Scotland vs Wales Six Nations match preview: What time does it start and where can I watch it?
A look ahead to Sunday's Six Nations clash at Murrayfield
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Your support makes all the difference.Wales coach Warren Gatland has made two injury-enforced changes to his starting line up ahead of Sunday’s Six Nations clash with Scotland.
Liam Williams comes in to replace George North on the left wing. The Northampton Saints winger has been omitted from the squad after he suffered two heavy blows to the head against England. Wales maintain that North is not concussed and insist that he has been given an extended recovery period.
Williams also took North’s starting place in Wales 12-6 win over South Africa in November 2014, after North suffered a concussion in the New Zealand loss.
Samson Lee has been ruled out of contention after he sustained a concussion in last Friday’s defeat. Osprey’s Aaron Jarvis has been brought into the front row in Lee’s absence, while Scott Andrews has been named on the bench alongside Scarlets captain Scott Williams.
Wales have not lost in this fixture since 2007 and they claimed their biggest ever Six Nations victory in March 2014 when they hammered Scotland 51-3. They will be desperate to emulate their triumph at Murrayfield on Sunday and pick up their first points of tournament.
Scotland are also in search of their first 2015 Six Nations success after ill discipline saw them slip to a 15-8 defeat in Paris last Saturday.
Head coach Vern Cotter has also made two changes to his starting XV. Sean Lamont replaces the injured Tommy Seymour and Geoff Cross takes over from Euan Murray in the front row.
Murray was the cornerstone of a solid Scottish set piece against France, but he does not play on Sundays due to religious reasons.
Dougie Fife came on to replace Seymour in the first half against France and scored the game’s only try, but he has not been included in the squad to face Wales. Fife’s place on the bench has been handed to his Edinburgh teammate Mat Scott, while Glasgow’s John Welsh has been named as a replacement.
There is also no place in the squad for Glasgow Warriors centre Peter Horne, who came on for Alex Dunbar in Paris. Greig Tonks takes his place on the bench.
TEAMS:
Scotland: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors), Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby); Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester, CAPT); Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby), Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby), Geoff Cross (London Irish), Richie Gray (Castres), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), Blair Cowan (London Irish) Johnnie Beattie (Castres).
Replacements: Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors), Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors), Jim Hamilton (Saracens), Alasdair Strokosch (USA Perpignan), Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby), Greig Tonks (Edinburgh Rugby), Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby).
Wales: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (ASM Clermont Auvergne), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), Liam Williams (Scarlets), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Rhys Webb (Ospreys), Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Richard Hibbard (Gloucester), Samson Lee (Scarlets), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Ospreys), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, CAPT), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).
Replacements: Scott Baldwin (Ospreys), Paul James (Bath Rugby), Aaron Jarvis (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Racing Metro), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), Scott Williams (Scarlets).
KICK-OFF: Sunday, 15.00
PAST THREE MEETINGS:
Wales 51 Scotland 3, Six Nations, March 2014
Scotland 18 Wales 28, Six Nations, March 2014
Wales 27 Scotland 13, Six Nations, March 2012
STATS:
Wales have won their last seven Test matches against Scotland
Scotland conceded more penalties than any other nation in last year’s tournament (60)
Scotland have only beaten Wales twice in the last 12 years
CLASSIC MOMENTS/MATCH:
In last year’s fixture, Wales led by seven points with 22 minutes on the clock, when Stuart Hogg hacked the ball down the middle of the pitch and set off in pursuit. Liam Williams collected the kick and passed to Dan Biggar, who cleared his lines before being smashed in the face by Hogg’s belated left shoulder. Hogg was sent to the sin bin, but as he marched from the field, Jerome Garces watched the incriminating replay and changed the sanction to a red card. Wales went on to hammer 14-man Scotland.
ODDS:
Scotland to win: 2.37
Wales to win: 1.62
Draw: 17.0
TV: Live on BBC 1 at 15.00
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