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Bradley Davies: Scotland will be 'smarting' after England loss

Bradley Davies breaks with the ball during Wales' Six Nations draw with Ireland
Image: Bradley Davies breaks with the ball during Wales' Six Nations draw with Ireland

Bradley Davies accepts Wales will face a Scotland team "smarting" from the loss to England in their Six Nations opener when the championship continues on Saturday.

Recent history in the fixture strongly favours Wales, who have won eight successive Tests at Scotland's expense since Warren Gatland became head coach in 2008.

Scotland have not beaten Wales in Cardiff for 14 years - a 27-22 victory in 2002 highlighted by Scottish skipper Gordon Bulloch's two tries - but Wasps lock Davies, who won his 50th cap during last Sunday's 16-16 draw against Ireland, expects a testing encounter.

"Scotland will be smarting from being beaten by England (last Saturday), and they will come out with all guns blazing," Davies said.

We went into the game with Ireland very confident of winning, but the first 20 minutes we didn't perform like we wanted to do. We probably got beaten on the emotional side.
Bradley Davies

"Scotland are very good, and it's going to be a tough game. The Gray brothers (Richie and Jonny) are very good line-out forwards, and it's a big challenge for us as a pack of forwards, but something we thrive on.

"We went into the game with Ireland very confident of winning, but the first 20 minutes we didn't perform like we wanted to do. We probably got beaten on the emotional side, but we weathered the storm and were one decision away from winning the game.

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Wales Fly half Dan Biggar is no longer wearing a protective boot and could return to training tomorrow ahead of their match with Scotland.

"It was a decent result, and if we win every (remaining) game, we aren't going to be far away from winning the championship."

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One of the Welsh success stories in Dublin was a strong scrum anchored by rising prop stars Rob Evans and Samson Lee, with Evans' display proving particularly noteworthy after he was selected above Wales' record cap holder Gethin Jenkins.

"Rob has come in and trained with the likes of Gethin week in, week out and seen what they do, and now he is transferring that to his game," Davies added.

Wales prop Rob Evans tackles Ireland fly-half Johnny Sexton
Image: Rob Evans (L) impressed Davies against the Irish

"I didn't think he looked out of place on the weekend.  I thought he was awesome in what was one of his first big starts, and he has got to take confidence from that.

"Rugby union these days is won in the scrum and the line-out - it has a big bearing on the game.

"If you are getting pressurised in the scrum or line-out, teams just kick to the corner, drive the line-out and get cheap penalties. Flip that over, and if you have got a dominant scrum, you need a penalty, you take the scrum, win a penalty and it takes the pressure off."

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