6 NATIONS: Wales v Scotland

15.02.2015

Venue: Murrayfield

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Preview
Both Scotland and Wales suffered defeats in the first round of the Six Nations played last weekend. The losing team today will almost certainly be out of any contention for a championship title.

Scotland may have been unhappy to lose to France last weekend but the progress this side has made under Vern cotter’s experience is most noticeable. They are actually pleasing to watch. I thought their intensity against the All Blacks in November was quite remarkable.

Wales will out to prove their stumble against England in the second half was a one off showing. This is a very experienced side. Leaving out George North has not really weakened this side. Remember that in 2013 Wales dropped their first game to go on a win that championship.

Look out for fireworks in the first half. It should be a cracker!

Last Five Encounters
15.03.2014 Wales 51-3 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
09.03.2013 Wales 28-8 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
12.02.2012 Wales 27-13 at Cardiff ( 6 Nations)
12.02.2011 Wales 24-6 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
13.02.2010 Wales 31-24 in Cardiff (6 Nations)

Scotland last defeated Wales in February 2007, winning 21-9 at Murrayfield. Wales has won the last eight encounters.

Scotland Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
07.02.2015 v France L 8-15 in Paris (6 Nations)
22.11.2014 v Tonga W 37-12 at Kilmarnock
15.11.2014 v New Zealand L 16-24 at Murrayfield
08.11.2014 v Argentina W 41-31 at Murrayfield
28.06.2014 v South Africa L 6-55 at Port Elizabeth

Wales Last Five P 5, W 2, L 3
07.02.2015 v England L 16-21 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
29.11.2014 v South Africa W 12-6 in Cardiff
22.11.2014 v New Zealand L 16-34 in Cardiff
15.11.2014 v Fiji W 17-13 in Cardiff
08.11.2014 v Australia L 28-33 in Cardiff

GWC Rugby Rankings
World Table: Wales 3rd, Scotland 6th
Europe Table: Wales 3rd, Scotland 6th

IRB Ranking Points
Wales 80.60, Scotland 78.16

Prediction: Wales by 7 points

Teams

Scotland
15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Alexander Dunbar,
11 Timothy Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 John Beattie, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Robert Harley, 5 Jonathon Gray, 4 Richard Gray, 3 Geoffrey Cross,
2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Replacements
16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 James Hamilton,
20 Alasdair Strokosch, 21 Samuel Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Matthew Scott

Wales
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alexander Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 James Roberts, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Danial Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Samuel Warburton, (Capt.) 6 Danial Lydiate, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Aaron Jarvis, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements
16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Paul James, 18 Scott Andrews, 19 Luke Charteris,
20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Michael Phillips, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Scott Williams.