Preview: Wales v Scotland

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - JANUARY 23: Finn Russell during a Scotland rugby training session at Oriam, on January 23, 2024, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

What they said:

Head Coach Gregor Townsend said: “It’s the opening game of the Six Nations, so you get that sense of excitement in our group, and I’m sure the supporters will feel the same way.

“Wales always play with passion, they target the ruck area both in attack and defence, it’s something that can get them a way into the game, and we obviously expect to be tested in defence and attack.

“But a lot of what we’ve done this week is making sure we put our game in place. It’s always the focus for that first game of the championship to get your game right, and the players have been building nicely for the weekend.”

Second row Richie Gray said: “It’s (the Principality Stadium) one of the best stadiums in the world. The Welsh, they’re really passionate, really loud, especially when they get the anthem going, and if the roof’s closed it really makes for a crazy atmosphere.

“I really relish these, and if you’re selected you count yourself lucky to be part of it because it’s a special game.”

The teams

The stats

• Scotland beat Wales 35-7 in the 2023 Six Nations, their biggest ever victory against them in any Test match, surpassing their previous best win which was 35-10 back in 1924.
• Scotland made 831 tackles in last year’s Six Nations, more than any other side, recording the best tackle success rate in the process (92%), while Wales made the joint most dominant tackles of any nation in the Championship in 2023 (55, level with Italy).
• 14% of Scotland’s attacking phases in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations saw them move the ball wide (20+ metres from the previous ruck), the highest rate of any team, while Wales attacked the blindside more often than any other side, doing so on 13% of their phases.
• Duhan van der Merwe beat 35 defenders in the Guinness Six Nations last year, more than any other player; in fact it was the most by any player in an edition of the Championship, surpassing the previous best of 31 which van der Merwe himself set in 2021.