Match Preview: Scotland v Wales

10 Feb 2021

This Saturday, Scotland host Wales at BT Murrayfield in Round 2 of the Guinness Six Nations, following last weekend's 11-6 win over England at Twickenham.

Ali Price on the match against Wales, their opening home fixture:

“There are a lot of people who are stuck at home who can’t have fun, go to the gym, go to training, see their friends etc, so we are there to try and make them smile.

“If someone is sat on their sofa on Saturday afternoon, we want to make them smile, give them a reason to be proud and give them some positivity if they have had a tough week or not seen anyone.

“We want a bit of that dogged side that a lot of Scots carry in us. It is not lost on us how lucky we are to be doing what we love. We want to make people proud.

“Saturday against England was a great start to lift the mood. Now we have to kick on.”

“If someone is sat on their sofa on Saturday afternoon, we want to make them smile.”
Ali Price

Jamie Ritchie on Wales:

“They are a bit more direct than we have seen them. Wales will be hurting from that game in the autumn. We know the threat they can pose and we hope that we are ready for the game come Saturday.

“They are certainly more physical and they are developing their game and trying to play a bit more.

“They are renowned as a defensive team and they are developing their attack. For us it is about doing our due diligence and preparing as well as we can for that.”

Team Announcement

Scotland Head Coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes, one in the pack and two in the backline following the opening weekend victory over England at Twickenham. Read the full team story here.

Wales also announced their team on Thursday for Round 2 of the Guinness Six Nations at BT Murrayfield. Take a look at Wayne Pivac’s selection below.

Match facts

Scotland have won two of their last four Guinness Six Nations matches against Wales, more than they’d won in their previous 13 Championship meetings.

Gregor Townsend’s men will be aiming to record back-to-back wins against Wales in the Guinness Six Nations for the first time since 2002/2003.

Scotland conceded just 59 points in their four games at BT Murrayfield in 2020, their average of 14.8 points conceded per game was their third lowest in such matches in a calendar year in the professional era and their lowest since 2011 (14.2, also 13.5 in 2009).

Scotland were the only side not to lose a line-out (15/15) on the opening weekend of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations.

Scotland enjoyed 62% possession and 58% territory in their win against England in Round 1, no side has enjoyed more possession in a Guinness Six Nations match across the last two editions.

Scotland captain Stuart Hogg gained 88 metres with ball in hand against England last weekend, taking him past Sergio Parisse (3,088) as the player to gain the most in Six Nations history (3,091).

Justin Tipuric made 29 tackles in Wales’ win over Ireland in Round 1, the most by any player in the Championship since Guilhem Guirado made 31 against Ireland in 2018.

Duhan van der Merwe has scored four tries in his first five starts for Scotland, only failing to cross the try line against France in that run; he’s beaten 25 defenders in those five games, including five against England last time out.