Wales v Scotland - Teams and Prediction
SIX NATIONS, ROUND THREE: After a thrilling win over England at Murrayfield last weekend, a revitalised Scotland head to Cardiff on Saturday to take on a Wales team that has not won a home game in the Six Nations since the Scots came calling in February 2022.
For the Scots, it is a golden opportunity to continue to wipe away the memory of an opening defeat in Rome and put themselves back in the title race, while Wales can finally kickstart their campaign and put some cheer into the cheeks of their bruised supporters.
Former Scotland No.8 Johnnie Beattie opened up on three areas which could prove pivotal at the Principality Stadium:
Jekyll and Hyde Scotland
Like Robert Louis Stevenson’s famous creation, Scotland have shown two contrasting faces this campaign: a rather feeble and watery defeat in Rome followed by an inspiring humiliation of England in the Calcutta Cup match last weekend.
So, questions remain over which Scotland will turn up in Cardiff.
“They are capable of being wonderful and dreadful, humbling England one week, losing in Rome another,” Beattie told AFP.
“But we’ve not played with any consistency: that’s what bugs the fans, the players, [coach] Gregor Townsend, everyone.”
“France and England trounced Wales, and Scotland should back that up. There’s too much of a gulf in quality and international experience.”
Beattie, who won 38 caps between 2006 and 2015, believes that one win from their last two games against France and Ireland would be positive for Scotland.
“Mind you, Scotland haven’t beaten Ireland since 2017, and they’ve not won in Dublin since 2010 when I was playing, which shows you how long ago that is.
“But a Triple Crown would be a successful tournament.”
Townsend, meanwhile, is taking nothing for granted: “It’s a lot about what you do in those 80 minutes, and we’ve got to make sure that we get our game out,” he said.
The preview continues below…
Tandy vs Townsend
The Scotland coach was also adamant that this game is not between him and Wales head coach Steve Tandy.
“Coaches don’t go up against each other,” he said. “It’s the players.”
However, the fact that Tandy was Scotland defence coach between 2019 and July 2025 will add some spice to the encounter. The former Ospreys flanker was at Townsend’s side the last time Wales won a home game in the tournament four years ago.
So, does Tandy have the secret to unlocking the Scottish defence?
“It’s not easy for Steve,” says Beattie. “There’s plenty of quality there, but they lack experience at international level.
“But if there is a man who knows how to stop Gregor Townsend and his approach, it’s Steve.”
Townsend, described by Beattie as “the best Scottish coach of the modern era”, admitted that the two had been sharing messages earlier in the Six Nations – but not this week.
“We think very fondly of Steve,” he said. “He has been a big influence on our players. I’m sure after the game we can have a few beers.”
Wales defence
‘Leaky’ is putting it gently.
In his first six games in charge, Tandy’s Wales have conceded a staggering 302 points – an average of more than 50 points a game – and 42 tries.
Tandy has no dedicated defence coach but has said there will be a new one in place by the summer. But that will be way too late for this Six Nations, where they have already conceded 15 tries in two games, losing 7-48 to England before the 12-54 French hammering.
Wales have won just two of their last 25 Tests and are without a win in the Six Nations in three years.
“I know how they feel,” says Beattie.
“Some of the Scotland teams I played in struggled and had to cut their teeth at international level.
“It’s the start of a rebuild under a new coaching team.
“So, they will be looking for those small ‘wins’ and then building on those.
“There’s plenty of quality there; Scotland will be hoping this isn’t the weekend when it begins to tick for the Welsh.”
Players to watch
For Wales: Wing Gabriel Hamer-Webb will have a spotlight on him as he will be making his debut. It won’t be easy, as he will be tasked with marking Duhan van der Merwe. Sam Costelow gets a shot to steer the ship at flyhalf, and he will need to make some smart decisions, especially on attack, where opportunities could be limited. Aaron Wainwright can be a gritty player in the tight exchanges, and Wales will need him at his best to combat the dynamic Scottish forwards.
For Scotland: There are some returning faces in the form of British and Irish Lions duo Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe. Kinghorn will rip any team to shreds if he gets enough time and space. Meanwhile, Van der Merwe will be out to prove his worth again after being left out of the matchday 23 in the opening rounds. He is a try-scoring machine and expect him to play like a man possessed in Cardiff. In the pack, a player like Rory Darge could bully the Welsh with his physicality.
Prediction
Rugby365: Scotland by 20 points.
Teams:
Wales: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit, 14 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 13 Eddie James, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Alex Mann, 6 Taine Plumtree, 5 Ben Carter, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Dewi Lake (captain), 1 Rhys Carre.
Replacements: 16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 James Botham, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Blair Murray.
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Gregor Brown, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Max Williamson, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 George Horne, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Darcy Graham.
Date: Saturday, February 21
Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 16.40 (16.40 GMT)
Expected weather: The roof will be closed for this match.
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Adam Leal (England)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
AFP & @rugby365com
