Six Nations: No Moore heartache, prays Welsh lock

Andy Moore hopes that Six Nations history will repeat itself when Wales face a "backs-to-the-wall" mission at Murrayfield tomorrow.

For the second successive season Wales tackle Scotland immediately following a 40-point drubbing by England.

Last year, Moore and company recovered admirably after a 46-12 Twickenham defeat to see off the Scots 26-18 in Cardiff.

And Swansea lock Moore, who has reclaimed a starting place at the expense of Chris Wyatt, knows that Wales must produce another big performance given England’s record Millennium Stadium success a fortnight ago.

One win in Edinburgh since 1989 does not auger well for the Welsh, yet Moore a second-half substitute against England believes they can turn it around.

"We came good last year when our backs were against the wall, and we will be looking to do the same at Murrayfield on Saturday," he said.

"We have learnt quite a few lessons from the England game. That was the best English team I’ve seen.

"They have advanced to the top of world rugby now, and I think they will stay there for a while.

"It was quite daunting to go on with the score as it was (England led 34-8 when Moore replaced Wyatt), and all that was on my mind was for us to try and play some rugby."

Wales should find the Scots far less threatening than England were, although Moore has a critical role to play in ensuring the visitors receive quality lineout possession.

Henry rates Scottish lineout aces Scott Murray and Richard Metcalfe "the world’s best" on opposition throw-ins, so Moore and his second-row partner Ian Gough know they are in for a testing afternoon.

"Metcalfe is over seven feet tall, which is a pretty good lineout strength, and Murray’s agility will always make him a threat," Moore added.

Henry, renowned as a meticulous planner, has provided his players with detailed videos of the Scottish lineout, and concedes it is an area where they must perform.

"Scotland have got the best lineout in the world on opposition ball," he said.

"We’ve been working on our lineout, the players have had tapes, and the research that has gone into our preparation has proved pretty detailed."

But Henry has dismissed any notion of him being preoccupied by a head-to-head tactical confrontation with his British Lions coaching predecessor, current Scotland supremo Ian McGeechan.

"You go into every Test match to try and do the best for the team you are coaching," he added.

"If you look at it as a personal coaching battle, then it takes away from your own concentration level.

"Geech and Jim Telfer have been the northern hemisphere’s most successful coaches over the past two decades, and Scotland always seem to play to their potential.

"For us, this is another huge Test match, but one that exceeds the England game in importance.

"We have covered a lot more things in training, and hopefully the deficiencies from the England match will not be there.

"I hate losing, but I am getting more practice at it. I am not enjoying it, and I want it to stop.

"The players feel the same, and they are very determined to get things right and make progress. Their spirit amazes me because a lot of them have been on the wrong end of results recently."

With more than 20,000 Welsh fans making the Scottish pilgrimage, the pressure is on Henry and his players to deliver.

One-off wins masterminded by the New Zealander against South Africa, England and France are now a distant memory, and defeat tomorrow could point Wales towards a potential wooden spoon decider with Italy in Rome on April 8.

Ireland, Wales’ next Millennium Stadium opponents, have not lost in Cardiff since 1983, while France have prevailed in Paris on 11 of the past 12 occasions.

Murrayfield, it seems certain, will make or break Wales’ Six Nations campaign.