Preview: Scotland v Wales

 

Having been blown off the Millenium Stadium in a 51-3 drubbing by the Welsh last year, the Scots are looking to hit back hard on home turf after last week's fighting performance against France.

 

Scotland were in the match right to the end in Paris last week, and they will be hoping to catch Wales off guard after their disappointing defeat at home to England in Cardiff.

 

Scotland captain Greg Laidlaw said that the memory of last year's result and the support of the home fans will provide more than enough motivation for his side.

 

"We will probably use some of that as well, it would be silly not to. There are players who have been through difficult times and that was a difficult time for us so we will use that as a driver.

 

"We need to keep our emotions in check and use it in the right way to fire the boys up.

 

"We are also going to be coming out to a sold-out Murrayfield and it is fantastic for us as players to know that the Scottish supporters are coming out in their numbers so we really want to play for them," he said.

 

Laidlaw is well-aware of the threats that Wales will pose, and pointed to their strength at the breakdown and committed defence as two key areas for the visitors that must be neutralised.

 

"They are very strong in the tackle area, they try and disrupt your ball so we need to be very strong in the tackle area. We have spoken about getting good numbers in and around the ball.

 

"Hopefully we can take the sting out of their defence with a couple of good hits to start with and if we do that then they can't blitz every time," he said.

 

After seeing England overhaul them n front of their home fans last week, Warren Gatland's Wales side are likely to be just as fired up which should make for an intriguing encounter at Murrayfield.

 

 

For Scotland: Stuart Hogg is always exciting with the ball in hand and Tim Visser will make the Welsh pay if he is given too much space. Greg Laidlaw will marshall the troops from the base of the scrum whilst up front it will be the athletic Gray brothers who could prove a thorn in Wales' side.

 

For Wales: Leigh Halfpenny will be steady as ever at the back, with Alex Cuthbert their biggest running threat out wide. Jamie Roberts will throw his weight around in midfield and Rhys Webb will pose a threat around the fringes. Taulupe Faletau is in fine form, whilst skipper Sam Warburton always makes an impact at the breakdown. Up front the experience of the likes of Alun Wyn Jones and Gethin Jenkins should count.

 

Head to head: Leigh Halfpenny and Stuart Hogg are both key players for their teams, as are the scrumhalves Greg Laidlaw and Rhys Webb who will want to get good quality ball out to their backs. In the forward pack the battle between Riche Gray and Alun Wyn Jones should be one to savour.

 

2014: Wales won 51-3 in Cardiff

2013: Wales won 28-18 in Edinburgh

2012: Wales won 27-13 in Cardiff

2011: Wales won 24-6 in Edinburgh

2010: Wales won 31-24 in Cardiff

2009: Wales won 26-13 in Edinburgh

2008: Wales won 30-15 in Cardiff

2007: Scotland won 21-9 in Edinburgh

2006: Wales won 28-18 in Cardiff

2005: Wales won 46-22 in Edinburgh

2004: Wales won 23-10 in Cardiff

 

Prediction: Scotland will be a tougher nut to crack at home than they were last year, but we are backing Wales to bounce back and take the win by five points.

 

 

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Lamont, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (captain), 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.

Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Jon Welsh, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Alasdair Strokosch, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Greig Tonks, 23 Matt Scott.

 

Wales – revised: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (captain), 6 Dan 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 Mike Phillips, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Scott Williams.

 

Date: Sunday, February 15

Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Kick-off: 15.00 (15.00 GMT)

Predicted weather: Partly cloudy and cold. High of 9, with slight breeze.

Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Dudley Phillips (Ireland)

TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)