Wales v Scotland, 15 March

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Walesv Scotland  

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
15 March 2014, KO:14:45

Referee: Jérôme Garces (FFR)
First Assistant: Chris Pollock (NZR)
Second Assistant: Greg Garner (RFU)
TMO: Graham Hughes (RFU)

A. Squads

1. Wales

Forwards: Paul James (Bath), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ryan Bevington (Ospreys), Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Emyr Phillips (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Andrew Coombs (Dragons), Ryan Jones (Ospreys), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Sam Warburton Capt (Cardiff Blues), Toby Faletau (Dragons), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Aaron Shingler (Scarlets)

Backs: Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), James Hook (Perpignan), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Scott Williams (Scarlets), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), George North (Northampton Saints), Leigh Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), Liam Williams (Scarlets).

2. Scotland

Forwards: John Beattie (Montpellier), Kelly Brown (Saracens), Geoff Cross, David Denton, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford (all Edinburgh Rugby), Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Ryan Grant, Jonny Gray (both Glasgow Warriors), Richie Gray (Castres), Jim Hamilton (Montpellier), Robert Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons), Kieran Low (London Irish), Moray Low, Pat MacArthur (both Glasgow Warriors), Ross Rennie (Edinburgh Rugby) Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan), Tim Swinson and Ryan Wilson (both Glasgow Warriors).

Backs: Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors), Nick De Luca (Edinburgh Rugby), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Max Evans (Castres), Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart Hogg, Ruaridh Jackson, Sean Lamont (all Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby), Sean Maitland (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby), Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby) and Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors).

B. Previous Form

9 March 2013, Murrayfield
18 – 28 to Wales

12 February 2012, Millennium Stadium
27 – 13 to Wales

12 February 2011, Murrayfield
6 – 24 to Wales

13 February 2010, Millennium Stadium
31 – 24 to Wales

8 February 2009, Murrayfield
13 – 26 to Wales

9 February 2008, Millennium Stadium
30 – 15 to Wales

10 February 2007, Murrayfield
21 – 9 to Scotland

12 February 2006, Millennium Stadium
28 – 18 to Wales

13 March 2005, Murrayfield
22 – 46 to Wales

14 February 2004, Millennium Stadium
23 – 10 to Wales

30 August 2003, Millennium Stadium
23 – 9 to Wales (2003 Rugby World Cup preparatory game)

8 March 2003, Murrayfield
30 – 22 to Scotland

6 April 2002, Millennium Stadium
22 – 27 to Scotland

C. Teams

1. Wales

15 Liam Williams (Scarlets)
14 Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues)
13 Jonathan Davies (Scarlets)
12 Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro)
11 George North (Northampton Saints)
10 Dan Biggar (Ospreys)
09 Mike Phillips (Racing Metro)

01 Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues)
02 Ken Owens (Scarlets)
03 Rhodri Jones (Scarlets)
04 Luke Charteris (Perpignan)
05 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
06 Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro)
07 Sam Warburton (CAPT – Cardiff Blues)
08 Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons)

Replacements:
16 Richard Hibbard (Ospreys)
17 Paul James (Bath Rugby)
18 Adam Jones (Ospreys)
19 Jake Ball (Scarlets)
20 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)
21 Rhodri Williams (Scarlets)
22 Rhys Priestland (Scarlets)
23 James Hook (Perpignan)

2. Scotland

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors)
14 Dougie Fife(Edinburgh Rugby)
13 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) 7
12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby)
11 Max Evans (Castres)
10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Greig Laidlaw (Edinburgh Rugby) vice-cpt

1 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors)
2 Scott Lawson (Newcastle Falcons)
3 Geoff Cross (Edinburgh Rugby)
4 Richie Gray (Castres)
5 Jim Hamilton (Montpellier)
6 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors)
7 Kelly Brown (Saracens) captain
8 David Denton (Edinburgh Rugby)

Substitutes
16 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby)
17 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby)
18 Euan Murray (Worcester Warriors)
19 Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors)
20 Alasdair Strokosch (Perpignan)
21 Chris Cusiter (Glasgow Warriors)
22 Duncan Taylor (Saracens)
23 Jack Cuthbert (Edinburgh Rugby)

Great shot of SJ there... He looks dejected, I hope Vern does a much better job than he has.

Both times Priestland has had the ball hes just been smashed

Fair play what a finish by Williams...as long as no one was offside.

What a kick by Hook

Finally Wales score again. Williams has had a great debut but he will have a few tougher games I suspect.

Tell you what - if it was a Wales player sent off there would be absolutely no chance that Scotland would have scored so many points.

wow

They've done well to stem the haemorraging of points in the second half.

Wales have shown that there is still a lot to look forward to after last week. Probably took the pressure off and let them play their natural game. They are still a very, very good side (despite what others might say)... they just need to play with the same intensity against SA in a few months time.

Try!!! Nice regather and put down... on the side of his face!   

That was a great finish.

Cari wrote:That was a great finish.

I see his teeth are all still there.   

Liam Williams is MOTM.

Who do Scotland have on their Summer Tour? And will Vern Cotter be in charge for that?

Scotland really have hit a low patch. Where do they go from here?

ooh that was a lovely pass by Hook! Why wasn't he picked sooner?

Notch wrote:Who do Scotland have on their Summer Tour? And will Vern Cotter be in charge for that?

Canada, Argentina and SA... I think. Vern will be in charge.

What is refreshingly different about wales is that they are hungry, haven't sat on a massive winning margin but still trying to score tries

USA, Canada, Argentina then SA

awww and Scotland fluff their last good chance.

Wales get a record breaking (against Scotland) win.

Well done Wales, now for the main event

Clinical stuff from wales.

amazing win

Did Ross Harries just call North St George?!

Cari wrote:Did Ross Harries just call North St George?!

Well he is English

Some selection problems for Gatland but that 1st half picks itself I think. 1/2 penny instead of Cuthburt only change I would make.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

Cari wrote:Did Ross Harries just call North St George?!

Well he is English

Yeah, pop up to Llangefni and tell George that. Then  

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

Cari wrote:Did Ross Harries just call North St George?!

Well he is English

St George wasn't English!

Anyway, well done Wales. Commiserations Scotland.

Frak. That was utterly humiliating. It's been a terrible season, Italy win aside, and the future looks grim.

GLove39 wrote:Frak. That was utterly humiliating. It's been a terrible season, Italy win aside, and the future looks grim.

The present isn't crash hot either!

Wales can take something from this. Scotland really are in the doldrums now.

Well congratulations to Wales... and their loyal fans on here. That was a thoroughly emphatic win.
        and some    for Cari.

Commiserations to RDW, GC, ASBO and Co.   
Hopefully when you expel that Aussie fool you'll be looking upwards again.
(I feel so embarrassed.... no team, let alone a national one deserves that)

Cari wrote:Ha!  Top Irish fan there with the sign saying "I've been here three days, and I still haven't seen the Eiffel Tower".

Biggest laugh of the day. At least gave us here in a Glasgow rugby club some light relief!

Well I'm turning my back on Scottish Rugby. There have been no positives at all in recent years and this is the icing on the cake. If this had been Murrayfield after half time there'd have only been a few thousand Welsh left, seriously. We're a laughing stock and really should let Georgia take our place. There comes a time when enough is just enough.

Does Duncan Weir struggle with the concept of an overlap? That's 2 matches in a row where he's just had to put it through the hands to give us a good chance of scoring a try but he's panicked and done something daft. Bit of a worry, as you'd tend to forgive young, inexperienced players for mistakes but in return you really expect to see evidence that they learn from those mistakes

Fans don't turn their back Nematode, look at that awesome guy leading your anthem in the crowd, must have shelled out to travel/ticket/hotel....still smiling and behind the boys, when the team is under the cosh that is when a real fan stands up.

All I can say to Scottish fans at this point is hang in there. I know it's hard... and yes, I would be wallowing in despair too if that was Wales losing in such fashion. It's times like these that test your duty as a supporter.

Not a bad home record for Wales in the last 2 years: record wins over England, France and now Scotland!

Scratch wrote:Fans don't turn their back Nematode

I don't agree, why should we blindly follow the omni-shambles that is Scottish rugby.

cakeordeath wrote:

Scratch wrote:Fans don't turn their back Nematode

I don't agree, why should we blindly follow the omni-shambles that is Scottish rugby.

Because FANS will bring it back. There is an unwritten covenant as a fan, you enjoy the good times and stick it when it's bad, leave in droves and your sport will dissolve in front of your eyes and it will be you as much as the management who contributed to it

The fact is this has happened again and again. "Bye Scotland. Oh ok then, I'll give you another try..." Call me a glory hunter for jumping ship, a disloyal, poor fan, but this is the final straw. #lackingclue Who have we beaten in the past years? Italy, Japan, ...? Enough's enough.

Given there's people and players earning 6 figure sums - and will continue to do so - in the SRU, I'm no longer handing over my hard-earned £20 for a ticket, extortionate amounts for food and a fare to go through this.

There's been NO progress. Unless Scottish fans boycott Murrayfield they'll be no change in the SRU setup and we'll fall even further.

Put it this way. You can continue the misery, continue foreign fans being more vocal at Murrayfield and wasting away your money OR you can go down to the pub with your mates and i) have a good chat ii) watch the big boys play proper rugby.

Scratch wrote:

cakeordeath wrote:

Scratch wrote:Fans don't turn their back Nematode

I don't agree, why should we blindly follow the omni-shambles that is Scottish rugby.

Because FANS will bring it back. There is an unwritten covenant as a fan, you enjoy the good times and stick it when it's bad, leave in droves and your sport will dissolve in front of your eyes and it will be you as much as the management who contributed to it

What good times   

*sorry, computer lag = repost

Scratch wrote:

cakeordeath wrote:

Scratch wrote:Fans don't turn their back Nematode

I don't agree, why should we blindly follow the omni-shambles that is Scottish rugby.

Because FANS will bring it back. There is an unwritten covenant as a fan, you enjoy the good times and stick it when it's bad, leave in droves and your sport will dissolve in front of your eyes and it will be you as much as the management who contributed to it

I like to think of it as this. I invest my time (watching games, travelling) and money (tickets, rugby subs etc) in watching Scotland. In return I expect the SRU to properly manage the team and the players to play to an acceptable level. This hasn't happened for years.

We don't deserve to be in the 6 Nations. Not because of this years results, but because of the continued mismanagement of the game in Scotland. Rugby in Scotland is dying a long slow painful death.

Nematode wrote:

Scratch wrote:

cakeordeath wrote:

Scratch wrote:Fans don't turn their back Nematode

I don't agree, why should we blindly follow the omni-shambles that is Scottish rugby.

Because FANS will bring it back. There is an unwritten covenant as a fan, you enjoy the good times and stick it when it's bad, leave in droves and your sport will dissolve in front of your eyes and it will be you as much as the management who contributed to it

What good times   

Not judging you mate, just saying STICK IT, all sides come good eventually, look at Wales!!!

Look at the match stats though...

Scotland Possession: 55%
" " Territory: 58%
  

Unfortunately in this case there is only 1 stat that counts:

red cards 0 : 1

Most sides would struggle to capitalise on possession and territory when playing for 60 minutes with a man down

Back from the shops now. What did I miss?

George Carlin wrote:Back from the shops now. What did I miss?

The Scotland team cost me 3 packs of grass fed rib-eye steaks.

cakeordeath wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Back from the shops now. What did I miss?

The Scotland team cost me 3 packs of grass fed rib-eye steaks.

They raising cattle on murrayfield too?

Scratch wrote:

Nematode wrote:

Scratch wrote:

cakeordeath wrote:

Scratch wrote:Fans don't turn their back Nematode

I don't agree, why should we blindly follow the omni-shambles that is Scottish rugby.

Because FANS will bring it back. There is an unwritten covenant as a fan, you enjoy the good times and stick it when it's bad, leave in droves and your sport will dissolve in front of your eyes and it will be you as much as the management who contributed to it

What good times   

Not judging you mate, just saying STICK IT, all sides come good eventually, look at Wales!!!

Exactly. Some of us remember the late 90s/early 00s... *shudders*

Scratch wrote:

cakeordeath wrote:

George Carlin wrote:Back from the shops now. What did I miss?

The Scotland team cost me 3 packs of grass fed rib-eye steaks.

They raising cattle on murrayfield too?

Yeah they swapped the donkeys for cattle