomond2006

Brilliant by Parks.

Wales are all over the place.

Four-Percent

Good penalty by jones, 6-15 to the Scots.


Ben Dirs' live text on the BBC website is sloooow to update.

Sherifu

6-18

Scots doing great.

Aidric

The Welsh defo need a try for a bit of a lift before half time.

sock puppet

Lol Roberts looked for support, saw it was Cooper and decided to hold on to the ball:pac:

thomond2006

Wales need:

Jenkins on for James
Warburton on for Powell
Rees on for Cooper

stackerman

Looks like a bad knock to the top of the head, hope not too serious.

ninebeanrows

That looked really bad.

Doesn't look like he was moving much.

stackerman

Wales getting their chances, just cant seem to finish anything

RuggieBear

should make for an exciting game tho as the welsh will probably run from everywhere now