Rugby – Six Nations:Andy Robinson was today awaiting news over whether Richie Gray would be fit to pack down for Scotland in this evening's Six Nations clash with Wales at Murrayfield.
Glasgow Warriors secondrow Gray, who starred in the 34-21 loss to France last Saturday, is doubtful due to a stomach bug and Robinson will make a late decision over his place.
Gray's withdrawal would force Scotland to make a late reshuffle in the pack, with Richie Vernon coming off the bench to number eight, Kelly Brown moving to blindside flanker and Nathan Hines to secondrow and Scott MacLeod joining the substitutes.
Irrespective of the final composition of the forward pack, Robinson has demanded an improvement after the scrum disintegrated against France.
The Scotland head coach has also told today's referee George Clancy to have an open mind.
Robinson said: "We are a good scrum and we have belief in what we do at the scrum. The guys have worked hard. What is important is that the referee doesn't come with preconceived ideas about our scrummaging and the players are able to show what a good scrum it is."
Robinson on Wednesday named an unchanged starting XV, including Gray, as he looked to improve on a record of five wins in seven Tests.
However, Scotland have not beaten Wales since 2007 and Robinson disputes he is in charge of the more fancied side.
"We haven't beaten Wales for four years, so that's one of the reasons I don't see us as favourites," added Robinson.
The head coach knows Wales can punish any Scotland mistakes and end their own eight-Test winless run.
"We've got to make sure they don't get ball on the front foot - if they do it's going to be a tough day. If Wales are to score they're going to have to work really hard to do so."
Hines is confident Scotland's pack will not be dominated as they were at the Stade de France.
"I expect we won't be pushed around like we were last week," he said.
Hines is relaxed about whether he is asked to play on the flank or at lock.
"It's a little bit easier slipping back into second row," he said. "It's like putting a comfy pair of shoes on, you're pretty much used to being there."
Scotland: H Southwell (Stade Francais); N Walker (Ospreys), J Ansbro (Northampton Saints), N De Luca (Edinburgh), M Evans (Glasgow Warriors); D Parks (Cardiff Blues), R Lawson (Gloucester); A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton Saints), R Gray (Glasgow Warriors), A Kellock (captain, Glasgow Warriors), N Hines (Leinster), K Brown (Saracens), J Barclay (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: S Lawson (Gloucester), M Low (Glasgow Warriors), R Vernon (Glasgow Warriors), R Rennie (Edinburgh), M Blair (Edinburgh), R Jackson (Glasgow Warriors), S Lamont (Scarlets).
Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); M Stoddart (Scarlets), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), J Davies (Scarlets), S Williams (Ospreys); J Hook (Ospreys), M Phillips (Ospreys); P James (Ospreys), M Rees (Scarlets, capt), C Mitchell (Ospreys), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), A-W Jones (Ospreys), D Lydiate (Newport Gwent Dragons), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys).
Replacements: R Hibbard (Ospreys), J Yapp (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys), J Turnbull (Scarlets), T Knoyle (Scarlets), S Jones (Scarlets), R Priestland (Scarlets).
