ROBIN DAVEY SAYS: Scotland's a must win game (From Campaign Series)

ROBIN DAVEY SAYS: Scotland's a must win game

12:10pm Tuesday 9th February 2010

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IF ever there was the proverbial must win game it’s on Saturday at the Millennium Stadium when anything other than a Welsh victory would be completely unacceptable.

A dire first half at Twickenham, hardly the fare to celebrate its centenary, was at least followed by some excitement in the second period when hopes flickered of a Welsh comeback similar to the one two years ago.

But this time their recovery was snuffed out and it was England who prevailed and tasted victory to get their Six Nations campaign off to a winning start at least.

For Wales, though, it was a dismal failure and all hopes of a Triple Crown or Grand Slam disappeared into the cold night air of Twickenham there and then.

But it’s no use dwelling on what has gone or on that fatal Alun Wyn Jones trip on England hooker Dylan Hartley which arguably cost Wales the game, the focus now has to be on next Saturday.

Before the campaign even started I forecast in a previous column that Wales would win two matches and lose three – something for which I have been chastised on several occasions by the Wales management – but I saw little evidence to change my mind on the opening weekend.

Scotland (Italy being the obvious other candidate) were the two Welsh bankers and again nothing which happened in the first round of matches changes that view.

Scotland were pretty inept against a French team which did enough to secure the spoils but not much more – they didn’t have to. They can, frighteningly, play a lot better, certainly with more width than at Murrayfield and they surely will as the Six Nations progresses.

Scotland, on the other hand, looked pretty pedestrian and it proved there is only so much a new coach, former England chief Andy Robinson, can do with the talent at his disposal.

They rarely looked like scoring a try and possessed few line breakers, back row forward John Beattie apart, while they clearly have problems in the key position of outside half.

Perhaps the best ‘achievement’ of the Scots was that marvellously silent and touching tribute before the game to their own son – and everyone else’s for that matter – Bill McLaren who had died the week before after a career in broadcasting which endeared him to the entire UK rugby nation.

Despite Wales’ Twickenham setback they will surely possess too much in their locker for a Scotland side which is hardworking but possesses little inspiration.

Wales have that in abundance in James Hook, who may have found his best position after being pushed from pillar to post.

Outside half may be his preferred position, but it has to be said he has lacked the control so essential for a No 10 and has been unable to oust Stephen Jones from the national team and has been overtaken by the rapidly maturing Dan Biggar for the Ospreys.

As a result he has been used at inside centre by his region and at 12 and full back by Wales before occupying a fourth position for his country at 13 against England.

He did provide a perfect foil for Jamie Roberts – still pretty quiet compared with his previous explosiveness – and had sufficient time and space at outside centre to parade his undoubted talents.

He created panic in the England defence almost every time he had the ball and the way he glided through for his try, ending with a telling hand-off as well, was native Welsh flair at its best.

But having said that, Wales encountered numerous problems elsewhere and some of Wales coach Warren Gatland’s selections have to be queried - nothing wrong with that is there?

Should Gareth Cooper have started at scrum half? Should Gareth Williams have been the hooker? Should Tom James have got the vote on the right wing? Hindsight is a wonderful thing, as they say, but at least I pointed out the previous suspect throwing in of Williams, which turned out to be so evident, everyone doubted the wisdom of picking Cooper when he wasn’t first choice for Cardiff Blues, while many believed James to be too raw.

The chickens did, indeed, come home to roost and Gatland was expected to make changes in all three positions for the Scotland game.

Any side would miss Lions of the calibre of Mike Phillips, Gethin Jenkins and Matthew Rees, all so prominent in South Africa last summer, so there were extenuating circumstances.

But Wales still ought to have too much for Scotland and should get their campaign back on track before the much sterner task against France, who won at Murrayfield with so much to spare – and without playing to anywhere near their full potential.

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