Wales and Scotland will close out the opening round of the 2024 Guinness 6 Nations when the two sides meet at the Millenium Stadium on Saturday evening.
2024 Six Nations
Wales v Scotland
Saturday 3 February 2024 | 18:45
The hosts are in the midst of a post-World Cup rebuild with a number of their veterans having moved on in 2023. They face a true acid test first up with the Scots set to field a vastly experienced side that has played loads of rugby together.
To Win (80 Mins)
Wales 16/10 | Draw 20/1 | Scotland 11/20
Handicap
Wales (+3.5) 9/10 | Scotland (-3.5) 9/10
While there’s some familiarity in this Welsh set-up with long-term Dragons servant Warren Gatland at the helm of the coaching set-up, there are major changes to the playing personnel with Louis-Reece Zammit, Dan Biggar, Alun-Wyn Jones Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb having all moved on.
With the aforementioned players having left for pastures new, Gatland’s hand has been somewhat forced as he looks to usher in a new era with a load of young faces. It seems the grizzled Kiwi has fully bought into this youthful approach and has named 21-year-old Dafydd Jenkins as his skipper for the Championship. The Exeter Chiefs man will lead a very young squad during the tournament which includes five uncapped players and a further eight players who are yet to play a Six Nations fixture.
Luckily for Jenkins, the 2023 Welsh Six Nations vintage didn’t set the bar too high with the Dragons finishing last year’s tournament in fifth place only registering one win which came against perennial cellar-dwellers Italy. They’ll be looking to match that win record this weekend by getting a win over a Scottish side that beat them 35-7 in last year’s comp.
While the Welsh have a massive rejig on their hands, the Scots are a far more settled side although they have been hit with some injuries heading into the tournament with tightheads WP Nel and Will Hurd both sidelined through injury.
Scotland will also be without Fin Russell’s understudy Adam Hastings, who has been replaced by Glasgow’s Ross Thompson.
In fairness, Scotland’s injury list is not a massive one and they should field a very settled side this weekend. Look to their midfield to provide the impetus with Finn Russell and centres Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones sure to give their opposite numbers all sorts of problems.
Verdict: Scotland (-3.5) 9/10
I fancy Townends men to get the job done here. This is a very young Welsh side with a number of their squad untested at Six Nations level.
