Wales warn Scotland of backlash
Wales have warned buoyant Scotland to beware "a wounded animal" in Sunday's RBS Six Nations Championship clash at the Millennium Stadium.
Defence coach Clive Griffiths is confident his wounded Welsh players can instigate a backlash following their 47-13 hammering at the hands of England last Saturday.
"We have had a bad result and we are very despondent about it. But we've got 22 Welshmen out there on the weekend who are going to make every effort to put things back on track," he said.
"A wounded animal is always dangerous in my book, so hopefully we will be a dangerous animal on the weekend."
Wales were certainly hurt after the first stage of their Grand Slam title defence went so awry at Twickenham, but are now determined to look forward rather than back following the six tries to one reversal.
"Once your final debrief is over, having looked at the good, the bad and the ugly, you move on and that is what we have done," revealed Griffiths.
"We have moved on to Scotland and from now on it's just full focus on our friends from up north.
"We are certainly looking to up the ante on the weekend and get back to winning ways."
Griffiths admits, however, it is not going to be easy against a transformed Scotland who stopped early championship favourites France in their tracks.
But he believes that with both sides determined to play a positive brand of rugby it could be a memorable match on Sunday.
"I was very impressed with Scotland. With Frank Hadden taking over as Scotland coach, he has brought back a way of playing and a passion," he said.
"I spoke to Frank a couple of weeks ago and we are in many ways a victim of our own success because he said he wanted to play the Welsh way.
"He wants to get smiles back on the faces and people coming back through the turnstiles and he will be delighted with the way they acquitted themselves at the weekend.
"I think it was a case of France going there and grossly underestimating the opposition and getting their fingers burnt.
"Scotland have real strengths. Their line-out is well documented and they are very aggressive at the breakdown.
"They have a change of focus at the top, a change of style which people feel comfortable with it and a more relaxed atmosphere maybe.
"Both Wales and Scotland have set their stall out when they have got possession of the football so if all the passes stick and if tackles aren't made then we are in for an epic."
But Griffiths hopes the Millennium Stadium factor and the fact they are still defending champions works in Wales' favour.
"We are at home and we have built up a reputation as Grand Slam winners. The expectations are high as they always are in Wales.
"And of course we finished off the autumn with a great win against Australia. So it's important to get back to winning ways but we can't let the occasion overcome us.
"We have got to get back to how we do things and worry about the scoreboard afterwards."
On Wales' crippling injuries and unavailable players, which sees them without nine players - five of those British Lions - Griffiths said: "You want to see your best 22 out there. Once you lose six of seven players from the starting line-up then that impinges on your bench players as well.
"I'm not being disrespectful to players who have come in. They will front up.
"As well as that you can't harp on about injuries all the time. You have to get on with it."
Coach Mike Ruddock is due to unveil his side tomorrow with the main problem surrounding a dead led to tighthead prop Adam Jones.
If the Ospreys number three is ruled out following a fitness test them Gethin Jenkins is set for his first Wales start in 11 months.
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