Date: Sunday, 8 February Kick-off: 1500 GMTVenue: Murrayfield
Coverage: Screened live on BBC ONE Wales and online plus full commentary on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru and online & score updates on BBC Radio Five Live

Wales coach Warren Gatland believes Scotland are much improved

Warren Gatland has warned Wales not to slip up at the first step when they begin their Six Nations defence away to Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday.

"Scotland, it's a potential banana-skin," said the Wales coach.

"Welsh teams have gone up to Scotland in the past and to Murrayfield, and there's been an expectation to perform.

"And Welsh teams have come back from Scotland with their tails between their legs and we now know that for us, mentally, that first game is massive."

Wales took the Grand Slam last year, their second in four seasons, against expectations in Gatland's first year in charge.

Their run to the 2008 title was sparked by a thrilling come-from-behind win in the opening match in England, Wales' first Twickenham triumph since 1988.

606: DEBATE Give your thoughts on Scotland v Wales

From then on Wales were on a roll, confidence was high, and home wins over Italy and Scotland followed, before a 16-12 win in Ireland and an impressive 29-12 victory in Cardiff over France sealed the Slam.

"It's very much like last year; if you win that first game you get a bit of confidence and momentum, and there's a good chance of doing really well in the tournament," Gatland said.

While last year's opening win was a welcome rarity at England's Twickenham stronghold, Murrayfield has not been much of a happier hunting ground.

Wales' last Six Nations visit to Scotland in 2007 ended in a 21-9 defeat, although two years before that Mike Ruddock's side had swept to a 46-22 win on their way to the 2005 Grand Slam.

But in the 12 years of the championship preceding that, Wales' record at Murrayfield is played six, won one, drawn one and lost four.

"There's a lot of pressure on us, a lot of expectation and we've got to be excited about that pressure," Gatland added.

"But we've got to make sure that it's the first game, not thinking past that and we've got to be right mentally going to Murrayfield.

"I think Scotland - despite a few results - have probably been one of the most improved teams in the last 12 months.

"They've made a lot of progress and had a couple of good performances in the autumn series.

"They played really well against South Africa [losing 10-14 to the world champions] and despite the scoreline against the All Blacks [a 6-32 defeat to New Zealand] there was periods of that game they played very well also.

"So it's going to be a tough encounter. We found that last year that physically they've made a lot of progress and it's a big game for both teams first up."

Wales team to face Scotland: Lee Byrne (Ospreys); Leigh Halfpenny (Blues), Jamie Roberts (Blues), Gavin Henson (Ospreys), Shane Williams (Ospreys); Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Mike Phillips (Ospreys); Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Ian Gough (Ospreys), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Ryan Jones (Ospreys, capt), Martyn Williams (Blues), Andy Powell (Blues).
Replacements: Tom Shanklin (Blues), James Hook (Ospreys), Dwayne Peel (Sale), John Yapp (Blues), Huw Bennett (Ospreys), Luke Charteris (Dragons), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets).

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