Wales seek discipline against Scots
Wales will look to maintain their self-discipline against Scotland in the Six Nations at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on Sunday, with the visitors in dire need of a victory.
The Welsh got their campaign off to a thrilling start with a 23-21 win away to Ireland in Dublin last weekend.
But success came at a cost with lock Bradley Davies, yellow carded during the game, subsequently ruled out of the rest of the tournament after being banned for seven weeks for a dangerous ‘tip tackle’ on Donnacha Ryan.
It was not the first time Wales have found themselves a man down recently, with skipper Sam Warburton’s red card for a tip tackle of his own in the agonising World Cup semi-final loss to France in Auckland in October.
Statistics show Wales are the worst of all Six Nations sides in conceding points when reduced to 14 men and coach Warren Gatland is now contemplating fining the most blatant offenders up to £30,000 ($47,000).
“I did suggest a fine of £20,000-£30,000 could be relevant, but I don’t think they were too keen on that,” the New Zealander said.
Former captain Ryan Jones will take Davies’s place in the second row as Wales look for a fifth win in a row over Scotland.
They have been boosted by the return of back-row forward Dan Lydiate from an ankle injury while flanker Warburton (leg) and fit-again prop Gethin Jenkins (knee) are both due to start.
It is 10 years since Scotland enjoyed a win in Cardiff and last weekend’s 13-7 defeat by England at Murrayfield made it four straight Tests without a try.
Fly-half Dan Parks, often accused of failing to spark his midfield backs, retired after the England loss, having seen a charged down kick lead to the visitors’ decisive try.
In his place comes Gregor Laidlaw, nephew of Scotland great Roy, while front row Geoff Cross starts instead of Euan Murray, whose religious beliefs prevent him playing on a Sunday.
Scotland, who saw record points scorer Chris Paterson retire before the tournament, will now have to find a new goalkicker and banish the handling errors that proved so costly against England.
“If you look at the territory, possession and line-breaks, you would ask yourself: ‘How did Scotland lose that game last week?’,” Gatland said.
“I don’t think they are a negative side, I think they have just struggled to capitalise on the opportunities they have created. They have always had ambition and wanted to play rugby.”
Evidence of that ambition has come with Scotland’s request for the Millennium’s retractable roof to be closed as they try to take Wales on in a running game.
But it’s Scotland’s composure that remains the issue.
That was demonstrated on their last visit to Cardiff two years ago when Wales, admittedly with the help of now retired wing Shane Williams’s last-ditch try, overturned a 10-point deficit with three minutes of normal time left to win 31-24.
Scotland saw Paterson suffer a lacerated kidney and Rory Lamont a knee injury but the most serious blow was to their fellow back Thom Evans, who required two neck operations after a sickening collision ended his rugby career.
Evans’s brother Max is still in the Scotland side and this weekend sees the wing returning to the Millennium for the first time since Thom’s injury.
“It will be interesting to see what the feelings are actually being in the Millennium Stadium and being on the field again,” Max Evans said.
Meanwhile Evans added there was nothing wrong with the gameplan of Scotland coach Andy Robinson, the former England flanker and boss, merely the execution.
“We’ve been setting ourselves up in similar situations as we got ourselves in against England. We will get in those positions against Wales. It’s knowing the right thing to do.”
AFP
