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McBryde wary of Scotland

Image: Robin McBryde: Wary of a backlash from Scotland

Robin McBryde has warned that Wales cannot afford to underestimate Scotland on Sunday.

Wales expecting close encounter in Cardiff

Robin McBryde believes Scotland will be encouraged by an impressive Millennium Stadium performance two years ago when they look to stop Wales in their tracks on Sunday. Wales needed a last-gasp try from Shane Williams to snatch a thrilling 31-24 victory on that occasion, but Scotland made the home side sweat throughout. Both sides head into this year's RBS Six Nations encounter with differing fortunes - with Wales impressing during the 23-21 victory over Ireland in Dublin, while a toothless Scotland slumped to a 13-6 home defeat to England. However despite Wales being the big favourites to win, forwards coach McBryde is refusing to underestimate the Scots. "They are a bit wounded, and they will be keen to come to Cardiff and put up a good show," McBryde said. "We left it late against them two years ago, and they will take heart from that.

Opportunities

"Scotland are very good at keeping hold of possession and they have some potent runners. They will look to get over the gain-line, hold on to the ball and put us under pressure. "They like to play a quick tempo game, and they are dangerous with plenty of threats throughout the team, especially when the game breaks up and they get on the front foot. "Scotland created far more opportunities than England did. They were strong at set-pieces, and with a bit more composure and better decision-making they would have been home and dry." The Scots, though, will encounter a Wales side oozing confidence. They have four Six Nations games left, with three of them in Cardiff. McBryde added: "We will take heart from the Ireland game, when we showed a lot of character. "It is not the Wales of old when people questioned us before a game whether we were tough enough to get a result in Ireland. The players have pulled together and know what they are about."