MURRAYFIELD, FEBRUARY 25, 2.25PM

Wales need to get the ball off the field of play more often. Just punt it down Hogg’s throat and he will revel in the space and opportunity afforded him.

He links well with his two wings, they love playing off him and creating chances for one another.

Wales will be punished even more if they don’t fine tune their kicking game this weekend and have more belief in the need to do things the old-fashioned way, so to speak. Get the ball up in the stands, re-set your defence and go from there.

The other issue Wales face is that Scotland will really come flying out of the blocks for this one. They are reinvigorated as a side, becoming an exciting force to be reckoned with, and the last thing Wales need is to find themselves 12 points down in the first 25 minutes and having to play catch up rugby.

If that’s the case, they won’t be waiting until five minutes to go for defeat in this one. However hard the loss to England was to bear, a defeat at Murrayfield will represent an even greater setback in the general context of things.

Scotland know their game plan under Vern Cotter, go the distance and have a terrific team spirit. They are comfortable within themselves, probably because the bulk of their team play at home and primarily for Glasgow, who are enjoying success this season.

They are no pushovers these days, Wales will have to be at their best.

But I have more confidence in this Welsh side these days.

They have not lost to Scotland in a decade and I think we’ll come back from Murrayfield with yet another ‘W’ in the bag.

It won’t make up for the England loss, but it’ll be a nice little consolation of sorts and put us right back on track for the looming challenges with Ireland and France.