Team photo during the captain’s run today
The Welsh rugby team will be going out all guns blazing in today’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at the Millennium stadium according to defence coach Shaun Edwards.
“There’s no such thing as a dead rubber game as far as I am concerned,” he said at a press conference after the captain’s run at the Millennium stadium yesterday.
“We will be looking to put in a big performance out there, it’s very important for us to win at home in front of our fans,” he said.
Defence coach Shaun Edwards at a pre-match conference today
After Wales’ disappointing performance against Ireland at the Aviva stadium and England at Twickenham the coach was keen to get the message across that it is best foot forward against Scotland.
“This is a huge challenge for us, we will be looking for a home win and to finish third in the championship,” he said. “This will be our last game for a while so a win is very important to us.”
He conceded the championship so far was difficult for Wales. “It was a very difficult draw for us, Ireland and England away and one of the main things I have learned from this championship is how many ways there are to concede a try,” he said.
The game against England was a case in point. “We did well to get back into the game but there are just so many ways to concede a try and that is something we have been concentrating on in training,” he said.
“We will be playing attack rugby against Scotland, there is no doubt about that. One of Scotland’s biggest strengths is their ability to keep the ball,” he said.
Wales have made six changes to their starting line-up for the game tomorrow (kick off 2.45pm). Three come in the backline with Liam Williams (Scarlets) and Mike Phillips (Racing Metro) in for injured duo Leigh Halfpenny and Rhys Webb, at full-back and scrum-half respectively. Dan Biggar makes his first start of the tournament at fly-half, partnering Phillips at half-back.
A captain’s stretch – Sam Warburton during the captain’s run at the Millennium stadium today
In the pack Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues) will become Wales’ most-capped player when he makes his 105thappearance on Saturday, moving one ahead of Stephen Jones.
“Gethin is a very intelligent player,” said Shaun Edwards. “He is usually the one I go up to at half time, we have a chat about what we need to concentrate on.”
Head coach Warren Gatland will be looking for a result at home in today’s game.
“Saturday is an opportunity for us to put in a performance we know we can and finish the Six Nations on a high,” he said this week.
“We’ve made a number of changes and freshened things up with a just a six day turnaround between matches.”
Let’s hope it works and despite disappointment in Dublin and Twickenham Wales will be going for a big performance and the push is now on to be number three in the table.
