Wales vs Scotland. KO 16:50, Live on BBC 1 and RTE 2 TV

Losty Dublin

Replacements: Ken Owens (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs), Bradley Davies (Wasps), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), Rhys Priestland (Bath Rugby), Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues).

Replacements: Stuart McInally, Gordon Reid, Zander Fagerson, Tim Swinson, Blair Cowan, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Duncan Weir, Sean Lamont.

Preview. Wales come into todays game knowing that they shudda cudda beaten an Ireland team on Sunday last who weren't at their strongest and there for the taking. Warren G shows faith in his team which drew to the current champions last week. Dan Biggar, having recovered from an ankle knock that saw his early exit from the Aviva, is retained at fly half while the Scarlett's Liam Williams, himself a late call up to Gatland's match day squad, retains his place at full back. Last weeks play form from the forwards was solid but there were times when the Welsh line out was wonky and this is something that AW Jones (below) needs to sort out today while the going is good.

In the away dressing room Vern Cotter has gone with a fairly stable 15 from last weeks Calcutta Cup defeat, centre Duncan Thomas's call up in place of Matt Scott being a solitary enforced change. Laidlaw captains at scrum-half and needs to get more out of his pack, who were consistently bullied in the set piece last week against England. Still, their loose play was pretty good all round and while the backs didn't tackle as well as they showed that they are likely to be dangerous with ball in hand. The trouble is this; just how exactly will they get ball in hand for Stand Off Finn Russell to open up his backs

Verdict. The truth about last weeks two games is that the out halves were the lynch pins that won and lost things. The early loss of Biggar certainly cost them the win in Dublin yet their gameplan isn't dependent on their 10. Scotland were unable to take advantage of George Ford's poor game last week yet they face better today, fan better all round and from a team who simply have to win today. The last time Scotland defeated Vern may as well prepare a big pot of porridge already as he'll need to do something with yet another wooden spoon that has his teams name on it already.

My call is Wales 42, Scotland 14.

PS. The last time Scotland won in Cardiff was a sad day for the sport as we can see here...

razorblunt

From living in Edinburgh for the last few years and attending Scotland and Edinburgh games I've come to the conclusion they'd be the best team in the world if it weren't for:

* the refs
* the opposition
* the laws
* the shape of the ball
* the jerseys
* the sky being blue
* the game being 80 minutes long

They were at it again last night for the U-20s game.
I'll be out with mates for the Irish game and hanging on for this game afterwards but its gettin harder and harder to throw my weight behind them.
Mainly because of the above, also because of Laidlaw!

Pure sure look, it's the Welsh so c'mon d'Alba.

Losty Dublin

razorblunt wrote: »

From living in Edinburgh for the last few years and attending Scotland and Edinburgh games I've come to the conclusion they'd be the best team in the world if it weren't for:

* the refs
* the opposition
* the laws
* the shape of the ball
* the jerseys
* the sky being blue
* the game being 80 minutes long
.

Semantics, my dear. Semantics

mfceiling

*hears George Hamilton's voice*

*switches to bbc1*

vienne86

Wales were nearly in there already, but for a KO by AWJ.

Akrasia

If Scotland beat Wales, and Wales win the rest of their games, and England beat France, and Ireland win the rest of our games, then we might still win the championship

Easy

Fireball07

Davies is some finisher. Knock-on or not, he knows how to score tries.

vienne86

Akrasia wrote: »

If Scotland beat Wales, and Wales win the rest of their games, and England beat France, and Ireland win the rest of our games, then we might still win the championship

Easy

Well Wales have their first try already though Davies, so this doesn't look likely.

AdamD

Hes offside when the ball is kicked and runs forward..

Will23

ahead of the kicker??

AlfaZen

Fireball07 wrote: »

Davies is some finisher. Knock-on or not, he knows how to score tries.

It wasn't a KO but Davies looked like he was in front of Roberts so, offside?

.ak

9 never retreated. How can the refs miss that?

funtime93

Would hate to see wales win the championship. Would prefer England did it tbh.

razorblunt

Laidlaw looks like he has an interest in geting the ball away quickly today, might be interesting.

vienne86

Laidlaw is so much quicker today.

LuckyGent88

Great play by Scotland here.

vienne86

Great bloody try for Scotland!

Akrasia

AdamD wrote: »

Hes offside when the ball is kicked and runs forward..

7 each now 😀

Fireball07

AlfaZen wrote: »

It wasn't a KO but Davies looked like he was in front of Roberts so, offside?

Still... sometimes you get those breaks, he's scored like 6 tries in 11 games for Wales now.



Good try Scotland!

misslt

Amazing!!

pickarooney

At last a bit of rugby.

vienne86

Well watching this match makes me wish there was a roof on Stade de France.

BBDBB

Already a much more entertaining game than France v Ireland

razorblunt

Game on. Laidlaw picking and going himself has completely thrown the Welsh.
Keep at it wee man.

Fireball07

Akrasia wrote: »

7 each now 😀

Was optimistic predicting the kick from that angle. Well-struck though.

TICKLE_ME_ELMO

Biggar so good at chasing his own kicks.

AlfaZen

Fireball07 wrote: »

Still... sometimes you get those breaks, he's scored like 6 tries in 11 games for Wales now.



Good try Scotland!

Agree on getting the breaks but it was checked by TMO and he is looking at the same reply we are.

Both these teams making Ireland look very one dimensional in attack.

aimee1

AlfaZen wrote: »

Agree on getting the breaks but it was checked by TMO and he is looking at the same reply we are.

Both these teams making Ireland look very one dimensional in attack.

Both tries from kicks but ireland are one dimensional?

Akrasia

Fireball07 wrote: »

Was optimistic predicting the kick from that angle. Well-struck though.

It was a gimme...

I'm optimistic

Ireland to win the 6 nations.

AlfaZen

aimee1 wrote: »

Both tries from kicks but ireland are one dimensional?

Ireland have 1 try in 160 mins of Rugby have bearly looked like scoring another. Ball is slow from the ruck and we seem to run out of steam in attack very quickly.

Both Wales and Scotland seem to have a lot more movement 9-15.

pickarooney

Ah Hogg, you'd get a roasting at under 8 level for throwing a ball away like that.