Test rugby experimentation is best done outside of tournaments, we’ve been told for a long time, but perhaps Warren Gatland can cite special circumstances as a reason for breaking that rule.

It’s hard to imagine many managers having the courage to do what the New Zealander did, selecting him for Wales’ trip to Murrayfield this weekend.

But this season’s Grand Slam and Triple Crown have already been lost to Gatland’s team in the Six Nations Tournament. Realistically, they aren’t going to win the title either.

Scotland vs Wales Exact Predicted Result

So it looks like the name of the game is pre-World Cup development. Whether this will affect the match against England in the third round remains to be seen, but there seems to be a lot of support for his policy of getting rid of youngsters.

Attracting players’ attention in the test scene is not an easy challenge.

This is how the two sides rate each other.

Stuart Hogg 7 against 8 Liam Williams

Two game-changing Test Lions, Hogg has both speed and skill and can wreak havoc on opponents given the space. On the debt side, you can falter defensively.

Williams has the courage of a lion and was Wales’ man of the match against Ireland. His game is totally compromised, but he’s good at it, a player most would love to have by their side in the trenches.

Kyle Steyn 7 vs Josh Adams 8

Steyn wouldn’t be in the team if Darcy Graham was fit, but the Glasgow captain takes charge, defends well and is also quick, as you’d expect from a player with experience in sevens.

Adams wasn’t at his best last time out – again, the Welsh halfbacks had a terribly shaky platform to work with. He is capable of marking top level opponents and causing problems with his strong running. In short, he knows how to get the job done.

Hugh Jones 7 against 7 George North

Jones can cut through the opponent’s back with his running lines. He is also skilled and Wales will need someone to keep him locked up. His defense was questioned, but he was flawless in that regard against England, making 12 tackles, all of which were successful.

While North has taken a solid fall, Gatland wants him to present a reminder of what made him such a special player. It could potentially be a handful for any defense but Ireland handled it well. Wales’ aim will be to give the center a chance to cause problems.

Sione Tuipulotu 8×7 Joe Hawkins

Tuipulotu is fast and hits hard, metaphorically speaking. To suggest defenders have a hard time stopping him is an understatement. However, Owen Watkin was excellent against him in the Ospreys’ 32-17 victory over the Glasgow Warriors at Swansea in the autumn, and Tuipulotu can sometimes get lost in defence.

Hawkins adapted to test rugby admirably. At just 20 years old, he has shown maturity beyond his years and can combine his game with the ability to run hard but also create space with quick passes or shots.

Duane van der Merwe 9 against 7 Rio Dier

Van der Merwe gets extra credit for the brilliant form he displayed against England, when he recorded one of the best tries in the Six Nations by beating five defenders. The huge man was so good that he was compared to Jonah Lomu. Wales will give you the ball and space at your own risk, so once you start driving you can stop frequently.

Dyer would rather pick locks than doors. He’s new at this level and still learning, but he beats defenders and keeps his head down.

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Finn Russell 8 vs Dan Biggar 8

Different styles. Russell is a free spirit who works on the edge and likes to take risks, which is great to watch. The phrase “playing for the sake of it” is not in his lexicon. On a good day, you can get the trainers to their feet for a standing ovation; on a bad day, respondents might cuss in frustration.

He can miss a tackle, he was passed by six of England’s ball carriers last weekend. But watching him play is good. There are few more inventive players in European rugby.

Biggar is a game manager with an insane will to win. No one could ever accuse him of a lack of effort. Against Ireland last week, it was his voice that came off the microphone the most as he tried to take the team forward. He is very experienced and can implement a game plan. Coaches tend to rely on him when he’s on the pitch. He’s not at his best against Ireland but Warren Gatland knows his worth.

Ben White 7×7 Tom Williams

We’ll let Gregor Townsend list White’s strengths. “He has a complete game, the fundamentals are very good and he is a tough competitor who likes to defend, but he also has a gap and an eye for difference,” said the Scotland manager. White scored against England and led the game with authority.

Williams put in a stellar performance against Argentina in November, but Gatland will want him to keep that setup. The Cardiff player is skilful, quick and tenacious, a player with a lot of potential. But you need to assert yourself more.

Pierre Chauman 7 against 7 Vin Jones

Few props work harder than Schumann, who made 16 consecutive tackles against England and 25 meters from 10 carries. He was crushed by Dan Cole in the first fight after coming on as a substitute, but normally the Scot is difficult to replace.

Gatland will want the 2021 version of Jones to come out. Problem is, the Scarlets haven’t played often enough since the Lions tour that year. But news from the Wales camp is positive: the 30-year-old has been training hard and is much more like himself. Then he is for head coach.

George Turner 7 in 7 Ken Owens

Turner oversaw a perfect display by Scotland against England, aided by a 6ft 10in Richie Gray on target. Furthermore, the Glasgow player, who is fending off a challenge from the ever-impressive Fraser Brown for his country’s second shirt, has had his share of excitement on the pitch as well.

Warren Gatland’s removal of veteran players from the Wales squad did not affect their captain. The odd dart may have been out of bounds this past week, but in other areas, Owens has hit a dead end. The visitors need him to be at his best at Murrayfield.

Zander Fegerson 7 vs 6 Dillon Lewis

Fagerson returns after more than two months out with a hamstring injury. Will he be able to fit in after being expelled? Scotland hopes that this is a positive answer to this question.

Lewis is not known for his tackling, but he is a strong player on the field, almost like Gethin Jenkins with the ball, and a player who knows how to handle the ball. If the Welsh side hold out, they could be an asset.

Richie Gray 8 vs Dafydd Jenkins 6

Gray was one of Scotland’s most effective players against England, reliable on the line and a hurdle in defence. At 33, he would be apprehensive playing for Wales this week, but he was great in the first round and will look to cause problems for the Gatland side in bowling, diving and catching.

Jenkins seems to have all the ingredients for a long and successful test run. The 1.80 m player is a quality line operator who likes to keep the ball in his hands and can do a lot with it. His appetite for defensive roles is reminiscent of young Alan Wyn Jones, with the Exeter Chiefs captain also leading the charge. It’s probably wise not to expect too much from the 20-year-old now, but whatever happens this weekend, he’s a player for the future.

Grant Gilchrist 7 against 7 Adam Bird

There were mixed reviews for Gilchrist after the first Six Nations game. One writer called him a warrior, another thought he had little influence. The truth was somewhere in the middle, with the Edinburgh man collecting tackles and making many difficult transitions for his team. Not everyone can play the role of Leone Nakarava.

Beard is a better player than his effort against Ireland suggests. But it is worth saying that he owes Gatland a great game.

A proven lion, he worked hard on defense but didn’t gain enough yardage with the ball in his hands and took too many penalties. Some seem to think he should have come off the board for so much effort, but he’s played well regionally and needs to bring that form into Saturday. The young pack will come looking for you to take action.

Jamie Ritchie 8 against 6 Krist Tshiunza

If the Lions were on the road this summer, Ritchie would be there or close to making the team. He is at his best, a leader who fights with determination and leads the way for his teammates. Tshiunza starts the test for the first time. The 6ft 6 Exeter Chief will add height at the back of the line and can charge hard as well as being able to rack up big tackles. Playing regularly for Exeter Chiefs would accelerate his development and, like Dafydd Jenkins, he has a steely determination.

Luke Crosby 6 vs 7 Tommy Rebell

At 6’5″ and 176 pounds, Crosby will have the height and weight advantage over his opponent, but Rebell will weigh his chances of missing. Don’t say that out loud, because that’s not his style, Raffel. ever imagine your chances of failure. Why not? When he played against South Africa in the summer, the Springboks were shocked by his quality in that area. Reffell is also difficult. With no experience you may be Test level but Scotland will know you are on the pitch.

Matt Fedgerson 8 against 7 Jack Morgan

Fagerson had 26 tackles this past weekend, five more than anyone in the first round. He also found time to pass the ball nine times. He is taller and heavier than his opponent and has been in the Test arena longer, but Morgan has an insatiable appetite for hard work and his performance against Australia in November saw him hailed as the Ardi Savea of ​​Wales. It’s too early for that comparison, and Morgan’s best position is out in the open, but he shows promise.

Substitution: Scotland 7 – Wales 7

Scotland have influence in the reserves with fly-half Fraser Brown blocking Jonny Gray and full-back Blair Kinghorn, while WP Nel can block the scrum and Chris Harris is one of the best defensive centers in the British Isles.

Any seat with Taulupe Faletau has an additional mark. Wales also have two monster props among their replacements, Rhys Carré and Leon Brown. The two may not be confirmed as test-level scrum-mads at this time, but they look like tanks.

TOTAL: Scotland 118 Wales 112

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