Wales v Scotland: Six Nations match preview and tips

TV: BBC1, S4C & Virgin One, 2.15pm Saturday

Wales head to Edinburgh with their Grand Slam dreams intact but they could be made to work hard to reach the finale against Ireland with four wins under their belts.

Victory over England in round three allowed Wales to put aside all the doubts over their opening two performances. Head coach Warren Gatland said before the opening away fixtures in France and Italy that he was trying to prepare for World Cup conditions - now he has the perfect chance to get his team focused on a semi-final and final with the prize of another clean sweep.

Scotland have been disappointing since an opening victory over Italy, but coach Gregor Townsend has had some good news on the injury front while he has also made a striking change to his line-up.

Prop WP Nel and flanker Hamish Watson return from injury to bolster the Scottish pack while fly-half Finn Russell, who missed the defeat in Paris in round three, also starts.

But Russell will have a new half-back partner as skipper Greig Laidlaw is dropped to the bench and Glasgow scrum-half Ali Price starts in his place.

It's a move that had been mooted in many quarters as Laidlaw has looked below his best this year and Price has the pace to get the dangerous Scottish backs into the game far quicker.

A lot will depend on the conditions as Scotland try to play the kind of expansive game Townsend wants to see, but the threat of rain has receded through the week. Gusting winds could still have an effect but a dry afternoon will suit the Scots.

Scotland have to cut out the frequent handling errors that proved costly against Ireland and France. But Wales have their own issues to deal with as their line-out has misfired badly in all three matches and that's more difficult to put right.

Ten line-out losses from 27 on their own throw is a worrying stat and if they don't nail their set-piece, Wales run the risk of a loose and open game that will suit the Scots down to the ground.

Losing full-back Stuart Hogg to injury is a blow for Scotland's gameplan but Blair Kinghorn looks a more than able replacement having bagged a hat-trick of tries against Italy.

Scotland's victory in this fixture at Murrayfield two years ago ended a run of nine successive tournament defeats to Wales, and Gatland's men came out on top in two 2018 meetings, both in Cardiff.

The Welsh defended resolutely in both clashes, conceding just one try in each, but they look set to face a more urgent attacking threat and this could turn into a close, high-scoring clash.

Recommendations
Scotland +4
2pts Evs general
Over 4.5 tries
2pts 20-21 Betfair

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