[2015 Six Nations] Scotland vs Wales (Round 2)

[iINDOMINUSxx]

Scotland vs Wales

Date:Sunday, 15 February 2015 - 15:00 GMT (UTC+0)
Location: BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland
Referee: Glen Jackson (New Zealand)

Team Line-ups:
[TABLE="width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD]Scotland
[/TD]
[TD]vs
[/TD]
[TD]Wales
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Stuart Hogg[/TD]
[TD]15[/TD]
[TD]Leigh Halfpenny[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sean Lamont[/TD]
[TD]14[/TD]
[TD]Alex Cuthbert [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Mark Bennett[/TD]
[TD]13[/TD]
[TD]Jonathan Davies[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Alex Dunbar[/TD]
[TD]12[/TD]
[TD]Jamie Roberts[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Tim Visser[/TD]
[TD]11[/TD]
[TD]Liam Williams[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Finn Russell[/TD]
[TD]10[/TD]
[TD]Dan Biggar [/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Greig Laidlaw[/TD]
[TD]9[/TD]
[TD]Rhys Webb[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Johnnie Beattie[/TD]
[TD]8[/TD]
[TD]Taulupe Faletau[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Blair Cowan[/TD]
[TD]7[/TD]
[TD]Sam Warburton[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Rob Harley[/TD]
[TD]6[/TD]
[TD]Dan Lydiate[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Jonny Gray[/TD]
[TD]5[/TD]
[TD]Alun Wyn Jones[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Richie Gray[/TD]
[TD]4[/TD]
[TD]Jake Ball[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Geoff Cross[/TD]
[TD]3[/TD]
[TD]Samson Lee[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Ross Ford[/TD]
[TD]2[/TD]
[TD]Richard Hibbard[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Alasdair Dickinson[/TD]
[TD]1[/TD]
[TD]Gethin Jenkins[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]
[TD]Replacements
[/TD]
[TD][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Fraser Brown[/TD]
[TD]16[/TD]
[TD]Scott Baldwin[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Gordon Reid[/TD]
[TD]17[/TD]
[TD]Paul James[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Jon Welsh[/TD]
[TD]18[/TD]
[TD]Aaron Jarvis[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Jim Hamilton[/TD]
[TD]19[/TD]
[TD]Luke Charteris[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Alasdair Strokosch[/TD]
[TD]20[/TD]
[TD]Justin Tipuric[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD] Sam Hidalgo-Clyne[/TD]
[TD]21[/TD]
[TD]Mike Phillips[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Greig Tonks[/TD]
[TD]22[/TD]
[TD]Rhys Priestland[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Matt Scott[/TD]
[TD]23[/TD]
[TD]Scott Williams [/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]
​

 

[TheSaffycen]

Right so both teams looking for their first win. Last year was an horrible experience for Scotland, having had 51 points put on them. Wales are now looking to put their home loss to England behind them, especially after not scoring in the second half and losing an 8 point lead.
This time round Scotland look dangerous and if they can keep the ball better than they did against France than they can get some points on Wales. Scotland's defence wasn't poor but they have to scramble too much for my liking. If Wales get in behind the Scots defence than they will take the chances France missed. IMO Wales will win this by 5.

 

[Thingimubob]

I have no idea how this is gonna go.
Not even sure what the hell kind of team we're going to field, especially if we lose North, Lee, Biggar and Halfpenny...

I think changes need to be made no matter what, nothing over drastic, just something to mix things up a bit.

Our kicking game needs to be re thought too - kicking in field to Watson Brown and May was suicidal... And without a good chase every time, it will be again against Hogg, Seymour and Visser...

That said, kicking for touch puts us under pressure as we are useless at stopping the rolling maul...

Anyway, here's what I'd like to see as a line up vs the Scots (assuming everyone is fit).

15. Liam Williams
14. Leigh Halfpenny
13. Jon Davies
12. Jamie Roberts
11. George North
10. Dan Biggar
9. Rhys Webb

8. Taulupe Faletau
7. Justin Tipuric
6. Sam Warburton
5. Alun Wyn Jones
4.Jake Ball
3. Samson Lee
2. Richard Hibbard
1. Paul James

Sub's:
Evans, Baldwin, Jarvis, Charteris, Lydiate, G Davies, Anscombe, S Williams.

If North is ruled out (which I feel is likely) then call up Amos or even Tyler Morgan on the wing. Cuthbert added another awful performance (with a sulky sin bin to boot) to his tally for a so far very poor season. He didnt deserve to start vs England, and does not deserve a place against Scotland.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

After last weeks performance i wouldn't change that much for Scotland but i would love to see Finn Russell have a go at kicking the conversions because now i think he is more consistent than Laidlaw. so this would be my XV.

Note i think David Denton and Sean Maitland are back for this game, While Tommy Seymour i don't think will be fit enough to play although Alex Dunbar was injured in the game but i dont think his was as bad as Seymour's injury so here is my XV below

1.) Al Dickinson
2.) Ross Ford
3.) Geoff Cross
4.) Richie Gray
5.) Jonny Gray
6.) Rob Harley
7.) Blair Cowan
8.) David Denton
9.) Greig Laidlaw
10.) Finn Russell
11.) Tim Visser
12.) Alex Dunbar
13.) Mark Bennett
14.) Sean Maitland
15.) Stuart Hogg

16.) Fraser Brown
17.) Gordon Reid
18.) Ryan Grant
19.) Ben Toolis
20.) Johnnie Beattie
21.) Sam Hidalgo-Clyne
22.) Matt Scott
23.) Dougie Fife

 

[MojoPin]

Wales is a tough one after such a dismal opening. Scotland may have lost to France but thought they looked very strong in places and wouldn't rule out a victory against Wales, especially at home. Either way last year's scoreline is going to become a very distant memory, methinks.

Anyway, as for a Welsh XV - after last week I'd personally like to see a lot of changes. Put some of the regulars on the bench and ask them to prove their worth in the last 20 minutes.

So, my preferred lineup...

1 James
2 Baldwin
3 Jarvis / Evans (forget who plays what position out of these two, but give Samson Lee a rest)
4 Davies
5 Charteris
6 Warburton
7 Tipuric
8 Faletau
9 Webb
10 Biggar / Priestland (if Biggar is rested)
11 Williams
12 Williams
13 Morgan / Davies / Allen
14 Amos
15 Halfpenny

16 Jenkins
17 Hibbard
18 Jarvis/Evans/Andrews
19 Anscombe
20 Davies
21 King
22 Roberts / Davies
23 Cuthbert / North

Think this would give a good mix of faces old and new, resting a few people and asking questions of established names who didn't perform last week. But, as we all know Gatland doesn't tend to make massive changes so this is the team I would actually predict...

1 Jenkins
2 Hibbard
3 Lee
4 Ball
5 Jones
6 Lydiate
7 Warburton
8 Faletau
9 Webb
10 Priestland (if Biggar is rested)
11 Williams (assuming North doesn't return after concussion protocol)
12 Roberts
13 Davies
14 Cuthbert

16 James
17 Baldwin/Hibbard
18 Evans/Jarvis
19 Charteris
20 Priestland/Anscombe (depending who starts)
21 Phillips
22 Williams/Amos (depending on who starts)
23 Tipuric

Hoping for a fast, fluid game that gets both sets of backs into play a bit more...fingers crossed!

 

[ae15]

My team for Sunday is:

1. Evans
2. Hibbard
3. Lee/Jarvis
4. Ball
5. AW Jones
6. Lydiate
7. Warburton
8. Faletau
9. Webb
10. Biggar
11. Williams
12. Roberts
13. Davies
14. North/Halfpenny
15. Halfpenny/Anscombe
16. Baldwin
17. Jenkins
18. Jarvis/Andrews
19. Charteris
20. Tipuric
21. Davies
22. Anscombe/Priestland
23. S Williams

In my opinion, Jenkins is obviously showing no signs of improvement in the scrum. At this rate he is going to get smashed by Cole in the World Cup, what's the point in not giving Evans a go now, the loosehead doesn't look like it could get much weaker and Evans has been in good form for the Scarlets.
Ball and Jones seemed to be doing some very good work at disrupting the maul against England so they should definitely stay.
I thought Lydiate had a good game with the chop tackle working well, especially to stop Vunipola and make him knock on at the start of the second half, though it may have been Faletau, but anyway he deserves another chance yet.
Resting Biggar for Priestland would be a disaster, just wait for the kicks straight down Hogg's throat over and over again.
Davies obviously had a bad game against England but he isn't quite up to full fitness yet in my view so I'd keep him for now.
North and Cuthbert obviously have very weak defences, but with Cuthbert's lack of creativity, I don't see why he should stay ahead of Liam Williams or Anscombe for that matter. If Gatland really thinks Anscombe has the X-Factor, get him in as soon as possible to warm him up before the World Cup! This Six Nations is almost as good as dead now anyway!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I'm not convinced Lydiate does deserve another chance. Until he stops shipping penalties at least.

 

[Peat]

I feel whichever hooker you pick, you guys need better targets in the lineout for them, particularly up against Jonny Gray.

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Think Wales need to take a leaf out of England's book with regards to hooker; set-piece trumps the trimmings, therefore Owens trumps Hibbard, in much the same way that Hartley trumps Youngs.

But I agree with Peat about targets. Charteris to start? Maybe I'm wrong but Ball strikes me as a Jack of all trades, master of none.

 

[j'nuh]

I don't agree. I just don't think that the Welsh lineout is well-drilled. Like, when Hibbard did the "double throw", you could see the entire Welsh line bunch up closer to Hibbard. And there was another lineout where Attwood disrupted Faletau, and that's because Attwood cuts a great angle coming forwards and uses his momentum to reach towards the ball, whereas the Welsh lineout resulted with Faletau leaning backwards trying to take it. It means Attwood can get in front of Faletau. Then there was another lineout where the Welsh target (can't remember who) was just completely dropped by their lifters (although it may have been that a lifter was taken out).

I don't think a new target is required, I think the problem is either with coaching or communicating. Hibbard's darts were fairly poor, but Hartley made a few blunders too, and we seem to be more forgiving of him.

 

[ae15]

I still think Lydiate is a class player. The penalty he gave away for the turnover was in my opinion exactly the same to the one that Twelvetrees won. So I definitely think he needs another chance.

Owens is my preference over Hibbard but he isn't even in the squad yet! I've always thought Charteris was a class act, but Ball performed well enough for me for him to stay - a strong ball carrier, 2 turnovers and no missed tackles on Friday.

 

[Peat]

J'nuh says they didn't look well drilled and I'm reminded of the various rumours about Gatland concentrating heavily on fitness and less so on the rugby. Would fit.

However, even well drilled, asking a well known dodgy thrower to throw to an inferior set of jumpers compared to the opposition set - that's asking for trouble. Charteris would be a pretty nice bandaid to slap on.

 

[dullonien]

Charteris is a must imo. I thought he made an impact in the loose when he came on Frday night as well.

Without a standout lineout jumper in the second row, we put our already shaky hookers under pressure, and thus puts pressure on the whole system to het things spot-on.

A 6'10" (or whatever charteris is) option can't make things worse. At over 20st he's also a big ol' lump in the scrum, and in the past he's used that bulk to good effect in the loose as well.

 

[MojoPin]

Whoever makes the cut, there are some real concerns in the Scottish team that Wales will really have to watch out for. Thought Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg played very well at the weekend, not to mention Leidlaw, Jonny Gray and others. Despite the loss they were definitely my favourite team to watch over the weekend so looking forward to seeing how they fare against Wales.

 

[valley commando]

This is World Cup year, so with that in mind and picking a team that are capable of beating Scotland this is my team -:

1 Gethin Jenkins
2 Kristian Dacey
3 Samson Lee
4 Luke Charteris
5 A W Jones
6 Sam Warburton
8 Talupe Falatau
7 Justin Tiperic

9 Rhys Webb
10 Dan Biggar
11 Halam Amos
12 Tyler Morgan
13 Scott Williams
14 Halfpenny or Liam Williams
15 Liam Williams or Halfpenny

16. James
17 Belcher (from the under 20 squad)
18 Jarvis
19 Bradley Davies
20 Lydiate
21 Phillips
22 Anscombe
23 J Davies

As for Scotland they played well last week, for me they were the stand out team from our 4 nations, Ireland weren't up against much as Italy seem to be in transition and We contrived to make England look good.

 

[g6mcg]

Re: North, does the three week concussion stand down still exist? I'm assuming not given they're not yet sure if he'll be fit. Or do they not think he was concussed?

 

[valley commando]

Completely agree, but lets also give Dacey a chance at hooker and even go further by putting Belcher on the bench, I posted my team on this thread 10 minutes ago, feeling we should forget the 6 nations and start preparing for the World Cup now.
If boys like Amos, Morgan, Anscombe, Dacey, Scott Williams, Belcher get a chance now it will only improve squad depth and our chances come the autumn.
It would be good to see a fully fit Eli Walker as well although it looks like hes out for a few months.
But please, please not Priestland, far to predictable.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Well if we compare the likely teams-
1.Jenkins/Cross
2.Hibbard/Ford
3.Lee/Dickinson
4.Jones/J.Gray
5.Chateris/R.Gray
6.Lydiate/Harley
7.Warburton/Cowan
8.Faletau/Denton
9.Webb/Laidlaw
10.Biggar/Russell
11.Williams/Visser
12.Roberts/Dunbar
13.Davies/Bennet
14.Cuthbert/Maitland
15.Halfpenny/Hogg
That's what I think will be played but im not up to date with all injuries. In the front row I would give this to Scotland after their incredible display out in France, Wales should be better though as England is a tough challenge for anyone. In the locks the Gray brothers look great at lineout time, Jones is world class and Chateris is a good guy to have for Hibbard. If Scotland can maul like they did against France than Chateris will have to be at his best to stop them. Back rows are very similar styled, work horse 6, jackling 7 and if beattie plays two ball handling 8s. I would give Wales the advantage here Cowan looks dangerous if you get isolated though, Denton would also be a big carrying threat for Scotland. Half backs based on the last game would go to Scotland, Webb wasn't at his best and Biggar had nothing to work with in the second half. Laidlaw and Russell seem to complement each other well and Russell was my player of the week in round 1. Centres are Wales as well, Dunbar and bennet went well but can they stop Roberts and Davies ? Back three I would give as a draw. There isn't a massive weakness for Scotland whereas Wales have Cuthbert and will Williams screw it up for them again ?

 

[RedruthRFC]

Re: North, does the three week concussion stand down still exist? I'm assuming not given they're not yet sure if he'll be fit. Or do they not think he was concussed?

I don't believe so. AFAIK new protocols allow players to return within a week.

 

[Ospreylian]

Anyway, here's what I'd like to see as a line up vs the Scots (assuming everyone is fit).

15. Liam Williams
14. Leigh Halfpenny
13. Jon Davies
12. Jamie Roberts
11. George North
10. Dan Biggar
9. Rhys Webb

8. Taulupe Faletau
7. Justin Tipuric
6. Sam Warburton
5. Alun Wyn Jones
4.Jake Ball
3. Samson Lee
2. Richard Hibbard
1. Paul James

Sub's:
Evans, Baldwin, Jarvis, Charteris, Lydiate, G Davies, Anscombe, S Williams.

I think you're just about on the money with this, though I personally would start Scott ahead of Jonathan Davies. I think Davies has been given too many opportunities at international level lately and just isn't up to scratch at the moment at the top level, for whatever reason. He seems to knock-on frequently and make poor decisions under pressure these days. If Scott was given the chance he might see it as a golden opportunity to prove all his doubters wrong.

But I agree that wholesale changes need not be made. Wales don't need to press the panic button. This is the same team that beat the second ranked team in the world a few months ago, it's just they need to get their heads back to where they were at the end of the Autumn. They were gradually improving and looking like a more well-rounded outfit again, so I don't particularly believe they would go to wooden spoon contenders overnight.

In certain positions it's not the personnel that needs changing, it's tactics. Roberts can't be left out because he is crucial to our defense. I don't believe North should be left out because he is just too naturally talented and will have moments of magic. Sure Cuthbert scores more tries, but he probably causes more errors that lead to tries being scored against Wales too. I don't know why he is still in the squad, it's just one of those things where he is keeping his place on past glories. Somehow we just need to hope that Gatland gives North a stern talking to about getting more involved, like he does for Northampton.

Totally agree with Gareth Davies on the bench. I have no idea why Webb was subbed. Phillips brought nothing refreshing to the table and slowed the game down.