by Wales coach Warren Gatland believes it is “strange” that Scotland demanded the roof of the Principality Stadium be open on Saturday and agreed that the visitors may have chosen to play in the elements because they have not won in Cardiff for 22 year.
Scotland’s chances of a first win in the capital in 11 games were given a further boost on Thursday when center George North was ruled out for an already inexperienced home side. It seems to be the case if not now, then when he is in Gregor Townsend’s side.
Considering that Scotland have won at Twickenham and Paris in the last four years and were dominant in Dublin in 2010, their anomaly in Cardiff makes little sense. But after Gatland’s first-team coach Jon Humphreys suggested during the week that the vacancy could be down to the “intimidating” atmosphere at the 74,500-capacity stadium, Gatland stepped in.
“We always want to close the roof,” said Gatland, when asked about the opposition’s request.
“I’ve been consistent in that regard. I think it creates an incredible atmosphere. We looked at the weather conditions and it will be a bit drizzly on Saturday and I think when the roof is closed it adds to the atmosphere.
“The bottom line is that both teams have to agree. I look at it and say, ‘well, it’s our stadium – we should be able to tell whether it’s open or closed’.”
With so many Dragons retired (including Dan Biggar, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric), decamped to a new sport (Louis Rees-Zammit to the NFL) or injured (Taulupe Faletau, Tomas Francis, Ken Owens and now North and the prop Gareth Thomas (with a shoulder and leg complaint respectively) Gatland had little choice but to “throw the lads in”.
Cameron Winnett won his first cap in goal, while the victorious lock Will Rowlands has stayed at home in France with his wife, who recently gave birth.
Inexperience abounds and for that reason Gatland agrees with the bookies who regard Wales as outsiders. “They will probably come down as favorites and understandably so,” said the Kiwi. “We’re at home and Scotland haven’t won here in Cardiff for a long time. It’s a full stadium and we have a responsibility to go and deliver a performance… and we know how exciting the Cardiff crowd can be when they get behind the team.”
Is that why Scotland – famously an expansive side – decided to play under the night sky – to ensure that the atmosphere is not as intense as when the roof is closed?
“Yes, maybe,” Gatland replied. “Maybe they felt they could be more comfortable playing in the wet conditions, I’m not sure. But look at Ireland in 2019, the last game in the Six Nations, they had the roof open – and it was pouring down. Strange.”
Later, Townsend explained – and in some ways defended – the choice and admitted he was happy to deny Wales even more home advantage. . “I thought we had 48 hours to make a decision, but they said on Wednesday you have to make a decision,” Townsend said. “I looked at the forecast and it looked really nice, I’d much rather play with the roof open if we can.
“It’s noisier when the roof is closed, that’s why they’re disappointed. They don’t get that [advantage]. If the pitch is greasy it’s not great conditions, but it’s better than playing in heavy rain. However, when we looked, there was only a 20 to 30 percent chance of rain this morning.”
The forecast has since turned, with showers expected in the early afternoon, with the game kicking off at 4.45pm. “Hopefully the weather stays dry – we want it to be a dry day,” he said. If that’s the case the conditions will be better because the ball gets greasy and sweaty when the roof is closed.”
Scotland beat Wales at home in 2020, but that was during the pandemic, when the Six Nations were behind closed doors in Llanelli. Townsend, who was an outside-half when his country won in Cardiff in 2002, refused to talk about psychological issues..
“We don’t talk about why we’ve struggled here in the past, but we talk about the record,” he said. “You have wins and wins in your Test career and the one against Ireland [the 36-14 loss at last year’s World Cup] more in our minds than it was two years ago, and certainly 10 or 20 years before that.”
Townsend has had to work around his own absences, although not nearly as much as Gatland. One of his fellow captains, skipper Rory Darge, has not recovered from a knee injury over time, meaning midfielder Finn Russell is confident of the armband..
And in the back line, Blair Kinghorn misses out after his own knock to the knee playing for Toulouse last weekend. Glasgow’s Kyle Rowe comes in for his second cap, having played 10 minutes on Argentina’s first game of 2022 before rupturing his ACL.
