Tom English
BBC Scotland's chief sports writer

Scotland's record at the Principality is lousy, they haven't won there in 20 years, but this team has something.

We suspected it, but they've backed it up again to make it seven wins out of their last 11 Six Nations games.

Defensively they just get better and better... and Steve Tandy is the difference.

The last couple of seasons before he arrived, Scotland were conceding 25 points per game on average in the Six Nation; they're now conceding 15 points.

They believe in their defence. The attack is still decent, but the defence is the seismic shift and that's what gives them huge hope.

Jac Morgan is the latest player to come off Wales' production line of open-side flankers.

The young flanker talks about his journey from being an apprentice mechanical engineer to winning his first Wales cap.

Martin Johnson
Former England captain and coach on BBC One

From the outside, it's a little bit of changing of the guard [for Wales]. Last year they overperformed.

You can't win the championship with luck, but they papered over the cracks.

I thought actually last week amid all the doom and gloom, they did okay. Things didn't go their way and Ireland steamrollered them in the end.

But I thought they looked like a team that is just coming together, which they are. I think they will go very well today.

Rory Lawson
Former Scotland captain on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

Scotland are in a really good place as a team at the moment and the fact that they're able to bring in a few new faces today just highlights the depth Gregor Townsend has been able to bring in.

The standard the coaches are driving through every single day has brought them here and it's starting to pay off.

Scotland need to get more ball this week.

The Scottish defence under Steve Tandy is excellent and I don't see Scotland conceding 25, 30 points like they might have done 18 months ago, but they'd like to get more possession.

For Scotland the key thing today is the opening quarter. They need to take the vocal, nervous Welsh crowd out of the equation.

Jonathan Davies
Former Wales international on BBC One

Nigel Walker is now the [Welsh Rugby Union] performance director and he has got a massive job.

Whatever he says they have got to listen to because I can't see the production [line of players] coming through like in all other countries.

What happens as well in the regions, there's a little bit of complacency there. Look at Liam Williams. There's no challengers to him - no full-back in Wales. He has only played a handful of games in two years.

That's the worry, that you get complacency setting in. If there's nobody pushing you, then standards drop.

There's a lot of things wrong with the game in Wales at the moment. It's all down to resources and the union.

Finn Russell will be a key figure at fly-half for Scotland again today.

Re-live his outstanding performance against England last weekend.

Tom Shanklin
Former Wales international on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra

I really think the pressure is on Wales.

Scotland are flying high after back-to-back Calcutta Cups. They are a team full of confidence.

Scotland haven't won in Cardiff for 20 years so the pressure is on Wales because of the history of results.

But they've also got to perform, they've got to up their game from last week.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

We've just been given the team sheets and there are no late changes to either starting XV.

The sides are going through their warm-up drills as the sell-out crowd take their seats.

The roof is open, it's dry and conditions are perfect for running rugby.

The excitement is building...

Jonathan Davies
Former Wales international on BBC One

On the back of last week's performance, Wales' training would have been a lot easier because they can't repeat that.

They lost every collision, they were on the back foot, they were floundering in defence.

It was a very poor display. This is an opportunity to come back against a very confident Scotland side.

Wales are difficult to beat but they know they have to improve.

Pete Horne
Former Scotland centre

All they've talked about is physicality and how [Wales] got beat up in Dublin and that's kind of a shot at your pride as a player.

You never want that to be questioned, especially on the international stage when you're playing for your country.

I'd expect a massive reaction. Beware the wounded animal.

But I just think Scotland have all the tools to deal with that now. When was the last time you doubted Scotland's physicality?

Wales forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys says Wales’ record against Scotland in Cardiff means nothing.

The Scots haven't won in the capital since 2002.

Image source, Getty Images

Wales

• Wales could lose their opening two games of the Six Nations for the first time since 2007, when they were defeated by Ireland in week one and Scotland in week two

• Wales have won nine of their last 11 home matches in the Six Nations, with both defeats coming against France and Scotland in 2020

• Since the beginning of the 2021 autumn series, Wales have conceded an average of 31.4 points per game and scored an average of 21.6

Scotland

• Scotland could win five successive away matches in the Six Nations for the first time since 1927. Their current run of four wins is their best of the Six Nations era and started with a 17-0 triumph in Italy in 2020

• They can win their opening two fixtures for the first time in the Six Nations

• Scotland have won six of their last seven Tests, losing only against South Africa

John Barclay
Former Scotland captain on BBC One

Scotland had to win last week. All the pressure was on Scotland and they had to deliver.

They didn't attack that well but they defended superbly well. The foundations were laid and then they took their moments in attack.

This weekend it's about backing it up.

They know the challenges. Their body language is good - they look confident - but the metric for success for this team will always be their performances on the road.

This game will be extra special for a few players.

Wales captain Dan Biggar will play his 100th Test, while centre Jonathan Davies will reach the same milestone if he comes off the bench.

Returning wing Alex Cuthbert marks his 50th international, as does Scotland's second row Grant Gilchrist.

Wales coach Wayne Pivac says it takes a lot of resilience to reach the 100 mark.

A quick look at the table after week one.

Remember the two sides who started with bonus-point wins in round one, France and Ireland, meet later today in Paris (16:45 GMT).

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

A blow for Scotland as injured flanker Jamie Ritchie has been ruled out for the remainder of the tournament.

He's replaced in the back row by Sam Skinner, one of five changes to the starting side.

There's an all-new front row of Pierre Schoeman, Stuart McInally and WP Nel, with Rory Sutherland, George Turner and Zander Fagerson all dropping to the bench.

Sione Tuipulotu comes in for his third cap at inside centre, while flanker Rory Darge is in line for his debut off the bench.

Scotland: S Hogg (c); D Graham, C Harris, S Tuipulotu, D Van der Merwe; F Russell, A Price; P Schoeman, S McInally, WP Nel, J Gray, G Gilchrist, S Skinner, H Watson, M Fagerson.

Replacements: G Turner, R Sutherland, Z Fagerson, M Bradbury, R Darge, White, B Kinghorn, C Redpath.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales have handed Ospreys flanker Jac Morgan a debut in a new-look back row.

Wayne Pivac says Morgan has impressed in training this week and deserves his shot.

His inclusion is one of four starting changes, with Ross Moriarty preferred to Aaron Wainwright at number eight.

Alex Cuthbert gets the nod ahead of Johnny McNicholl on the right wing, while Owen Watkin replaces the injured Josh Adams at outside centre.

Jonathan Davies is back in the matchday 23 after being named among the replacements.

Wales: L Williams; Cuthbert, Watkin, Tompkins, Rees-Zammit; Biggar (capt), T Williams; W Jones, Elias, Francis, Rowlands, Beard, Basham, Morgan, Moriarty.

Replacements: Lake, G Thomas, D Lewis, S Davies, Wainwright, G Davies, Sheedy, J Davies.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Good afternoon and welcome to Cardiff.

The bagpipers are in town which can only mean one thing… it’s Wales v Scotland.

Title holders Wales go into round two of the Six Nations with a point to prove after a thumping out in Ireland, while the Scots are in buoyant mood after another Calcutta Cup win over England.

Scotland did beat Wales in the Covid-affected 2020 championship at an empty Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli, but you have to go all the way back to 2002 for the last time they won in Cardiff.

Could today be the day Gregor Townsend's side finally end that 20-year barren run and taste victory in the Welsh capital?

Tune into live BBC One coverage getting under way now, and we'll find out soon enough. But first let's have a look at the teams...