Why Nigel Owens thinks Wales will beat Scotland
Former international referee Nigel Owens has told William Hill that the “electric” atmosphere of the Principality Stadium should provide the perfect platform for Wales to see off Scotland when they meet in the Six Nations, but that Wayne Pivac’s side will need to up their game this weekend.
Wales welcome Scotland to the Principality Stadium on Saturday needing a result, having suffered a 29-7 loss to Ireland last weekend, and Owens is adamant the home side must show major improvement if they are to defeat the visitors this weekend.
“Wales are definitely going to have to up their game against Scotland, and they will probably make a couple of changes,” the Welshman told William Hill. “Scotland played well against England (last weekend), they stayed in the game, and in those critical moments they showed they are capable of beating anyone at Murrayfield. They’re going to come to Cardiff confident this weekend, so it’s going to be a big ask for Wales again, a tough game for Wales and a hard one to call.
“But Wales are going to improve and I think they will beat Scotland. One, playing at home in front of their brilliant supporters will make the difference, and two, Scotland haven’t won at the Principality Stadium since 2002.
“Wales are a better side than they showed against Ireland and home advantage should just be enough to help secure a win. When the place is packed the atmosphere at the Principality Stadium is electric, the stadium builds up a great atmosphere. As far as an atmosphere goes inside a stadium, it was my favourite stadium to referee in.”
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Owens added: “Wales were always going to have it tough against Ireland. If they’d really played well and upped their game they could have won it, but unfortunately Ireland were too good for Wales. It could come down to France v Ireland this weekend for who wins that Grand Slam, and Wales will be disappointed with that.
“They were in the game up to half-time against Ireland but were unable to put points on the board, but it was as I expected. Ireland were too good for Wales. It was a disappointing day in Dublin, which is a difficult place to go at the best of times.”
While Owens was disappointed with Wales’ performance against Ireland, he was encouraged by Dan Biggar’s start to life as captain.
“I thought Dan Biggar did a good job as captain,” he said. “He got the balance right with the communication to the referee. He did a decent job and I’m really pleased for him as he has the capability to be a very good captain.
“It’s very difficult to be a captain in a game like that against Ireland when you’re well beaten, but this weekend is going to be tighter and if key decisions are going to be key to the outcome of the game, his captaincy will be even more important. He will have learnt and built on that experience over the weekend and hopefully he will continue to do that.”
Wales saw Josh Adams shown a yellow card against Ireland for an off-the-ball hit on Jonathan Sexton and Owens says he was lucky it was not red.
“It was 100% the correct decision,” he said. “Josh was lucky there. He’s not a dirty player but he obviously got a bit frustrated with the way the game was going and not being able to get back into the game. He went into Sexton with the shoulder and the yellow card was 100% correct.
“He’s lucky as if he’d been an inch higher or Sexton’s head had been an inch lower, that would have been a red card. Even in the frustrations of the game we have to ensure player safety is still paramount. My message to players is don’t go in with the shoulder to anybody as it’s foul play and if you get it wrong you’re going to be off for the game.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Ben Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
7 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
88 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
19 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to comments