ZCZC
BSP-06
RUGBYU-6NATIONS-SCO-WAL
Grand Slam chasing Wales aim to sidestep domestic chaos against Scotland
EDINBURGH, March 8, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Warren Gatland will be protecting an
18-year unbeaten personal record against Scotland when he bids to emerge from
a week of turmoil in Welsh rugby by moving within one step of an historic
Grand Slam hat-trick at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Wales were beaten 29-13 in Edinburgh two years ago but that was when
Gatland, the mastermind of their current all-time record run of 12 successive
victories, was on a sabbatical as coach of the British and Irish Lions, with
Rob Howley in temporary charge.
Following wins against France, Italy and England, Gatland is on course to
emulate his Grand Slam successes of 2008 and 2012 in his final season with
Wales.
No coach has ever achieved three clean sweeps in the Five or Six Nations
Championship, with the native New Zealander currently level on two with
Wales’s John Dawes, England’s Geoff Cooke and France’s Jacques Fouroux, Jean-
Claude Skrela and Bernard Laporte.
In his 12 seasons in charge of Wales, Gatland has won all ten of the
matches he has contested against Scotland.
He last suffered defeat against the Scots in his final year in charge of
Ireland — a 32-10 loss at Murrayfield in September 2001.
A potential Grand Slam clincher awaits his current in-form Wales side
against Ireland in Cardiff on Saturday week if they can maintain the winning
form they launched with a home victory against Italy on March 11 last year
and which gathered momentum with their stunning 21-13 success against England
in Cardiff two weeks ago.
Wales have not lost since a 37-27 reverse against Ireland in Dublin on
February 24 last year.
Scotland, by contrast, will kick-off on Saturday following back-to-back
defeats at home to Ireland and away to France.
But any threat of complacency may have been removed by a week of wrangling
in Welsh rugby, with Gatland admitting his players had been “distracted” by
failed attempts to merge the Ospreys and Scarlets.
Of Gatland’s 23-man squad, 13 are employed by the two regional franchises,
who insisted on Wednesday the proposed deal had been scrapped.
– Price is right –
Against that turbulent background, Gatland has made just the one enforced
change to his starting XV, with Ospreys lock Adam Beard replacing the injured
Cory Hill.
“The challenge for us is to make sure we’re not complacent or drop our
level because there’s a large amount at stake,” said Gatland.
Scotland have been bolstered by the return from injury of two key players
in fly-half Finn Russell and tighthead prop Willem Nel.
And Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has gone even further following a
lacklustre 29-10 defeat against France by dropping captain Greig Laidlaw to
the bench, with Glasgow’s Ali Price stepping up to the starting scrum-half
berth.
Hooker Stuart McInally will lead the side.
Pete Horne moves from fly-half to inside centre, with Edinburgh wing Darcy
Graham making his first start, in place of the injured Sean Maitland.
“We had two weeks to reflect on why things didn’t work over in France. We
looked at every position, and we also reflected on the fact we’re out of the
Championship,” said Townsend.
Price had a miserable time when he started against Wales in place of
Laidlaw during last year’s Six Nations, gifting the Welsh their opening two
tries as the Scots lost 21-10 in Cardiff.
But former Scotland playmaker Townsend added: “I believe he (Price) is more
resilient after last year.
“He didn’t play as well for club and country during this period but
physically he is in good shape, and we have seen a step up in his form for
Glasgow since November.”
BSS/AFP/GMR/0901 hrs