by Dylan James
ON Saturday at 4:45pm, injury-riddled Wales will take on Scotland in Murrayfield, where the temperature is expected to be an icy fresh -1ºC.
Both sides will undoubtedly turn up the heat however, after a rip roaring start to their respective Six Nations campaigns last week. Scotland defeated a strong England side, and arguably could have, and should have, got more points on the board. Wales on the other hand narrowly slipped past Ireland, but they won’t care after injuring half of their squad in the process (that is sarcasm, by the way!).
THE TEAM
𝗫𝗩 𝗖𝗬𝗠𝗥𝗨: Our team for #SCOvWAL
⁍ Uncapped Halaholo on the bench ➢ Wainwright at blindside ➢ Williams at wing ➢ Davies at nine
⁍ 𝘛𝘰𝘮𝘱𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘴 𝘢 𝘞𝘢𝘵𝘬𝘪𝘯 𝘺𝘸’𝘳 𝘥𝘥𝘦𝘶𝘢𝘸𝘥 𝘯𝘦𝘸𝘺𝘥𝘥 𝘺𝘯𝘨 𝘯𝘨𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘭 𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘦
🏴 #HWFN ⑊ #GuinnessSixNations pic.twitter.com/1DlYQLWfLv
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 11, 2021
PLAYER TO WATCH:
Scotland – Finn Russell
The Racing 92 fly-half is in the form of his career, and regularly comes up in the ‘Lions 10’ debate. The 28-year-old combined expertly with full-back Stuart Hogg against England, as they exemplified their unique attacking abilities, which shone through in the vessel that is kicking- international rugby kicking- also known as rugby tennis.
The duo forced Elliot Daly to sprint from sideline to sideline three times in 38 seconds on Saturday, effectively running the English full-back ragged, and tiring the English back line, which forced error upon error. Watch out for this man (and Hogg). (stats provided by Squidge Rugby! Check him out!)
Wales – Liam Williams
Entering a ruck head first into one of your international team mates in an intense derby isn’t ideal, but unusual things happen in the heat of the moment. As we have learned with Peter O’Mahony on Tomas Francis, but I suppose that is up for debate. Well, that’s what Liam Williams did to Shane Lewis Hughes in the Blues/Scarlets derby, which resulted in a red card and three game suspension.
Williams missed the opening Six Nations game, but starts on the left flank tomorrow, with a lot to prove, and an absence to make up for. The British and Irish Lion is undoubtedly world class, offering some real confidence under the high ball, and with supreme kicking ability, his rugby brain will most definitely help to combat the Russell-Hogg threat.
WHO’S MISSING?
Wales
Who isn’t missing is the question I should be asking! Wales are inundated with injury problems. Scarlet Josh Macleod misses out with a ruptured achilles tendon, half an hour after being told he was going to start against Gregor Townsend’s team. George North is out with a foot injury, Johnny Williams and Hallam Amos are out after both undergoing an HIA last weekend. Tomos Williams has sustained a hamstring injury and Dan Lydiate has been released from the squad due to a serious knee injury.
Scotland
Edinburgh flanker Jamie Ritchie is out with a hamstring issue, whilst Sean Maitland has suffered damage to his achilles. Both are ruled out until the France fixture in two week’s time. New boy Cameron Redpath will be “involved at some point later in the tournament” according to head coach Townsend, due to a neck injury.
THE VERDICT
This will be a very well-contested game which will go right down to the wire, much similar to Wales’ victory against Ireland on the weekend. Both sides will be eager to stamp their authority on the game with so much at stake, after all whoever wins on Saturday will be within a shout of the Triple Crown. Expect some big hits and aggressive attacking plays, Wales by six.
