Former Wales captain Martyn Williams keeping the vocal cords loose and lubricated before he takes to the BBC One airwaves.

I'm sure that Vern Cotter doesn't do text-speak.

Image source, Getty Images

Interim coach Rob Howley has slapped down the gauntlet to Taulupe Faletau, saying that retaining Ross Moriarty was a pretty straightforward decision.

"Ross Moriarty was outstanding against England and deserves to start," he said.

"This is the right back row to start the game which puts pressure on Toby.

"We were disappointed with the impact of our bench against England, it's an area that we've talked about and we're looking for better this weekend."

Expect to see to see Faletau fizzing like an alka-selzer in a vat of cola If he rolls off the bench around the hour mark,  

Image source, Getty Images

Back in September, Wales Online picked it's top 10 number eights in world rugby.

Taulupe Faletau was ranked second, external , behind All Black Kieran Read, and ahead of David Pocock, Sergio Parisse, Billy Vunipola, Louis Picamoles and Jamie Heaslip.

A bold shout, particularly now that Faletau's place in the Wales team is under threat.

With Faletau back to fitness after a knee injury, coach Rob Howley has instead opted to stick with Gloucester wrecking ball Ross Moriarty at the back of the scrum.

"Ross is playing really well at the moment, and so are the other two," said Faletau.

"We work for each other, and whoever plays is worthy of playing. And to be honest, those three right now are playing really well."

Image source, Getty

Few predicted anything other than an overwhelming win for England's women against Italy - and that is what is on the cards. Eventually.

Italy shocked the hosts by taking the lead with a fifth-minute try, only for England to hit back with four of their own before the break.

Kay Wilson touched down in the left corner to level, the tournament favourites taking the lead shortly after with almost a carbon copy try from Amy Wilson Hardy in the opposite corner. 

After Italy second-rower Elisa Pillotti was shown a yellow card for a high tackle, England then used their numerical advantage to run in two more tries through hooker Vicky Fleetwood.

Expect more home tries after the break.

Image source, Getty Images

All impartiality has gone out the window over on BBC Cymru's Twitter feed...

Television coverage is starting in just a minute's time. Grab your remote or hit play at the top of this page.

However you cut it Wales have had the best of the recent skirmishes.

Rob Howley's side are on a nine-match winning streak against Scotland - a run that stretches back to Scotland's 21-9 win at Murrayfield in 2007.

Scotland have won just one of the last 14 matches against Wales.

But they are getting closer.

Their last two defeats, by three points in 2015 and four points in 2016, are as close as they have come to repeating their 2007 victory.

Former Scotland full-back Gavin Hastings says Vern Cotter's side are capable of beating Wales, despite missing a number of key players through injury...

Gavin Hastings will be on co-commentary duties with BBC Radio 5 live this afternoon.

David Flatman and Tom Shanklin have been touring about and chewing the fat.

This week they run into a certain buggy-driving joy-riding former Wales number eight.

Talking of whom, this is a fascinating interview with Andy Powell in the Daily Mail from November with tales of drinking and depression at the top level of rugby, external . 

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

The competition for the second-row seats on Warren Gatland's Lions-liner will be as competitive as in any position.

Scotland's Jonny Gray has a pretty convincing claim on a ticket.

He is the joint leading tackler in this season's Six Nations and the leading tackler in this season's Champions Cup. 

He's made 382 tackles at Test match level and has missed just eight - a 98% tackle success rate.  

As Al Kellock, his former captain at Glasgow, says, he is the sort of character you "run through a brick wall for, only to realise that he'd run through it before you". 

Read more about Gray minor in this excellent feature by Tom English.

Richard Williams
BBC Sport Wales at Murrayfield

Image source, Rex

Both teams are out on the pitch and the weather is being a bit Scottish - which is like Welsh weather on steroids!!

There's a swirling wind and heavy showers.

Expect the ball to spend a little time in the air.

Richard Williams
BBC Sport Wales at Murrayfield

Image source, Rex Features

It's not win or bust for Wales, according to record points scorer Neil Jenkins, but the goal-kicking legend concedes it's a match neither team can afford to lose.

Defeat today is likely to leave the losers at least eight points behind England by Sunday evening.

With two games left, there is unlikely to be any coming back from that.

Jenkins says the middle weekend matches could be pivotal for players with Lions tour ambitions.

Plenty to play for, then.

Former Wales fly-half Jonathan Davies takes a trip up to the BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentary position to look at where Scotland v Wales could be won and lost.

Image source, Getty Images

After more than 25 years and 200 Tests, Scotland's team doctor James Robson - treating Rob Howley on the 2001 Lions tour in the picture above - is the most experienced medic in the game.

And this has been one of his busier weeks.

First scrum-half and captain Greig Laidlaw was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with an ankle injury.

Then, back-row ball carrier Josh Strauss was also crossed off Vern Cotter's Six Nations list with a kidney injury.

Can Scotland's promising campaign recover from that double blow?

The Scotland and Wales under-20 sides served up an outstanding warm-up on the eve of today's match.

Jason Strange's Welsh side ran out 65-34 winners in a 99-point,14-try thriller in Cumbernauld.

Not a night for defence coaches, but the spectators were not complaining.