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Six Nations Preview: Scotland vs Wales

Huw Jones

Scotland vs Wales at Murrayfield
(
Saturday, February 25, 10.25pm HKT)

James Harrington previews an intriguing match-up between the rapier-like Scots and the blunt instrument that is Wales.

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What we can expect
A rerun of Scotland’s game against France – only with the opponents in red, not (mostly) white. Wales look to have opted, once again, for the bosh. It’s not subtle and it’s not clever, but it worked for Les Bleus in disguise last week. Whether Wales can repeat France’s success is another question. The Scots – battered, bruised and weakened they may be – are wise to the tactic now. And they’re at home.

Scotland
There can be no doubt losing terrier-like captain Greig Laidlaw is a massive blow, but stand-in scrum-half Ali Price has been in rare form for an inspired Glasgow this season. Vern Cotter has made four more changes: Quins’ winger Tim Visser comes in for the injured Sean Maitland, Gordon Reid makes his first Championship start in the front row, lock John Hardie also makes his Six Nations bow, with Ryan Wilson in the back-row. John Barclay is captain in Laidlaw’s absence.

Matchday 23: Hogg, Visser, Dunbar, Jones, Seymour, Russell, Price; Reid, Brown, Fagerson, R Gray, J Gray, Barclay, Hardie, Wilson. Bench: Ford, Dell, Berghan, Swinson, Watson, Pyrgos, Weir, Bennett

Wales
George North returns to the side after missing the defeat against England with a dead leg, while pre-packaged Wales scapegoat Alex Cuthbert unsurprisingly drops out of the squad altogether. Meanwhile, Luke Charteris, 6ft 10in of raging human knotweed, makes his first appearance in this year’s Six Nations as a replacement.

Matchday 23: Halfpenny, North, S Williams, J Davies, L Williams, Biggar, Webb; Evans, Owens, Francis, Ball, Jones, Warburton, Tipuric, Moriarty. Bench: Baldwin, Smith, Lee, Charteris, Faletau, G Davies, S Davies, Roberts

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All eyes on: Stuart Hogg
Scotland’s fullback is just about the closest of anyone to being a nailed-on member of the Lions’ squad, has scored three tries in two Six Nations games. If Wales give him an inch too much space, or a fraction of a second too much time, he’ll rip them to shreds.

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Key battle: Ali Price and Finn Russell v Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar
The halfback axis is always crucial, and in Greig Laidlaw’s injury-enforced absence for Scotland, it is no surprise that Vern Cotter has opted to unite instrumental fly-half Finn Russell with his Glasgow scrum-half Ali Price. How they perform against another Pro12 club partnership – Ospreys’ Webb and Biggar – is sure to have a major impact on the game. Watch out, too, for the midfield clash of clans, as Scotland’s budding centre partnership of Huw Jones and Alex Dunbar face Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies.

Prediction
Scotland have only won once against the Welsh in 10 years. They could improve that record at Murrayfield this weekend. Scotland by 4.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
LONG READ
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