Scotland will not revert to a limited game to try to crush Wales at Murrayfield in the second match of the RBS 6 Nations, but seek the “balance” demanded by head coach Andy Robinson, even potentially without new star Richie Gray.
The 21-year-old lock, considered Scotland’s best player in the defeat to France last week, missed the final training session yesterday and was isolated from the squad with a stomach bug, so the experienced Scott MacLeod, who travelled to Paris last week as an extra man not in the matchday 22, was called up as insurance.
Gray will be reassessed this morning and if considered not able to play, Nathan Hines will move forward from the flank to his more usual spot in the second row, Kelly Brown will move from No 8 to the blindside and former Dundee High pupil Richie Vernon will come |off the bench to start, MacLeod taking his place among the |replacements.
The moves, if required, will cause minimal disruption, given Hines’ 65 caps at lock, the fact he has been training for moving there during a game in case of potential injury, and MacLeod having been with the extended squad for much of the last two weeks, taking part in all sessions.
“Nathan’s a quality player and a laid-back guy, we interchange all the time anyway and he’s been doing a lot of second row,” said Robinson. “I thought Richie Vernon did very well off the bench on Saturday in Paris.
“We’re constantly bringing |people into the squad to deal with situations like this, and we treat it like someone getting hurt in the warm-up, you just deal with it.”
The coach admitted to “really looking forward to the game,” not for revenge for last year’s last gasp drama in Cardiff, but because he believes that both sides are capable of serving up a thriller to match.
“I think it’ll be a cracker, you’ve got two sides who want to play and play well with width,” he said. “For me the key for both is how they get go-forward ball.
Execution most important”We know who their guys are, Jamie Roberts, Ryan Jones, Bradley Davies, Matthew Rees at hooker, all big ball carriers and we have to stop them because behind they have some brilliant one-on-one runners, as well as having guys with lots of experience under their belts.
“I don’t think putting James Hook at 10 changes the way they play, but we know that if he gets the ball on the front foot, he can be the best in the world, as can Shane Williams, because of what they do when given space to work.
“If we can deny them space for 80 minutes we can control the game; we did it for 70 minutes last year but it wasn’t enough.”
The coach reiterated his faith in a more expansive style seen against France, but added execution was still the most important thing.
“We made something like 200 passes last week which was pleasing, and although there were only 12 mistakes, from three of the mistakes France scored 21 points,” he pointed out.
“It was like watching schoolboy rugby sometimes and so frustrating. We’re looking for a balance. We have a number of styles we can play and ask questions of the Welsh defence, and if we keep that balance and hopefully you’ll see a few new things coming out tomorrow that will ask them questions.”
The potential absence of Gray makes little difference to Scotland in fact, it might be argued that bringing in the greater pace of Vernon to the back row makes more sense against a Welsh team who will attempt to keep the game live rather than go toe-to-toe upfront.
In addition, Gray’s scrummaging body position was a significant factor in Scotland being shoved around the Stade de France last week, and Hines brings experience and power into the engine room to tighten that up and lessen the pressure on Euan Murray.
For the god-fearing tight-head, who will miss the next two games in the championship because he refuses to play on Sundays, it’s possibly a pivotal game in his career.
Another bad day, against a tricky customer in Paul James who gave him some problems last year in Cardiff, offers a chance for Moray Low to claim the No 3 jersey, and there is probably no room for the Newcastle prop as a bench option.
Surely Scotland will not be bossed around at scrum time again, and it falls to the back row to out-match their rivals as they did in Cardiff last year, and deny serviceable ball for the Welsh backs.
Hook can be mercurial, and Scots will remember his disjointed performance at 10 in the 21-9 defeat at Murrayfield four years ago. Outside him Wales have strike runners, but they are less adept on the retreat, and if Scotland can control possession Dan Parks will keep them turning.
Wales’ rush defence is of a style that has caused Scotland problems before, and vastly different to the drift defence the French employed.
Nick De Luca and Joe Ansbro have to adapt when Scotland have ball in hand and keep providing more ammunition for the wings to get involved.
The general view is that this match pitches a team on gradual rise against one on a slow decline, and with the understanding that none of the Celtic nations can afford many injuries-just remember last year’s match-Wales are significantly disadvantaged in this regard in this championship, as well as having not won a match for nearly a whole year.
The fact that capacity is not likely to be reached at Murrayfield today suggests the usual hordes of travelling Welsh fans have figured this year might not be such a pleasurable trip north.
There is never an assurance that Scotland will win in rugby Robinson is fond of saying Scotland can win or lose any game against any nation but today, with the expectancy built by a good year of mostly winning rugby, we should surely be confident of success.