Wales Vs Scotland - SUNDAY 12th FEBRUARY - KO 15:00 Gonna be a classic..!

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Wales Vs Scotland

Date: Sunday, February 12
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Millennium Stadium

Coverage: Live on BBC One Wales, BBC Radio Wales & online, S4C and Radio Cymru, plus live text and score updates on the BBC Sport website

Date: Sunday, February 12
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 15:00 (15:00 GMT)
Expected weather: Cloudy with a few showers likely. High of 5°C, low of 3°C
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Simon McDowell (Ireland)
TMO: Giulio De Santis (Italy)



Scotland will encounter a Wales side oozing confidence when round two of the Six Nations concludes at the Millennium Stadium on Sunday.

The opening round of the Championship was a weekend of contrasting fortunes for the two sides.
Wales underlined their status as potential Six Nations champions with a rousing 23-21 victory over Ireland in Dublin. It was a wonderful advert for Six Nations rugby with two teams going at it hammer and tongs for a game won in the last 20 seconds.
That win came less than 24 hours after Scotland had started their challenge with a 13-6 loss to England at Murrayfield. The Scots created enough chances to have beaten their visitors last week, however simple errors coupled with a lack of tries led to another disappointing defeat for Andy Robinson's men, who have now lost three on the trot.
Just once in 13 attempts have Scotland won on the opening weekend of the tournament since Italy joined the Five Nations in 2000.
Scotland must now attempt to bounce back and beat the Welsh in their own back yard - something they have failed to achieve in a decade.
They came mighty close though in their last Cardiff contest after leading by ten points with seven minutes remaining, only for the now retired Shane Williams to score a last-gasp try to secure a dramatic 31-24 come-from-behind victory.
Winning away from home has been a wee bit of a problem for the Scots in the Six Nations, where they have won just once on the road since 2006 (23-20 against Ireland at Croke Park in 2010).
But despite Scotland's poor showing last weekend and dismal away record, Wales will do well not to underestimate Sunday's visitors who are expected to come out all guns blazing after asking for the Millennium Stadium roof to be closed.
With wet weather being forecast, Scotland - notwithstanding the apparent lack of abilities to score tries (at least in the past four games) - have backed themselves to take on Wales at their own expansive game.
"We cannot afford to underestimate Scotland, the amount of possession and territory they had against England last weekend meant that they should have won the game and they will come to the Millennium Stadium buoyed by that knowledge," said Wales coach Warren Gatland.
Wales have won the opening two games of a Six Nations campaign on just two previous occasions - in 2005 and 2008 - and each time they went on to win the title and Grand Slam. Three of the World Cup semi-finalists' remaining four games are in Cardiff, starting on Sunday when try-shy Scotland arrive at the Millennium Stadium.
But following Wales' heroics in Dublin, the build-up to Sunday's Test has been blighted by the suspension of Bradley Davies, who will miss the rest of this season's tournament after collecting a seven-week ban for a reckless tip-tackle on Ireland replacement Donnacha Ryan last weekend.
Davies is the second Wales player suspended for that offence this season following Sam Warburton's dismissal and three-week punishment for an incident in the World Cup semi-final against France last October.
Davies now joins his fellow World Cup locks Luke Charteris and Alun-Wyn Jones on the international sidelines. But in a triple boost for Gatland, flanker Dan Lydiate has recovered from an ankle injury to reclaim the number six shirt, prop Gethin Jenkins has recovered from knee trouble to start and skipper Warburton also features after being in doubt with a leg injury.
However, Warburton has been wrapped in cotton wool this whole week and took a very limited part in training while staying clear of any contact work. Whether he actually leads the team out hangs in the balance and probably won't be known until the morning of the match.
In a game where the back-row battle will be absolutely crucial, everyone in the Welsh camp - and in Wales as a whole - will be keeping their fingers crossed that the inspirational skipper can defy the injury odds and help guide his team to back-to-back wins.
Wales are favourites, but nobody should have any illusions how tough this match will be...
Ones to watch:

For Wales: Former Wales captain Ryan Jones will, as expected, fill the second-row void against Scotland caused by Bradley Davies' seven-week suspension. Jones was exceptional at blindside flanker against Ireland in Dublin and his versatility is proving of immeasurable value to Gatland.
For Scotland: With Dan Parks calling it quits from Test rugby this week, Greig Laidlaw inherits the number 10 jersey for Scotland. The Edinburgh skipper won the first two of his three caps as a replacement scrum-half, before coming on at fly-half for Parks in the Calcutta Cup defeat to England. Yet an impressive display during the small amount of time he was on the pitch has been rewarded with his first Test start.
Head to head: Toby Faletau v David Denton. Scotland's Zimbabwean-born number eight Denton was deservedly named man-of-the-match following his Herculean ball-carrying against England last Saturday, and much of the same will be required against the tough as nails Faletau, who will always be found where the battle is at its most ferocious.

Recent results:
2011: Wales won 24-6, Edinburgh
2010: Wales won 31-24, Cardiff
2009: Wales won 26-13, Edinburgh
2008: Wales won 30-15, Cardiff
2007: Scotland won 21-9, Edinburgh
2006: Wales won 28-18, Cardiff
2005: Wales won 46-22, Edinburgh
2004: Wales won 23-10, Cardiff
2003: Wales won 23-9, Cardiff
2003: Scotland won 30-22, Edinburgh
Prediction: Neither history or form is with Scotland heading into this match, and while we're sure they'll give it a good crack - we just can't see Wales letting this one slip. Wales to win by nine points!
Rugby Union betting odds

The teams:

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Rhys Priestland, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Ian Evans, 4 Ryan Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Paul James, 18 Lou Reed, 19 Andy Powell, 20 Lloyd Williams, 21 James Hook, 22 Scott Williams.

Scotland: 15 Rory Lamont, 14 Lee Jones, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Sean Lamont, 11 Max Evans, 10 Greig Laidlaw, 9 Chris Cusiter, 8 David Denton, 7 Ross Rennie, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford (c), 1 Allan Jacobsen.

Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Ed Kalman, 18 Alastair Kellock, 19 John Barclay, 20 Mike Blair, 21 Duncan Weir, 22 Stuart Hogg.

I just wanna fight everyone.

Cymroglan wrote:flyhalffactory
If the first try had been allowed it does not mean you would have scored another one from the restart.
The match would have taken a different course after the try was scored.

You are right it might have taken a very different course, we could have scored two more tries or you might have

but the fact is it was a clear try ............. thats the point,

I dont want to blame the ref for our loss............. I mean in the stadium we thought Chunk knocked the ball on right on the trylin on the 39 min, now on futher inspection it was a clear foul (pen try and yellow card) 10 mins for Gethin Jenks going into the 2nd half and maybe those mad 15 mins might never have happened

and I am sure you guys could have come up with a few as well

"if and buts"

You won and it was well deserved

flyhalffactory wrote:

Morgannwg wrote:

The Great Aukster wrote:Rory - Wales well deserved the win. I agree Lydiate was fairly anonymous and for me Shingler was their best backrower. Scotland outplayed Wales by about 10% in the forwards but Wales were 50% better in the backs.

Gatland has to take the credit for the tactics and getting the players to execute them. I don't particularly like some of them like lying on the wrong side, holding on to players after the ball is long gone and lazy runners like Adam Jones but hey it's working and the ref is happy.

IMO Warren has nailed on the Lion's gig and will pick the whole Welsh backline although can't see more than one or two forwards making it.

Just 50 per cent better?

We were missing some forwards. Jones, Faletau and Warburton will be Lions on current form so that's more than two already.

Evening folks just arrived back in our hotel, having been to a great match with some fantastic fans both from Scotland and our Wesh cousins, and then come back to review and then I have read this clown (among one or two others) contribution throughout the thread.
Mate don't know if you really are in University.... more like Infants School (after your juvenile comments spoiled which should have been a good debate during the live match).

We lost, and on an overall balance deserved it. A few personal views from me and many Welsh and Scottish fans on the match

First half
Shingler was your best forward by a country mile
Halfpenny was immense and Jon Davies outstanding in defense
Rennie/Gray/Denton awesome
Laidlaw disappointing and inspiring in equal measures, Blair gets the best out his halfback partner and should have been on from the start
Scotland had close on 65% of the territory and possession
39 min Chunk mucked up the try when it was easier to score than not to
Everybody agreed that Scotland should have been going into the break 10-3 up

Second Half
42 min. Cussiter mucks up an easy pickup, fantastic welsh pressure leads to the excellent Cuthbert brushing past Laidlaw too easily. 1/2p good conversion
44 min. YELLOW - Roberts knocks on in front of Linesman and Ref.......... ingnored!! instead sin-bin NDL (shades of 2010)
50 min. TRY - Intense pressure from Wales sensing blood, the excellent Cuthbert offloads to the more excellant 1/2p
54 min. YELLOW - Scotland cannot cope during this period and Rory fouls and is off
56 min TRY - Massive pressure from Wales just superb in their pressure, 1/2p is just unbelievable during this period
So that is that folks game over, 40th min 3-3 and Scotland on top, one mistake from Cussiter and 16 mins later 27-6 to Wales
62 min. TRY - Yes Yes Yes .......ahem NO says Romain Poite ...... thats one serious error mate, should be 27-13 now, thats going to pull us down
63 min. TRY - Yes Yes Yes .......ahem YES says Romain Poite ........ Laidlaw now making his mark on the game, so thats 27-20 and Scotland now have the Welsh in their sights, oooops sorry thought it was a nightmare and realised it was that try really was disallowed 27-13 still
64-80 mins............ Give and take from both sides
80 min. Scotland out on our feet, Wales fitness tells and a good win
Well done Wales ........ still on for that Triple Crown and Grand Slam

Overall assessment.......... the ref certainly changed the face of the game

Wales
1/2p pick of the bunch, Cuthbert, Jon Davies, Shingler were immense assisted by Lydiate,

Scotland
Blair should have started, Laidlaw came of age
Rennie IMHO was the MOM.

Wales deserved to win, but if the ref allowed the "try" who would have known

Lastly there are some boring ill educated WUMs on this site now, which is a shame as its got so much potential

Whilst I agree for the most point on your article, I do not agree that you would have scored two try's. If the first one was rightly given, then you would not have been in a position to for Laildlaw to score, also if Wales had decided to kick instead of running from the wrongly given scrum, I doubt you would have had any try's at all. But hey,ho, that is just my view.

LordDowlais wrote:
Whilst I agree for the most point on your article, I do not agree that you would have scored two try's. If the first one was rightly given, then you would not have been in a position to for Laildlaw to score, also if Wales had decided to kick instead of running from the wrongly given scrum, I doubt you would have had any try's at all. But hey,ho, that is just my view.

Careful. If Scotland weren't down one man, then two.......................... Never talk about 'if' unless you're prepared to share them round.

Maybe Wales are for once benefitting from the way in which (I believe) refs go with what they expect to happen.

It's clear the IRB have an agenda regarding Wales, they made a mistake in the RWC with Warburtons red card and since then 50/50 decisions go there way.

The other teams might as well give up and go home Wales will be gifted this year's 6 nations.

HERSH wrote:It's clear the IRB have an agenda regarding Wales, they made a mistake in the RWC with Warburtons red card and since then 50/50 decisions go there way.

The other teams might as well give up and go home Wales will be gifted this year's 6 nations.

HERSH you scoundrel, stop it now

Some of us did give up and go home.

HERSH wrote:It's clear the IRB have an agenda regarding Wales, they made a mistake in the RWC with Warburtons red card and since then 50/50 decisions go there way.

The other teams might as well give up and go home Wales will be gifted this year's 6 nations.

Oh, that's very nice of them, even if there was no 'mistake' in the RWC as to Warburton's sending off. Thank you very much IRB. Can they let us know when we can collect the cup so that we can organise the open top bus parade. Thanks.