Paterson threat means Wales go back to basics

By Mitch Phillips

LONDON (Reuters) - Warren Gatland has focused his Wales team on the basics of set-piece and discipline against Scotland on Saturday when they seek to secure a second win in the Six Nations for the first time since their 2005 grand slam.

Rather than getting carried away by the stirring comeback that secured a 26-19 win at Twickenham last week, coach Gatland is concerned about the sloppy defending and ill-discipline that should have allowed England to be out of sight by halftime.

With goalkicker supreme Chris Paterson restored to the Scotland team, Wales will need no reminding of their painful trip to Murrayfield last year when he kicked seven out of seven penalties to give the hosts a 21-9 victory.

The Welsh scrum and lineout were shredded in that match and, mindful of Paterson's threat, Gatland has dropped Alix Popham from his squad partly due to his tendency to give away too many penalties.

Wing Mark Jones and centre Sonny Parker were omitted from the team as Gatland warned he would not be blinded by his side's Twickenham revival.

Forwards coach Robin McBryde echoed the coach's thoughts this week when he said: "It's going to be a huge challenge, remember what happened in our last Six Nations match against them.

"We are only too aware of how good they can be. They will have taken heart from the first 40-50 minutes of their performance against France."

TOUGH CONVERSIONS