Vern Cotter has named the Scotland team that will take on Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, in the second round of the RBS 6 Nations.
There is one change from the side that lost to England on opening weekend, with Saracens’ Duncan Taylor included at inside centre for the injured Matt Scott. Sean Lamont takes Taylor’s spot on the bench.
Cotter said: “This group have worked exceptionally hard this week to improve their accuracy under pressure after a frustrating opening game against England.
“We created opportunities that could have been capitalised upon, and converted into points.
“As a team we know we can perform better and believe we’re capable of making improvements all over the park.
“We know that Wales in Cardiff will not be easy but our focus is on improving our attacking and defensive mindset.”
SCOTLAND TEAM TO PLAY WALES
15. Stuart Hogg 14. Sean Maitland 13. Mark Bennett 12. Duncan Taylor 11. Tommy Seymour 10. Finn Russell 9. Greig Laidlaw (c); 1. Alasdair Dickinson 2. Ross Ford 3. Willem Nel 4. Richie Gray 5. Jonny Gray 6. John Barclay 7. John Hardie 8. Dave Denton
Replacements: 16. Stuart McInally 17. Gordon Reid 18. Zander Fagerson 19. Tim Swinson 20. Blair Cowan 21. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne 22. Duncan Weir 23. Sean Lamont
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
2 replies on “Six Nations 2016: Scotland team to play Wales”
Starting team looks decent on paper but it did last week as well. Duncan Taylor has been playing very well for Sarries and certainly doesn’t weaken the side
In theory, this is a decent team with a couple of exceptions. Strong, technically good props. Tall physical locks who carry well. A fast back row. An inventive fly half. Strong, fast centres. Nippy wingers and an elusive full back
Minus points are a hooker who is not great at the line out, a scrum half who seems to move glacially and a number 8 who is very variable in his performances.
I’d have had Strauss in the team somewhere (unless he’s injured?) and would have Jackson on the bench instead of Weir but other than that, (accepting that my knowledge of Scottish rugby is not huge) this seems to be about the best team they can put out
The question though, as ever, is can they play a consistent 80 minutes as a team at the level we know they can reach individually?
Even if they can it may not be enough to beat Wales, but it would be enough to give them a good game
Have to agree with you here Pablito. The team looks great, and hopefully Laidlaw can produce some quick ball for Russell and Taylor, but I suspect that if Barclay and Hardie struggled at the breakdown against Robshaw and Haskell, they will have a nightmare against Warburton and Tipuric.
Even when Laidlaw had chances to get the ball out quickly he hesitated, and if that contiunes to happen I would be tempted to get Hidalgo-Clyne on.