International Rugby: Wales v Scotland

08.02.2009
Wales v Scotland at Murrayfield (6 Nations)

Preview
Wales are the team to beat. 6 Nations champion and Grand Slam winner for 2007-08 and the only team to inflict defeat a Southern Hemisphere (excluding Argentina) nation in November, Wales arrive in Edinburgh the champions of Europe. All they have to do is play to that reputation and they should win comfortably. But to take a win against Scotland at Murrayfield for granted at any time is courting disaster. Look what happened in 2007! With basically the same side that defeated Australia (with Phillips and Bennett added for strength) Wales looks the winner on paper.

Last Five Tests Played by Wales
29.11.2008 v Australia W 21-18 in Cardiff
22.11.2008 v New Zealand L 9-29 in Cardiff
14.11.2008 v Canada W 34-13 in Cardiff
08.11.2008 v South Africa L 15-20 in Cardiff
14.06.2008 v South Africa L 21-37 in Pretoria

Scotland fans will be wondering just what will this Scottish side of theirs dish out this time? Following their team is like riding a roller coaster-up and down! After their great win against Argentina in Buenos Aires last year the team's performances were great against South Africa, then poor against New Zealand. So. Up and down. here we go again. What will it be today?

Last Five Tests Played by Scotland
22.11.2008 v Canada W 41-0 in Aberdeen
15.11.2008 v South Africa L 10-14 at Murrayfield
08.11.2008 v New Zealand L 6-32 at Murrayfield
14.06.2008 v Argentina W 26-14 in Buenos Aires
07.06.2008 v Argentina L 15-21 in Rosario

Last Five Encounters Wales v Scotland
09.02.2008 Wales 30-15 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
10.02.2007 Scotland 21-9 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
12.02.2006 Wales 28-18 in Cardiff (6 Nations)
13.03.2005 Wales 46-22 at Murrayfield (6 Nations)
14.02.2004 Wales 23-10 in Cardiff (6 Nations)

GWC Rugby Rankings: World Table-Wales 3rd, Scotland 6th
Europe Table-Wales 1st, Scotland 6th

Prediction: Wales by 12 points

Teams

Scotland
15 Hugo Southwell (Edinburgh Gunners) Age 28, 44 Tests
14 Simon Webster (Edinburgh Gunners) 27, 31
13 Benjamin Cairns (Edinburgh Gunners) 23, 5
12 Graeme Morrison (Glasgow Warriors) 26, 11
11 Sean Lamont (Northampton Saints, England) 26, 32
10 Phillip Godman (Edinburgh Gunners) 26, 12
9 Michael Blair, Capt. (Edinburgh Gunners) 27, 53
8 Simon Taylor (Stade Francais, France) 29, 61
7 John Barclay (Glasgow Warriors) 21, 7
6 Allister Hogg (Edinburgh Gunners) 25, 46
5 James Hamilton (Edinburgh Gunners) 25, 18
4 Jason White (Sale Sharks, England) 30, 69
3 Geoffrey Cross (Edinburgh Gunners) 26, New Cap
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Gunners) 24, 24
1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh Gunners) 30, 33
Replacements
16 Douglas Hall (Glasgow Warriors) 28, 23
17 Alastair Dickinson (Gloucester, England) 24, 7
18 Kelly Brown (Glasgow Warriors) 26, 25
19 Scott Gray (Northampton Saints, England) 30, 4
20 Christopher Cusiter (Perpignan, France) 26, 39
21 Christopher Paterson (Gloucester, England) 30, 90
22 Max Evans (Glasgow Warriors) 25, 1
Head Coach: Frank Hadden

Geoff Cross wins his first test cap for Scotland.

Wales
15 Lee Byrne (Neath Swansea Ospreys) Age 28, 22 Tests
14 Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues) 19, 3
13 Thomas Shanklin Cardiff Blues) 29, 58
12 James Roberts Cardiff Blues) 21, 6
11 Shane Williams (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 31, 61
10 Stephen Jones (Lanelli Scarlets) 31, 75
9 Michael Phillips (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 26
8 Andrew Powell (Cardiff Blues) 27, 4
7 Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues) 33, 84
6 Ryan Jones, Capt. (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 28, 26
5 Alun-Wyn Jones (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 23, 26
4 Ian Gough (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 32, 55
3 Adam Jones (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 27, 52
2 Matthew Rees (Lanelli Scarlets) 28, 22
1 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) 28, 63
Replacements
16 Huw Bennett (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 25, 17
17 John Yapp (Cardiff Blues) 25, 10
18 Luke Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons) 25, 9
19 Dafydd Jones (Lanelli Scarlets) 28, 34
20 Dwayne Peel (Sale Sharks, England) 27, 64
21 James Hook (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 23, 29
22 Andrew Bishop (Neath Swansea Ospreys) 23, 3
Head Coach: Warren Gatland

The injured list
Gavin Henson (after selection), Ian Evans