Ceri Coleman-Phillips
BBC Sport Wales rugby reporter at Principality Stadium

After making a fool of myself at the Rugby World Cup, where I boldly predicted a convincing Wales win over Scotland, I am sitting firmly on the fence today.

Looking at the starting XVs, I'd lean a little towards Scotland, but Wales' bench has bags of experience which could prove the difference.

It's a tough one to call, there are so many unknowns with all the new faces and players, but one thing that's for certain, there will be no shortage of rivalries.

It will be a case of who wants it more.

If you get a sense of deja vu around this fixture, particularly in the Six Nations, you wouldn't be alone.

This is the third year in a row Wales and Scotland have met each other in the first round of the tournament, with Scotland having come out on top in the past two encounters.

• Scotland have won their past four games against Wales (2025 World Cup, 2024 Six Nations, 2024 Test, 2024 Six Nations), with Wales' last win coming in April 2023.
• Wales have won 15 of the 23 matches played against Scotland, but have not beaten Scotland in the past two Six Nations meetings
• Five of the past seven Six Nations encounters have been decided by three points or fewer
• Scotland hammered Wales 38-8 at the 2025 Rugby World Cup, a record winning margin between the two sides
• Scotland are currently sixth in the world rankings, while Wales are 12th

Image source, Shutterstock

Four months after being unveiled as the new Scotland head coach, Sione Fukofuka finally takes charge of his first game at the start of a new era for the team.

The Australian has taken over from Bryon Easson, who spent five years in the role, and comes in having been head coach of the USA taking the team who narrowly missed out on a place in the knockouts of last summer's World Cup.

The tournament also finished on a high for Scotland, who reached their first World Cup quarter-final since 2002, but amid a time of major disruption off the field around players' contracts.

The impact of the situation, which meant many players did not know where their future career stood, led to poor mental health with one player describing suffering a breakdown.

Captain Rachel Malcolm said "thankfully" the team were not in that position anymore, with the Scottish rugby hierarchy having listened to players.

But on the field, under the new coaching group, Malcolm said she did not know yet how the team will fair.

"I don't think it's going to be perfect. I don't know where we're going to be," she said.

"I'm very confident in the work we've done, but it is a new cycle. We've had two weeks as a group."

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

It's now been just over a year since Sean Lynn took over as Wales head coach but of his 10 matches at the helm so far the team's only win was a pre-World Cup game against Australia last August.

Wales have ended the past three Six Nations with the wooden spoon and bowed out of the World Cup at the group stage last year, and Lynn said he knows the team "need to improve".

While during last year's Six Nations Lynn had barely a handful of weeks to get to know his team, this time around there's no doubting this is a squad with his stamp over it.

The coaching staff has been revamped after a post-World Cup inquest, with former Wales centre and Brython Thunder head coach Alex Beck coming in as attack coach, Exeter head coach Steve Salvin as interim forwards coach for the tournament and Tyrone Holmes defence coach.

"What we're going after is that consistency, every coach who's coming in is making sure that we are following the process," Lynn said.

"I want us to be more hard-working, competitive, and when you're in those competitive games and you find those winning moments, those game-changing moments, that's where I feel this team can grow."

Image source, BBC/ Shutterstock

Teenager Emily Coubrough will win her first cap for Scotland, one of four uncapped players in the matchday squad.

The 19-year-old starts at number eight in a back row with captain Rachel Malcolm and Alex Stewart.

Hollie Cunningham returns from injury which caused her to miss the World Cup partnered at lock with Emma Wassell.

Prop Leah Bartlett is set to make her 50th Scotland appearance, alongside Elliann Clarke and hooker Lana Skeldon in the front row.

Among the backs, wing Shona Campbell features for Scotland for the first time since 2022, while Bristol Bears duo Emma Orr and Meryl Smith start in the centre.

Prop Demi Swann, second row Holland Bogan and scrum-half Rianna Darroch could all win debuts from the bench, split five-three.

Scotland: Rollie; Lloyd, Orr, Smith, Campbell; Nelson, Brebner-Holden; Bartlett, Skeldon, Clarke; Wassell, Cunningham, Malcolm, Stewart, Coubrough.

Replacements: Martin, Swann, Poolman, Bogan, Donaldson, Darroch, Wills, Scott.

Image source, BBC / Shutterstock

Head coach Sean Lynn has named two debutants in his starting XV, with uncapped locks Jorja Aiono and Seren Singleton set to make their first Test appearances.

With Alex Callender unavailable for the whole tournament due to an ankle injury, flanker Kate Williams will wear the captain's armband, in a back row alongside Bethan Lewis and Bryonie King.

Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu reunite in the front row, with Gwen Crabb joining Aiono as locks.

Keira Bevan and Lleucu George are the half-backs, with Carys Cox and Courtney Keight in the centre.

Brython Thunder duo Lisa Neumann and Seren Singleton are named on the wings, with Kayleigh Powell at full-back.

Former Wales skipper Hannah Dallavalle is set to win her 70th cap from the 6:2 split replacements bench.

Wales: Powell; Singleton, Cox, Keight, Neumann; George, Bevan; G Pyrs, Jones, Tuipulotu, Aiono, Crabb, Lewis, Williams (capt), King.

Replacements: Reardon, Davies, Rose, A Pyrs, Evans, Metcalfe, Lockwood, Dallavalle.

Image source, Huw Evans Picture Agency

Hello and welcome along as we round off a bumper Women's Six Nations opening day in Cardiff.

We've already seen France take on Italy and England play Ireland, and now it's the turn of Wales and Scotland.

Kick-off is in 40 minutes so stick with us and we'll bring you team news and all you need to know ahead of the match.