Warren Gatland believes Wales’ opening Six Nations clash at home to Scotland could determine who wins the Championship.
The Wales coach has never lost to the Scots, but views them as serious contenders for the title this season after their rising form and results under Gregor Townsend.
Gatland insisted at Wednesday’s tournament launch that Wales should be considered favourites for the 2018 crown, despite a growing injury list that will deprive them of both Liam Williams and Dan Biggar – among others – for that first game at the Principality Stadium on February 3.
But he also sees Scotland – who beat Wales in Edinburgh last season when Rob Howley deputised whilst Gatland was on Lions – as a genuine force.
Gatland has always been an unpopular figure among some Scotland supporters who view his reluctance to pick their players for Lions Test duty as misguided – whatever the final outcome of a series won against Australia in 2013 and shared with New Zealand last summer.
But speaking about test Scotland will present in Cardiff, Gatland said: “The challenge is the way they are playing at the moment. They are playing with high tempo and they have done really well in the last couple of seasons.
“It is a great game to get first up. It’s at home and I think Scotland’s win against Wales (last year) was the first time in ten years. The players will be pretty focused and motivated.
“It’s a game that will really focus the minds in terms of preparation and, hopefully, getting the tournament off to a good start.
“They are going to play with high tempo. We are going to have to be prepared for the unexpected – quick throw-ins, quick taps, moving the ball from behind their own goal line. They have serious running threats in players like Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg. We have to look after them.
“They are a team prepared to take risks. It has been pleasing to see Scotland improve in the last couple of seasons. Potentially, they are serious contenders in the Six Nations.
“Prior to last season they haven’t been that, filling the lower positions in the table. But I think they are now a serious threat for all the teams. That makes the tournament unpredictable and incredibly exciting as well.”
Lions and Saracens back Williams is “unlikely” to face Scotland a week on Saturday as he undergoes rehab on an abdominal injury, following on from the confirmation that Biggar will miss the first three games of the Six Nations.
Wales are already without former skipper Sam Warburton, Taulupe Faletau, Jonathan Davies and Rhys Priestland.
But, when asked to make a prediction on who were favourites, Gatland replied after a few seconds pause: “Wales. I think we’ll win the tournament.”
