Wales vs Scotland: Who makes a combined XV?
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In what promises to be an open, fast-paced encounter, Wales welcome Scotland to the Principality Stadium with both teams needing a win to kick-start their title assault.
Both teams made fairly typical starts to their respective Six Nations campaigns.
Wales made a slow start before recovering to gain a 16-16 draw away in Ireland while Scotland once again flattered to decieve when something was expected of them, going down 15-9 in the Calcutta Cup clash against England.
Wales will head into the match as heavy favourites, having not lost to their celtic rivals since 2007 – the last time somone other than Warren Gatland was not in charge.
But who would make a combined XV from the two sides?
15. Stuart Hogg
A highly-anticipated battle between two fleet-footed full-backs and Stuart Hogg just about scrapes past Liam Williams. Both quality counter-attackers, Hogg edges it as he burdens more responsibility in a weaker team.
14. George North
A world class talent, George North once again coasts into the composite side. Opposite number Sean Maitland is a decent international who toured with the Lions in 2013, but ‘Gogzilla’ as he is known is on another level.
13. Jonathan Davies
Jonathan Davies will make his 50th appearance for Wales on Saturday and ‘Foxy’ has established himself as one of the best 13s in world rugby. Mark Bennett impressed during the World Cup for Scotland, but he has yet to match the Clermont centre.
12. Jamie Roberts
Having put in one of his best performances in a Wales shirt last week, Scotland will be more than aware of Jamie Roberts dual-threat in attack and defence. Saracens centre Duncan Taylor will be tasked with stopping him after stepping in for the injured Matt Scott.
11. Tom James
After a five-year exodus from test rugby, Tom James returned with a solid if unspectacular performance in Dublin – the Blues flyer not putting a foot wrong. Fellow wing Tommy Seymour coukd not say the same as he was exploited by the English attack – his errors resulting in two tries.
10. Dan Biggar
Dan Biggar will start for Wales having made an incredible recovery from an ankle injury and will boost the Wales side with his metronomic kicking and aerial threat. Scottish counterpart Finn Russell struggled with the pressure of the English defence and made a number of errors at Murrayfield.
9. Gareth Davies
While Gareth Davies was not able to snipe or sniff out try-scoring opportunities in Dublin as he would like, he did at least produce a rounded display with relatively fast delivery. Scottish scrum-half Greig Laidlaw however was sluggish to the breakdown and put pressure on his backline with his slow delivery.
1. Rob Evans
It was a case of “Gethin who” as Rob Evans put in an all-round shift last week in Dublin to vindicate his selection. Meanwhile Alasdair Dickinson was part of a Scottish scrum that didn’t quite get going against England.
2. Scott Baldwin
Despite a costly knock-on with an overlap begging, Scott Baldwin put it another assured performance, impressing at the set-piece and in the loose. Ross Ford’s lineouts percentages were lower than Baldwin’s and could have been lower still if a few crooked throws were picked up on.
3. WP Nel
The biblically-named Samson Lee is still searching to regain the firm before his Achilles’ tendon injury that saw him displace Adam Jones from the Wales squad. Scotlnd’s WP Nel is a strong scrummager and earns his place in the combined side.
4. Jonny Gray
The gangly Luke Charteris has been an underrated hero for Wales in recent times and never lets his side down. But Johnny Gray has emerged as one of the best locks in the Northern Hemisphere and impressed again last week
5. Alun Wyn Jones
The talisman in this Wales team, Alun Wyn Jones could put forward a pretty convincing case to be considered the best lock in world rugby. Scottish lock Richie Gray is imposing and athletic, but has currently been overtaken by his younger brother
6. Sam Warburton
No player has captained Wales more often than Sam Warburton and the open side has developed a fearsome reputation at the breakdown. He edges out Scarlet flanker John Barclay who returned from the international wilderness for Scotland last week
7. Justin Tipuric
The talent possessed by Justin Tipuric is evident in that he keeps Dan Lydiate on the bench for Saturday’s match – the flanker combining footballing ability with breakdown expertise. John Hardie has a handful of caps for Scotland but already looks an impressive import from New Zealand
8. Taulupe Faletau
Arguably Wales’ best performer last weekend, Taulupe Faletau had a barnstorming game – ferocious in defence, fleet-footed and strong when ball carrying and a deserved try-scorer. David Denton is a strong ball-carrier but no match for the all-round ability of Faletau