RBS 6 Nations preview: Wales v Scotland

By Tadhg Peavoy

Scotland's inability to score tries is their main concern. They cannot break down defences and end up playing static and flat backline moves. They dominated England last week, spending 23 minutes of the first half, and 25 minutes in the second period, in England's half. Yet, no tries.

The Scots’ head coach Andy Robinson had spoken of unleashing hell against England, but instead the red rose unleashed a hellish defensive policy, which negated anything Scotland could throw at them.

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The main problem for the Thistle was that Dan Parks generally failed to use possession wisely at out-half or kicked possession away.

The Australian-born Cardiff Blues player retired from international duty after that performance. The 33-year-old clearly realised that he no longer possessed what Scotland need to up their performance level.

To retire mid-tournament was brave and he must be respected for that selflessness, although it could be said that he should have retired following the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Enter Greig Laidlaw. The Edinburgh man’s introduction against England almost turned the game as he sprayed the ball around with pace and precision. He also felt no fear in taking the ball on himself, which nearly resulted in a match-winning try.

<notforsyndication>Greig Laidlaw is entrusted with steering Scotland from out-half</notforsyndication>

Laidlaw starts against Wales and now has the opportunity to play with complete freedom. Scotland captain Ross Ford has indicated his team's desire to play with the roof closed at the Millennium Stadium and take the game to Wales. The question remains whether they have the ability to outplay the Principality.

Wales’ backline looked absolutely devastating against Ireland in the palindrome last Sunday. Rhys Priestland has been the in form out-half in world rugby since the Rugby World Cup, while Mike Phillips, Jamie Roberts, Jonathan Davies and Alex Cuthbert offer a backline with size, power and skill reminiscent of the current All Blacks team or the 2003 England Rugby World Cup winning team.

<notforsyndication>Rhys Priestland has been in wonderful form since last October</notforsyndication>

Scotland will not only have to outfox this group, they will have to outmuscle them too; this seems a huge ask. However, with the Lamont brothers and Max Evans in the team, Scotland, physically, may hold a better chance of blunting Wales than Ireland did.

With David Denton, Ross Ford and Richie Gray in the pack, Scotland genuinely have a pack to be reckoned with. The 9-15 section must step into line and follow suit.

Wales came off slightly second best in the pack battle against Ireland and the Scots will hope to get the needle on Wales here – especially in scrums and at the breakdown. Although with Gethin Jenkins back in the Welsh side at loose-head prop for Rhys Gill, and Euan Murray out of the Scottish side at tight-head prop for Geoff Cross, the Thistle’s sting is diminished.

Wales are down as -12 favourites to win this one and are justified by that tag. But if the Scots do gain parity up front, and Leidlaw continues from where he left off last week, Scotland could pull off an upset.

However, Scotland’s inability to score a try in their last four encounters - a run of three successive defeats - and failure to win in Cardiff since 2002, indicates that they may not have enough come full-time.

Prediction: Wales 37-16 Scotland

Wales v Scotland, RBS 6 Nations, Sunday 12 February, Millennium Stadium Cardiff, kick-off 3pm:

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny 14 Alex Cuthbert 13 Jonathan Davies 12 Jamie Roberts 11 George North 10 Rhys Priestland 9 Mike Phillips 1 Gethin Jenkins 2 Huw Bennett 3 Adam Jones 4 Ryan Jones 5 Ian Evans 6 Dan Lydiate 7 Sam Warburton 8 Toby Faletau

Replacements: 16 Ken Owens 17 Paul James 18 Lou Reed 19 Andy Powell 20 Lloyd Williams 21 James Hook 22 Scott Williams

Scotland: 15 Rory Lamont 14 Lee Jones 13 Nick De Luca 12 Sean Lamont 11 Max Evans 10 Greig Laidlaw 9 Chris Cusiter 1 Allan Jacobsen 2 Ross Ford 3 Geoff Cross 4 Richie Gray 5 Jim Hamilton 6 Alasdair Strokosch 7 Ross Rennie 8 David Denton

Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson 17 Ed Kalman 18 Alastair Kellock 19 John Barclay 20 Mike Blair 21 Duncan Weir 22 Stuart Hogg

Referee: Romaine Poite (France)