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

[psychic duck]

I think its wrong to say Wales are on the slide. Wales under Warrenball rarely go through extended losing streaks in the six nations, because as a collective of teams we aren't as potent as the southern hemisphere sides in attack and not as reliably physical as south Africa . There will still be sides who know what's coming and are still unable to do much about it. I suspect, though I hope I'm wrong, that Scotland will be one of those sides on the weekend.

As for Warrenball, I believe Wales will continue to ping pong between the very good and the very poor until the WRU finally realise the relationship ain't going anywhere.
I'd make two further points about Wales: firstly, they're not dramatically worse than in 2012, but as we all know other teams have got better.
Secondly, Garland should have panicked significantly when Adam went downhill/stopped being pickable and that was the perfect time to make further changes. Ultimately Warrenball depends upon territory which Is in turn partially dependent on setpiece functionality. Warrenball was always going to be weaker without adam , and now more than ever the much talked about plan B was needed. This is not to say Samson Led isn't a good player, but Adam Jones in his prime was like a guaranteed penalty won. I think Wales need him more than is being acknowledged, not simply for the scrum but for warrenball as a whole approach.

Wales have evidently fallen away rather dramatically over the past 18 months, far worse than 3 years ago's Grand Slam. Gatland simply hasn't been able to adapt to the diminished scrum. That 30-3 game was pretty much based all around that. It's not just Adam as well (who has declined albeit not to the degree some make out), but Hibbard a 3rd prop has been shown up as a hooker who can't hook, whilst Gethin still working hard around the field despite his age gets pinged off the park every game at scrum. Samson Lee is in a fighting a losing battle when the whole unit is going astray.

The platform of the scrum has gone from arguably the best in the tournament, to possibly the worst. Similar to one losing streak when the scrum was abysmal with Adam injured, apart from this time it won't be solved by his return but needs to be by a change of tactics and approach and balance of the pack. No need for dramatic changes, just need to adapt tactically. That means changing the pack to remove Gethin, Hibbard to the bench, Lydiate to find a ball carrier in the back row.

 

[Peat]

I agree with what PD just said and wouldn't be utterly surprised to see Wales roar back into life as and when they repair that issue. Don't know when that will be though.

Sure, there's other things to it, but it's been a definite area of decline in a keystone of their game.

 

[Draggs]

I remember when team announcements used to excite me. Now I wonder who the token change will be.
George North, in the stands, so the staff can seem like they are taking precautions.

Next week? Maybe Hibbard for Owens.

 

[Thingimubob]

I remember when team announcements used to excite me. Now I wonder who the token change will be.
George North, in the stands, so the staff can seem like they are taking precautions.

Next week? Maybe Hibbard for Owens.

Couldn't be more right! I dread the selections these days...

I do hope Owens gets back into the squad soon though, was pretty outstanding pre injury.

Regarding the scrum, I'm not too worried about the long term future as our u20s have actually produced a couple of decent prospects. Samson Lee is obviously one of them, but its a shame Nicky Smith got injured vs NZ as I really see him as the long term successor to Gethin.

Would love to see Nicky Thomas make the step up too, although he did turn down an Ospreys contract to move to Gloucester next season.

Not sure we'll be able to fix much come the world cup, but I'd like to think that we'll be able to get back up there in the years following it.

 

[goodNumber10]

this seems pertinent here:

[video=youtube_share;l1TecoLO6Qw]http://youtu.be/l1TecoLO6Qw[/video]

 

[Will]

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); 28 caps, 8 tries, 1 penalty, 43 points

14 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors); 91 caps, 12 tries, 60 points
13 Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors); 3 caps
12 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors); 12 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby); 16 caps, 7 tries, 35 points

10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors); 6 caps
9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester); 35 caps, 3 tries, 37 conversions, 71 penalties, 302 points

1 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby); 40 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby); 81 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
3 Geoff Cross (London Irish); 36 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Richie Gray (Castres); 43 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
5 Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors); 9 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), 11 caps, 1 try, 5 points
7 Blair Cowan (London Irish); 7 caps, 1 try, 5 points
8 Johnnie Beattie (Castres); 35 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

Substitutes
16 Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors); 4 caps
17 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors); 7 caps
18 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors); 3 caps
19 Jim Hamilton (Saracens); 58 caps, 1 try, 5 points
20 Alasdair Strokosch (USA Perpignan); 43 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby); 1 cap
22 Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby); 1 cap
23 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby); 21 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

Two changes for Scotland from last weekend's game. Sean Lamont has returned from injury to replace the injured Seymor. Geoff Cross and his ridiculous beard starts in place of Euan Murray who can't play on Sundays so as to not anger his god.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); 28 caps, 8 tries, 1 penalty, 43 points

14 Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors); 91 caps, 12 tries, 60 points
13 Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors); 3 caps
12 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors); 12 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby); 16 caps, 7 tries, 35 points

10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors); 6 caps
9 Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Gloucester); 35 caps, 3 tries, 37 conversions, 71 penalties, 302 points

1 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby); 40 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby); 81 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
3 Geoff Cross (London Irish); 36 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Richie Gray (Castres); 43 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
5 Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors); 9 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), 11 caps, 1 try, 5 points
7 Blair Cowan (London Irish); 7 caps, 1 try, 5 points
8 Johnnie Beattie (Castres); 35 caps, 3 tries, 15 points

Substitutes
16 Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors); 4 caps
17 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors); 7 caps
18 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors); 3 caps
19 Jim Hamilton (Saracens); 58 caps, 1 try, 5 points
20 Alasdair Strokosch (USA Perpignan); 43 caps, 2 tries, 10 points

Two changes for Scotland from last weekend's game. Sean Lamont has returned from injury to replace the injured Seymor. Geoff Cross and his ridiculous beard starts in place of Euan Murray who can't play on Sundays so as to not anger his god.

You missed out 21, 22, 23 . So than means Matt Scott could return to the Scotland side and it is good to see him back. Not sure if Lamont is the right choice to replace Seymour, Fife did well apart from throwing away that silly penalty. But i still believe its a team which can beat Wales so, come on Scotland!

 

[Will]

I haven't seen enought of Fife to really pass comment but I'm more than happy with Lamont coming in. Obviously with Maitland still injuried and Max Evans not in the squad I think he'd be my choice on the right. Also good to see Scott back in the team.

 

[goodNumber10]

Samson Lee is out - failed to pass the "Return to Play" protocol for concussion.

 

[Draggs]

Samson Lee is out - failed to pass the "Return to Play" protocol for concussion.

Wonderful. Jarvis and Andrews...

We have rugby's Mike Bassett at the helm. Picks his favourites all the time, won't change his game plan (4-4-effing-2)

 

[Thingimubob]

Ah damn...
Jarvis to start and Andrews on the bench... Does not fill me with confidence

 

[martinspoonboy1]

Wonderful. Jarvis and Andrews...

We have rugby's Mike Bassett at the helm. Picks his favourites all the time, won't change his game plan (4-4-effing-2)

I take it Priestland is Smallzy?

 

[Will]

Mike Blair's thoughts on the game.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/31458857

 

[LiRFCMatt]

I might be a bit drunk, but bare with me. This is my preview for the game:

51-3. That is a scoreline that hurts. Hogg's stupid red card ruined the contest last year, but the Scots come back smarter, stronger, in-form and against a Wales side with one plan. If they match the physicality that the Welsh bring, expect the Murrayfield crowd to be roaring on Sunday. It should be the game of the weekend, Wales out to prove themselves and Scotland setting new highs for themselves.

Blair Cowan is going to have to repeat his heroics of last week in order for the Scottish to stand a chance. Scotland need to get as much ball as possible to limit the Welsh and to let their own backs loose, namely the likes of Hogg, Visser and Dunbar, with Russell looking to run the ball as often as possible. They will be wary of the threat that Liam Williams poses after last year, although I do think George North would have been very useful in this game, despite his poor performance against the English last week. It will be Williams and Roberts that pose the main threats, along with Halfpenny's boot and Warburton's work rate, and the Scots will have to be wary of this. Physicality will take care of Roberts, Cowan and Harley will look to nullify Warburton and Dan Lydiate, who disappointed last weekend. If the Scots can keep their discipline then Halfpenny won't have the opportunities he had against the English. Faletau is a man who can cause problems, and I don't think the Scots have much of an answer to him, despite how good Johnnie Beattie is.

A Welsh win is expected, even at Murrayfield, but it should be a thrilling encounter and one that could spring a surprise. I wouldn't be shocked to see the Scots come away with victory, but given that the physicality of the Welsh is more than the Scots can handle and with Leigh Halfpenny to kick the extras off of penalties I can see Wales winning by 8 on a cold Scottish Sunday afternoon.

Find more at the link below.

Any spelling/grammar mistakes to report would be appreciated, I'll sort them out when I'm a bit more sober!

 

[The Jones Boy]

There is a quiet confidence about scotland...
Wales may well end up having too much class in the backs but the Scots are shaping up as a tough nut to crack and they are pushing their boundaries again, so who knows...

 

[Tony Manx]

As per the poll.............hard one to call and will depend purely on who wins the forward battle. If Wales overwhelm the Scots then they will win but if they are only equal or beaten then the Scots will have so much ball that they MUST score surely to back up the intent they showed last week when they were not a real threat!! I have gone for Wales but then again Scotland/Wales/Scotland...................................?!!!

 

[Will]

There is a quiet confidence about scotland...
Wales may well end up having too much class in the backs but the Scots are shaping up as a tough nut to crack and they are pushing their boundaries again, so who knows...

Yes, and thankfully that has been brought about by much improved performances in the last few months since Cotter came in (as opposed to the headless chicken approach of SJ) and a team which has shown a reall attacking intent. As I said though before, unless we can turn performances into wins against opposition that matter in a competition that matters then that confidence will soon fade.

One thing I have noticed over the years though seems to be a tendancy amongst Wales fans to speak about the death of their team given a poor result and/or performance. It's not something I buy into myself.

 

[SharksFan86]

Missed all Rugby yesterday so I am looking forward to watching this game, I will go for a Scotland win.

 

[Will]

Well with the programme starting now on BBC I can feel the nerves a wee bit.

 

[Tony Manx]

My only wish is that it is a better game to watch than the one in Dublin yesterday!

Feel it is likely to be quicker and more open but can they limit the mistakes?

Who is the red?