The news from Cardiff is that Sam Warburton isn’t fit to start or even make the bench…

Wales: Halfpenny, Cuthbert, Davies, Roberts, North, Priestland, Phillips; Jenkins, Bennett, Jones, Jones, Evans, Lydiate, Shingler, Faletau.

Replacements: Owens, James, Reed, Powell, L Williams, Hook, S Williams.

Scotland: R Lamont, Jones, De Luca, S Lamont, Evans, Laidlaw, Cusiter; Jacobsen, Ford, Cross, Gray, Hamilton, Strokosch, Rennie, Denton.

Replacements: Lawson, Kalman, Kellock, Barclay, Blair, Weir, Hogg.

Few anthems more powerful than that of Wales when being sung by a home crowd in Cardiff…

Scotland get us underway.

An early break from Leigh Halfpenny gets the crowd on its feet but the pass to Jonathan Davies is behind the centre.

Both teams looking to retain possession and move the ball in the early exchanges. Hopefully an indication of lots more good rugby to come!

Laidlaw misses his first attempt at goals after Wales are penalised for being offside. Two things to note in that – Wales lost possession in the line out (with Bradley Davies suspended and Warburton injured) and Scotland will surely miss the presence of Dan Parks, who decided to retire from international rugby this week.

Scotland have made a decent start in Cardiff with Richie Gray in particular causing a few problems.

Wales finally get a chance to do some running with the ball but it’s eventually knocked forward by Mike Phillips off the back of a ruck. If the visitors are to get anything from his game, their tackle count will have to be sky high.

A couple of Scottish kicks have handed possession straight back to Wales at this stage. Surely something Andy Robinson will want his men to cut out?

Stuart Hogg is on for winger Max Evans. The latter is helped from the pitch – suggesting he has shipped a knock – but an early injury blow for the Scots given Evans’ talent.

PENALTY SCOTLAND: The first period of sustained pressure from Scotland sees Wales cough up a penalty for hands in the ruck. No mistake from Laidlaw on this occasion and the Scots are in front in Cardiff.

With Alex Cuthbert screaming for possession on the wing and Wales camped just metres from the Scottish line, the ball is knocked forward and Scotland survive the onslaught. The Welsh did have an opportunity to kick for points just inside the visitors’ half in the build up but Phillips opted for a quick tap only to see his team walk away with nothing, again.

Phillips makes amends when he earns a penalty by running into lock Dan Lydiate off the back of a ruck. Romain Poite sees enough in the incident and whistles for the kick. It’s Leigh Halfpenny who takes it on and levels the scores after half an hour of play.

Back come Scotland but the Wales’ back line is really on form today and making life very difficult at the gain line. The ball is eventually turned over and Wales clear the danger.

Huge disappointment for Scotland. Camped on the Wales line after 20+ phases, the ball is knocked on as Jacobsen tries to dive for the line. James Hook is on, meanwhile, as the hosts lose George North to a nasty looking injury.

HALF TIME: When once Scotland could depend on the kicking skills of Chris Paterson or Parks for their scores, they must now look elsewhere following retirements and after the last few minutes in Cardiff, coach Andy Robinson must be wondering what he must do to see his players cross the try line. More poor play, right at the crucial moments from Scotland.

HALF TIME: Wales started well enough but were dominated by Scotland in the second half of the opening period. Their defence has been resolute but the fact it’s 3-3 is more to do with Scotland’s inability to score tries rather than their own efforts. The loss of Warburton before kick off has also now been compounded by the departure of North through injury. Rhys Priestland, too, looks far from the player that caused so many problems for teams at the World Cup.

TRY WALES: Just what did Warren Gatland say during the break? Chris Cusiter fails to control the re-start and Wales retain possession and eventually see Cuthbert cross over. Halfpenny adds the extras and the home team are finally in front and showing some of their capabilities.

PENALTY WALES: Things get even worse for Scotland as Nick De Luca is adjudged to have impeded Jonathan Davies as the latter broke forward. A penalty is awarded but the centre is also shown a yellow card, much to Robinson’s disbelief in the coaches’ box.

PENALTY SCOTLAND: Wales captain Ryan Jones is warned as his players illegally halt a Scotland attack. Laidlaw splits the posts with his kick and the visitors have scored despite being down to 14 men… Mike Blair is on for Cusiter.

TRY WALES: Scotland seem to be able to keep up when the play is kept tight. However, once the hosts get running, the Scots’ defensive line is torn apart. On this occasion it’s Halfpenny who dashes over after quick ball across the pitch.

Disaster for Scotland! Rory Lamont is also shown yellow for tackling without the ball and Robinson’s team will have to try and contain a now rampant Wales with 13 men for the time being.

TRY WALES: Faletau and Phillips feed Halfpenny off the back of a scrum and with Scotland short two men, there is little resistance as the number 15 dives over for his second of the game. He then adds the extras and Wales are now out of sight.

GUTTING! Hogg seemingly gets over for his first international try. Poite, however, rules that the replacement knocked the ball on after receiving it from De Luca – replays show it was actually excellent handling – and it’s Welsh ball.

TRY SCOTLAND: Scotland get their reward at the third time of trying. Laidlaw, roaring at the referee while he was guarding the ball less than a metre from the line, suddenly darts forward and gets to the whitewash. He converts to reduce the deficit to 14 points.

Halfpenny has a chance to extend his team’s advantage with a penalty kick. He sends his effort wide of the post, however.

Frankie Sheahan makes an interesting point during RTÉ’s coverage. If bonus points were part of the 6 Nations, both teams would still have a lot to play for even at this stage of the game…. Anyone else out there like to see them introduced to his particular competition? They have certainly made the Heineken Cup more interesting.

Hearts in mouths for Wales as Laidlaw almost gets in courtesy of a lovely chip and chase. Five minutes remaining on the clock…

Halfpenny and Davies break free but the attack is halted on Scotland’s 22. In fairness to the visitors, they haven’t given up but it’s been much better from Wales in the second half.

FULL TIME: The victory belongs to Wales. The final score line suggests it was comfortable but three tries in quick succession early in the second half was all that really separated the sides.

FULL TIME: Scotland will leave Cardiff at least contented that they made a game of this fixture. However, it was another case of what might have been. Their inability to score tries is once again in the limelight because though they could stick with Wales for long periods, they failure to get over the try line cost them dearly. They were unfortunate the lose Nick De Luca to a yellow card and their hopes were ended when Rory Lamont followed him to the sideline shortly afterwards.

FULL TIME: Lots of positives for Wales after a sluggish first half. They kept Scotland at bay and also managed to pick off their scores in the second half when it really mattered. Two wins from two now, and looking definite title challengers.

The IRB, meanwhile, has finally commented on events in Paris last night. A statement said “the rapid deterioration of the playing surface between the final pitch inspection and the scheduled kick-off time” was the reason the game had to be called off…