Here are your rugby morning headlines for Friday, March 7.
Wales captain Morgan impresses coach
Wales head coach Matt Sherratt was been blown away by the quality of captain Jac Morgan, both as a player and person.
Wales captain Morgan has been their most dominant figure over the course of the Six Nations and will be at the forefront again at Murrayfield. He has shown he is one of the finest rugby players in the world despite Wales' struggles and his quiet but effective leadership has made a real impact on those around him.
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"He’s been brilliant," said Sherratt.
"I knew him to say hello to from playing and training against the Ospreys. But you can see why he’s captain.
"He’s very, very popular in the squad. He’s not a captain who talks a great deal. He’s more of an action captain for me.
"That’s why he’s topping all the stats. He’s got a very good manner in the squad. I don’t see a hierarchy. A player like Ellis Mee who we’ve just talked about is as respected by Jac as much as someone like Toby Faletau.
"He’s very good at doing that – being what I call the thermometer of the group. He’s very good at going between the junior and senior figures. He’s as effective and as popular with all of them. He’s been brilliant for me as well and really supportive. He’s a great guy."
Sherratt has warned his Wales players if they can't get the better of Scotland at the contact area it will be a long afternoon.
The interim Wales head coach has once again gone down the dual openside route with Morgan and Tommy Reffell set to play a crucial role. Sherratt is keen to get Wales' attacking game firing but warned it won't be possible if they don't find a way of dealing with Jamie Ritchie and Rory Darge.
"They are going to know what’s coming in terms of the phase attack," said Sherratt. "There will be little tweaks from us, although not a lot of change.
"It’s going to be a different defence to Ireland and our biggest challenge against any Scottish side, Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Scottish team who all have similar defence, is that they are very good at spending time in the tackle.
"They are good in the contact area and so that will be a massive battle. If we get that battle right, and get the contact area right, then we will get some of our game on the pitch.
"If not it’s going to be difficult. Scotland’s defence is probably their point of difference. They are very good at slowing ball up.
"That is the challenge this week because they probably know more about the shape that is coming more than Ireland did. Speaking to the Ireland players and staff after the game it wasn’t a huge surprise to them because they had watched Cardiff a fair bit."
Wallabies legend labels Ireland 'joke' and fly-half 'flaky'
Australia legend David Campese has labelled Ireland's World Cup record a 'joke' as he called fly-half Sam Prendergast's defence 'flaky'.
The former Wallabies wing was previewing Ireland's Six Nations clash with France this weekend, which will play a pivotal part in deciding who wins the title.
When assessing the two teams, Campese couldn't resist a dig at Ireland's failure to ever progress beyond a World Cup quarter-final.
“This is the battle of rugby’s perennial under achievers; Ireland might be ranked in the top two but in terms of big trophies – and I mean World Cups, their record is nothing short of a joke on the biggest stage," he told Planet Rugby.
“Equally, for all the talk of a golden generation of French players – and this really is that – they simply don’t have the pots to show for it either, and it’s key for both sides that they come out of this Six Nations with silverware to show for their talents.”
Campese also believes France could get some joy out of Ireland fly-half Prendergast.
He added: “Where I do think France hold an advantage is in the 10/12 channel defence. Sam Prendergast has been flaky in his D, recording a c.60% completion rate in his tackles this season; in contrast, (Romain) Ntamack, a big guy for a ten, has a 100% completion rate, although admittedly he’s only played one Test.
"If France get through Prendergast and into scramble, Ireland will be in trouble and that will surely be France’s aim."
Wales need 'really, really big performance' to contain Scotland: Roberts
Former Wales centre Jamie Roberts believes Wales need a 'really, really big performance' to beat Scotland this weekend.
Roberts was speaking on BBC's Scrum V: The Warm Up podcast alongside fellow former international, James Hook.
When asked what a good result would be in Edinburgh, Hook said: “A win is a good result, isn’t it?
"Obviously a win is a good result, but I think if we don’t win… if we go there with the same attacking mindset we did against Ireland, and we score three or four tries and we contain that Scottish attack from a defensive point of view.
"If we can do that and stay in the game like we did against Ireland… I think people will go ‘yeah, that’s a pretty good result.’
Roberts added: “I think it’s going to take a really, really big performance from Wales to win this weekend. Just because of that Scottish attack… They’ve shown enough this tournament, even at Twickenham, they were brilliant in attack.
"And if Wales can contain them… I just think it could be potentially a really nervy performance from Scotland.
"A couple of knock-ons, scrum, maybe a yellow card, someone doesn’t quite get something right, it can be really nervy, and if Wales are in it at minute 70-75, it would be a great opportunity. But I echo James, you have to contain that Scottish attack."
Gregor Townsend wary of Wales playing with freedom
By Anthony Brown, PA
Scotland are bidding to make it three wins in succession over Wales for the first time in the Six Nations era, but Gregor Townsend expects the visitors to arrive in Edinburgh with renewed confidence following their spirited display in losing 27-18 at home to Ireland in Matt Sherratt’s first game in interim charge.
“I thought they were very good,” said Townsend. “You could argue that they had opportunities to win that game on the balance of play. They dominated large parts of it. They’re a quality side.
“They’ve been on a run where they’ve obviously had those defeats, but they’ve got some really good players. I actually thought they started the game very well against France, but France took their opportunities that day.
“And then against Ireland, they were excellent. I think defensively, they really filled the field well, they were hard to break down.
“They’ve got experienced players back in their team now that have played a lot of Test matches, and they’re playing with freedom. You could see that against Ireland, and I’m sure they’ll come up with that spirit of wanting to try things this weekend.”
Townsend has made just one change to the starting XV from the England game, with talismanic wing Darcy Graham replacing Kyle Rowe after recovering from the concussion he suffered against Ireland almost four weeks ago.
“Darcy trained well last week when we had the guys in that weren’t playing for the clubs at the weekend,” said the head coach.
“He’s had an enforced rest, rightly, but he looks like the same Darcy who was playing so well for us before he got the injury.
“His ability to beat players is up there with the best in the world, so he’s been a key player for us.”
