Wales first... Mae hen wlad fy nhadau

Alecs Donovan
Former Wales centre on BBC Radio Wales

These two teams play a really similar style of rugby, it's going to be a very different game to what we saw last week, but they need that full 80 minute performance today.

Ceri Coleman-Phillips
BBC Sport Wales at DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh

The players are just going through their final warm-ups here at the stadium.

Wales are hitting the pads just in front of me, and they are hitting with intent, I can hear the thud!

The stadium lies in the shadow of Murrayfield, it's quite exposed, but looking at the flags and the flight of the ball, I don't think the wind is going to play a factor like it did last weekend.

There's a decent red wall of away fans and the two main stands look like they will fill up before kick-off.

Image source, Getty Images

We've already seen some action today in the Six Nations.

France stormed to the top of the Six Nations with a 53-3 win over Ireland in Cork.

Last year's runners'-up ran in nine tries at Musgrave Park despite having Annaelle Deshayes sent off in the first half.

The bonus-point win sent France top of the Six Nations but Wales could knock them off today.

England host Italy tomorrow.

Read more: Live report and reaction to Ireland v France

Chris Horsman
Former Wales coach on BBC Radio Wales

It's going to be a really difficult performance for Wales, Scotland are targeting this game.

Gareth Bailey
BBC Sport Wales at DAM Health Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

Gwen Crabb is hobbling around here with a knee brace on but still full of smiles.

The second row was ruled out of the rest of the tournament this week with an ACL injury suffered just minutes into last week's clash with Ireland.

She's still managed a wicked sidestep of the Scottish mascot Lochie on the sidelines!

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales are looking into possible links between a recent spate of serious knee injuries.

Three players have suffered anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) damage in the team's last five games.

Gwen Crabb was the latest player to suffer such an injury in last week's opening game of the Six Nations.

She followed Megan Webb and Alisha Butchers, both injured during the World Cup, and now head coach Ioan Cunningham is "looking at everything" for answers.

"We've had a conversation about it already and its natural with a performance that you look at everything, whether that's something we need to do differently, the surface, the footwear, our programmes, so we are looking at everything," said Cunningham.

"One thing our medical team are very focused on is injury prevention. They look at what is the programme to make sure that we are strong around our lower leg.

"Jo Perkins [the team's head medic] does a lot of work speaking to staff within our pathway so young female players coming up are putting injury prevention exercises into their programmes from an early age."

Read more: Wales investigate possible knee injury links

Image source, Craig Brough

Lana Skeldon expects to "see a very different Scotland team" against Wales on Saturday as they seek to end their 10-match losing streak.

The Scots opened their Women's Six Nations campaign with a 58-7 defeat at the hands of England last weekend.

They are hoping to register their first victory since defeating Columbia in February 2022.

"We know it's going to be a battle but we're up for it," hooker Skeldon told the BBC Scotland Rugby Podcast.

"I love playing against Wales, it's always really physical, it's always close. Hopefully this week we can go out and execute what we're trying to do and turn that result around and get it in our favour because I think we deserve it.

"I think you'll see a very different Scotland team this weekend."

Gareth Bailey
BBC Sport Wales at DAM Health Stadium

The teams are going through their final warm-ups here at the DAM Health Stadium.

The stadium, home to Edinburgh rugby, sits in the shadow of Murrayfield next door... not that you can see shadows with the gloomy skies today.

The families and friends of the Wales players are already screaming for the team as they smash into tackle pads near the main stand.

Both sets of players look fired up for this one.

• Wales won their opening match of the Six Nations (31-5 v Ireland) after losing their last three of the 2022 campaign; they will be aiming to win their opening two matches of the campaign for the first time since 2015 (v England and Scotland).

• Wales have won just two of their last 13 away matches in the Six Nations (D1 L10), however, one of those wins came in their first away game of last year's Championship (27-19 v Ireland).

• Wales recorded a tackle success rate of 92% in the opening round against Ireland, the highest rate of any team last time out and their highest in the Championship since registering 94% against Scotland last year.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Scotland

• Scotland have won just one of their last 18 games in the Six Nations (D1 L16) and have lost each of their last six, however, three of those six losses came by margins of just a converted try or less.

• Scotland have won just one of their last 11 home games in the Six Nations (D1 L9).

• Scotland had the highest carry dominance rate of any side in the opening round against England (50%) and also opted to exit their own 22 via carries more frequently than any other side last time out (67%).

Image source, Getty Images

Head to head

• Wales have won 14 of their last 16 Six Nations matches against Scotland, although their two defeats came in their last three trips to Scotland.

• Each of the last five Championship games between Scotland and Wales have been decided by margins of just seven points or fewer, including two by a single point.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

What a way to celebrate your 27th birthday!

When Robyn Wilkins travelled to Edinburgh as a reserve she thought she would be spending the day watching from the stand.

But the experienced fly-half has just got the nod to wear the number 22 jersey after Lleucu George pulled up with a hamstring injury.

Welsh scrum-half Keira Bevan is set to win her 50th cap after retaining her spot in the starting line up.

The last time she played Scotland she kicked an injury-time winner in the World Cup.

Will there be late heroics today?

Image source, BBC Sport

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

There's a bit of history between these teams.

Scotland lost every Six Nations match last year, including a 24-19 defeat to Wales in Cardiff after opening up a 19-7 lead.

Another painful loss to the Welsh followed at the World Cup in October, with Keira Bevan kicking an 84th-minute penalty to seal an 18-15 victory.

Scotland did prevail in their last Six Nations home meeting with Wales, scoring four tries in a 27-20 success at Scotstoun in April 2021.

"We've trained hard since the World Cup, but this weekend will show us exactly where we are," said Scotland head coach Bryan Easson.

"We've not really concentrated on Wales this week, we've reviewed our game, we've looked at ourselves 80 per cent, 20 per cent Wales.

"We've played them enough, we know what to expect. It's always a bit of a spicy encounter, Scotland-Wales."

Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham said: "It will be a tough challenge against a strong side, we'll see how we get on after last week's game and see how we've grown as a squad.

"I'm sure they are talking about that game in the World Cup, talking about last season in the Six Nations and also they are the home side.

"We're not expecting a warm welcome but we have to concentrate on the task, focus on what we have to do and make sure we build on last week's performance."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham has made one personnel change and two positional switches for today's match.

With lock Gwen Crabb ruled out for the remainder of the tournament by a knee injury, Georgia Evans switches from flanker to the second-row.

Bethan Lewis switches to blindside flanker to make to make way for Sioned Harries to return to the number eight jersey - the only new face from the five-try win over Ireland.

Second row Natalia John and hooker Carys Phillips have both been passed fit to take up a place on Wales' replacements bench.

However Lleucu George is a late withdrawal with a hamstring complaint so Robyn Wilkins takes her place on the bench.

"This team deserves the opportunity to build on the performance against Ireland for what we know will be a tough challenge away in Scotland," said Cunningham.

"We have been forced into one change due to Gwen Crabb's injury and the coaches, players and staff are all incredibly disappointed for her after she worked so hard to get back on the field."

Wales: C Keight; L Neumann, H Jones (capt), K Lake, C Williams-Morris; E Snowsill, K Bevan; G Pyrs, K Jones, S Tuipulotu, A Fleming, G Evans, B Lewis, A Callender, S Harries

Replacements: C Phillips, C Hope, C Hale, N John, K Williams, F Lewis, R Wilkins, H Bluck

Image source, Getty Images

Scotland have named an unchanged side and bench to face Wales.

Head coach Bryan Easson has kept faith with the players who were well-beaten by defending champions England in Newcastle last week.

Scotland remain without Sarah Bonar, Jade Konkel-Roberts and Emma Wassell.

"We did show some green shoots of development," said Easson.

"The players that put their hands up, not only the starters but the energy the bench brought, it made it quite an easy decision for us."

Scotland: C Rollie, C Grant, E Orr, M Smith, F McGhie, H Nelson, C Mattinson; L Bartlett, L Skeldon, C Belisle, L O'Donnell, L McMillan, R Malcolm, R McLachlan, E Gallagher.

Replacements: J Rettie, A Young, E Clarke, E Donaldson, E Sinclair, M McDonald, B Blacklock, L Musgrove.

Hello and welcome to Edinburgh where Scotland welcome Wales in the second round of the 2023 Women's Six Nations.

And this could be a tasty one.

Scotland will be looking to bounce back from last week's 58-7 hammering at the hands of England.

They will also be smarting from their last-gasp World Cup defeat at the hands of Wales last October.

Wales, in contrast got off to a flyer with a 31-5 win over Ireland in Cardiff.

But they know this game could be the one that matters if they are to match last year's third-place finish - their best result in 13 years.

We're getting ready here at the DAM Health Stadium - home of Edinburgh RFC - in the shadow of Murrayfield.

So stay with us all for all the action this afternoon.

Let's start with a look at the teams.