Scotland v Wales predictions and Six Nations rugby union tips

Free rugby tips, best bets and analysis for Scotland v Wales in the Six Nations on Saturday.

Where to watch

BBC1 & S4C, 4.45pm

Best bet

Scotland to win by one to 12 points
2pts 6-4 Betfred

Scotland penalty first scoring play
2pts 21-10Betfair

Match preview

Scotland and Wales went into their opening Six Nations clashes as underdogs and emerged victorious, but there was no doubting which performance was more impressive.

Scotland had not beaten England at Twickenham since 1983 but were totally dominant in their 11-6 Calcutta Cup victory.

England may have been architects of their own downfall, showing a lack of intensity while giving up 15 penalties and missing 29 tackles.

But there can be no taking away from Scotland's dogged display which carried on their strong defensive performances of 2020, which included a 14-10 victory over Wales in Llanelli.

That defeat was one of seven Wales suffered in ten matches last year so it was vital for a team who thrive so much on confidence that they should get off to a winning start in the tournament.

But it was hard to miss the overwhelming feeling of relief rather that triumph that followed their 21-16 success over Ireland on Sunday and even their most ardent supporters will have to admit the Welsh dodged a bullet.

They were 6-0 up after 15 minutes when the game turned on a red card shown to Ireland flanker Peter O'Mahony, but Wales struggled against 14 men for the rest of the half, trailing 13-6 at the break.

Eventually numbers told but even then Ireland could have snatched it at the death but Billy Burns's kick to the corner went dead instead of setting up a line-out five yards out. And there were other areas for concern, notably a misfiring Welsh line-out which Ireland were able to steal on four occasions.

Liam Williams returns on the wing for Wales at Murrayfield but that is counterbalanced by the injury absence of George North and a Wales attack that looked short of ideas will have to step up several gears.

Scotland have conceded more than 20 points in just one of the last six Six Nations matches at Murrayfield and four of the last five Six Nations meetings between these teams have been decided by ten points or fewer, so just as last week at Twickenham and last November at Parc y Scarlets, a close, low-scoring game looks likely.

The physical dominance Scotland showed in round one will serve them well and could be a good source of points against a Wales side who conceded 11 penalties against Ireland, ten of them in the ruck area.

The Scots will look to build a score and backing the hosts to open the scoring with a penalty looks a solid play, while a home win by one to 12 points looks a likely outcome.

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