Match Thread: Scotland vs Wales, BT Murrayfield, Sun. 15th Feb, KO 15:00

sullivlo

Scotland

|

Wales

01: Alasdair Dickinson |01: Gethin Jenkins
02: Ross Ford |02: Richard Hibbard
03: Geoff Cross |03: Aaron Jarvis
04: Richie Gray |04: Jake Ball
05: Jonny Gray |05: Alun-Wyn Jones
06: Robert Harley |06: Dan Lydiate
07: Blair Cowan |07: Sam Warburton
08: Johnnie Beattie |08: Toby Faletau
|
09: Greig Laidlaw |09: Rhys Webb
10: Finn Russell|10: Dan Biggar
11: Tim Visser |11: Liam Williams
12: Alex Dunbar |12: Jamie Roberts
13: Mark Bennett |13: Jonathan Davies
14: Sean Lamont |14: Alex Cuthbert
15: Stuart Hogg |15: Leigh Halfpenny
|
16: Fraser Brown |16: Scott Baldwin
17: Gordon Reid |17: Paul James
18: Jon Welsh |18: Scott Andrews
19: Jim Hamilton |19: Luke Charteris
20: Alasdair Strokosch |20: Justin Tipuric
21: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne |21: Mike Phillips
22: Greig Tonks |22: Rhys Priestland
23: Matt Scott |23: Scott Williams

Referee: Glen Jackson (NZRFU)



Both teams fell to defeat last week – Wales throwing it away against England, and Scotlands ill discipline costing them against an erratic French team.

For Scotland, this is their first home game of the championship, and their first opportunity to lay down a marker for this years 6N. And a chance to right the wrongs of last years 51-3 thumping in Cardiff.

For Wales, their build-up to the match was marred by the (nothing) suspected (about it) concussion of George North – who takes a seat in the stands for this weeks encounter. He is replaced by the Scarletts winger Liam Williams, man of the match the last time these two teams met.

Key Battles:
Outhalf: Finn Russell vs Dan Biggar
Biggar had a bit of a shocker last week against England, and if he kicks the same way he did then against Scotland, their back 3 could have a field day. Russell had a decent show against France, and could be what Scottish rugby has been missing (a half decent outhalf).

Back Three
With North on hiatus, Wales lose the experience, however there is an able replacement in Williams. Halfpenney is arguably one of the best fullbacks in the world, and Cuthbert looked to be away a few times last weekend. However Scotland have the exciting Visser, Lamont and Hogg, who opened up the French defence last week.

Advantage Wales, but if either back three see much ball action it could be an interesting day at the races.

Back row
Without doubt, advantage Wales with their quadruple Lions back row on show.

Prediction: Despite Scotlands home advantage, I predict a close game with a disappointed Stevie Ferris at the end of it. Wales to win by a score.

thomond2006

I would love Scotland to win but this is Scotland and as soon as you think they are going places they inevitably let you down. Wales by less than 7.

Pudsy33

Genuinely think the Scotts will win this one. Fingers crossed.

Teferi

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Genuinely think the Scotts will win this one. Fingers crossed.

That would be the cherry on top of an Irish victory. Wales in crisis, Gatland feeling pressure from all sides and further losing his grip on the dressing room.

total former

Samson Lee ruled out with concussion, Jarvis starts with Scott Andrews on the bench.

Losty Dublin

No pictures, dude? Disgrace disgrace, I tells ya:pac:

I'll agree with you that Biggar was shocking last week but he wasn't the only Welshman slacking off and it was something that was evident during the AI series. Scotland have been getting better and better game by game and are due a big result. Last week could have been it had they had a little self belief in themselves; this game will provide a vast improvement and turn of fortune but the potential of Wales should be enough, but only just.

I'll go with Wales by the skin of their teeth.

sullivlo wrote: »

Scotland

|

Wales

01: Alasdair Dickinson |01: Gethin Jenkins
02: Ross Ford |02: Richard Hibbard
03: Geoff Cross |03: Aaron Jarvis
04: Richie Gray |04: Jake Ball
05: Jonny Gray |05: Alun-Wyn Jones
06: Robert Harley |06: Dan Lydiate
07: Blair Cowan |07: Sam Warburton
08: Johnnie Beattie |08: Toby Faletau
|
09: Greig Laidlaw |09: Rhys Webb
10: Finn Russell|10: Dan Biggar
11: Tim Visser |11: Liam Williams
12: Alex Dunbar |12: Jamie Roberts
13: Mark Bennett |13: Jonathan Davies
14: Sean Lamont |14: Alex Cuthbert
15: Stuart Hogg |15: Leigh Halfpenny
|
16: Fraser Brown |16: Scott Baldwin
17: Gordon Reid |17: Paul James
18: Jon Welsh |18: Scott Andrews
19: Jim Hamilton |19: Luke Charteris
20: Alasdair Strokosch |20: Justin Tipuric
21: Sam Hidalgo-Clyne |21: Mike Phillips
22: Greig Tonks |22: Rhys Priestland
23: Matt Scott |23: Scott Williams

Referee: Glen Jackson (NZRFU)



Both teams fell to defeat last week – Wales throwing it away against England, and Scotlands ill discipline costing them against an erratic French team.

For Scotland, this is their first home game of the championship, and their first opportunity to lay down a marker for this years 6N. And a chance to right the wrongs of last years 51-3 thumping in Cardiff.

For Wales, their build-up to the match was marred by the (nothing) suspected (about it) concussion of George North – who takes a seat in the stands for this weeks encounter. He is replaced by the Scarletts winger Liam Williams, man of the match the last time these two teams met.

Key Battles:
Outhalf: Finn Russell vs Dan Biggar
Biggar had a bit of a shocker last week against England, and if he kicks the same way he did then against Scotland, their back 3 could have a field day. Russell had a decent show against France, and could be what Scottish rugby has been missing (a half decent outhalf).

Back Three
With North on hiatus, Wales lose the experience, however there is an able replacement in Williams. Halfpenney is arguably one of the best fullbacks in the world, and Cuthbert looked to be away a few times last weekend. However Scotland have the exciting Visser, Lamont and Hogg, who opened up the French defence last week.

Advantage Wales, but if either back three see much ball action it could be an interesting day at the races.

Back row
Without doubt, advantage Wales with their quadruple Lions back row on show.

Prediction: Despite Scotlands home advantage, I predict a close game with a disappointed Stevie Ferris at the end of it. Wales to win by a score.

Buer

And away we go. Scrappy opening few minutes with a number of errors.

Zzippy

Jackson extremely quick to whistle for not releasing...

Dave_The_Sheep

Quality play acting there from Webb to milk that penalty, even if the Scottish player was on the wrong side.

thomond2006

Second poor kick from Russell: One on the full and now a poor clearance from the 22.

Stheno

Teferi wrote: »

That would be the cherry on top of an Irish victory. Wales in crisis, Gatland feeling pressure from all sides and further losing his grip on the dressing room.

This! Would love to see Scotland win

Teferi

That was embarrassing from Webb to be quite honest. Stupid penalty to give away from Scotland but I cringed at that dive. Hope its played on his highlight reel for the rest of his career.

Buer

Good old Scotland. So far offside in open play they're in another postcode.

Stheno

that pass was brutal

Anyone else having trouble with RTE player?

marco_polo

F**k yeah Stuart great turnover too

Kanrith

Get in Scotland! Really poor by Cuthbert.

A-Train

Great try by Hogg

Love Hogg

UnitedWeStand

Fantastic try.

Teferi

Absolute gas from Hogg.

razorblunt

Looking forward to Dunbar/Bennett vs Davies/Roberts.

Finn Russell needs to cool the jets a little, but he's as exciting a 10 as they've had for quite some time, Hidalgo-Clyne and him would be a decent pairing.


Great turnover leading to the try from Russell having said that!!!

Stheno

Scotland TRY!!!

Super try from a turnover in the 22

smileyj1987

What a try !! Stuart Hogg showed some pace.

Pudsy33

The turnover made that, fantastic try

thomond2006

Some awful play from Wales before the turnover.

Gits_bone

Was the last pass by Richie gray?

marco_polo

Gits_bone wrote: »

Was the last pass by Richie gray?

Yeah 99÷ certain

Gits_bone

Scotland won't be easily beaten in Murrayfield.

marco_polo

Who was the Welsh lad that just fell over instead of chasing :pac:

Buer

Didn't think he was going to make it but then.....

....he went the whole Hogg.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ja0_m-4NAec

Teferi

Always impressed by the Scottish crowd. Noisy bastards.

awec

Scotland need to be more refined. Just a bit messy.

Fudge You

Gits_bone wrote: »

Was the last pass by Richie gray?

Was it not a forward pass to Hogg?

Kalyke

Nice to see the dentist from Love Hate getting the refs gig!!:pac::pac:

marco_polo

Sublime catch and offload. Block of ice on the kick from Biggar not to mind snow

thomond2006

Mighty kick from Biggar. Nevermind your useless box kicks, g'wan the garryowen.

corny

Ferocious tackling from Scotland.

awec

I'd love to know how referees know when a maul is being pulled down.

Zzippy

awec wrote: »

I'd love to know how referees know when a maul is being pulled down.

I'd say most of them guess...

Buer

From Liam Williams "WHAT THE F*CK WAS THAT?!" scream at Biggar, he seems to be just as charming to his own team as he is opposition players.

Bridge93

Nothing I love more than when a team turns down an easy kick to go to the corner and screw it up. Take your points!

Buer

Utterly braindead. It drives me demented when teams turn down handy kick like that. Dense from Warburton. 25 minutes gone, 4 points down. Keep it ticking over. Wales could well win the game without scoring a try.

Teferi

It's mostly fairly blatant if a maul is being pulled down really. You always see a lazy defender letting his legs get caught up in the oppositions or someone blatantly attacking the legs of the front of the attacking maul in order to bring it down. That kind of thing.

Pudsy33

Uhoh

ongarite

could be a red here

not deliberate, yellow i would say

Gits_bone

Oooooooooooh

A-Train

I think a red card is coming

awec

Red possibly.

Teferi

Well that's going to change the flow of the game. Lucky to get away with a yellow if he does.

Buer

Fantastic from Biggar and awful from Russell. He'll get yellow here and it's one of those where you wonder if the referee is thinking about more.