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Six Nations | Group Stage
Feb 15, 2015 at 3pm UK
 
Scotland
23-26
Wales
Hogg (10'), Hamilton (80')
FT
Webb (34'), Davies (65')

Preview: Scotland vs. Wales

Sports Mole previews the Six Nations clash between Scotland and Wales at Murrayfield.

Scotland and Wales will both be attempting to bounce back from defeats on the opening weekend of the 2015 Six Nations when they go head to head at Murrayfield this weekend.

Warren Gatland has been forced to make two changes to the side that threw away a lead against England last week, as concussion rules George North and Samson Lee out.

Liam Williams, who replaced North for a time while he was assessed in last week's game, comes in at wing, while Scott Williams is called up to the bench.

Aaron Jarvis takes Lee's place at tight-head prop after he failed the final part of the return-to-play protocol, while Scott Andrews of Cardiff Blues comes in as cover among the replacements.

The coach has said in the run-up to this match that he has been pleased with his players' response in training following the 21-16 defeat at the Millennium Stadium last Friday.

Having come into the tournament with a healthy squad, Wales had been expected to recover from a mediocre winter, where they won just two of their four autumn matches, but they will need to win this weekend to remain in contention.

Meanwhile, the hosts have also made two changes as they look to put their defeat to France behind them in their first home match of this year's tournament.

The Scottish side earned praise for their performance in their 15-8 loss at Stade de France last Saturday, but were unable to hold off a late push from the hosts.

Euan Murray will not be available, as he does not play on Sundays for religious reasons, while wing Tommy Seymour is out with a hip injury, so Geoff Cross comes in at prop, while Sean Lamont earns a recall in place of Seymour.

Lamont's inclusion means that seven members of Glasgow Warriors' squad will be starting the match for the home side in Edinburgh.

Dougie Fife came on for Seymour when he sustained the injury last week, scoring Scotland's only try of the match, but he does not feature in Vern Cotter's matchday squad for the second fixture of the competition.

Peter Horne is also dropped from the squad, while Matt Scott, Jon Welsh and Greig Tonks all feature on the replacements' bench after missing the trip to Paris.

The hosts showed promise in the autumn with wins over Tonga and Argentina and a narrow defeat to world champions New Zealand, so they will be confident of continuing their strong home form.

However, Scotland have not beaten Wales in the Six Nations since 2007, and will be keen to make amends for last year's 51-3 humbling in Cardiff.

Scotland:

Recent form: WLWLWL

Starting lineup: Stuart Hogg, Sean Lamont, Mark Bennett, Alex Dunbar, Tim Visser, Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, Geoff Cross, Richie Gray, Jonny Gray, Rob Harley, Blair Cowan, Johnnie Beattie

Wales:

Recent form: LLWLWL

Starting lineup: Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Gethin Jenkins, Richard Hibbard, Aaron Jarvis, Jake Ball, Alun-Wyn Jones, Dan Lydiate, Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau

Sports Mole says 17-14


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Aaron Jarvis of Wales during the International match betwwen Wales and South Africa at the Millennium Stadium on November 29, 2014
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