A home defeat to France has left Scotland once again scrabbling for some sort of foot-hold in this year's Six Nations championship in only the second week, and this week sees Scotland journey south to play the similarly afflicted Wales.

While Wales showed worrying spark in attack (Hook in particular having at last found a home at 13), they were ultimately undone by indiscipline and with kickers of the calibre of Paterson and (gulp) Parks on the pitch Scotland should be able to punish any indiscretions - although whether Scotland could administer a 17 point punishment in 10 minutes as England did is doubtful.

Indeed the addition of Parks, who can be far from spectacular with ball in hand, should at least ensure the game is played in the right areas of the pitch. Last weekend the territory stats were ridiculous - Scotland had plenty of possession against France but most of it was used going sideways in our own 22. All the good line breaks were made from within our own half. Make the same long breaks in the Welsh 22 and Scotland could even be looking at some tries. Although with Godman out, Parks in and Morrison still clogging up the midfield a bit and another big man in standout performer Sean Lamont moved inward to 13 to accommodate his brother, I do fear for our creative spark in midfield if not our power. But Parks can spark Glasgow where they score plenty of tries. Can he step it up a gear and make himself the most unpopular man in Cardiff, where he is moving to next season?

Gatland has already begun his well-worn coaching "tactic" of trying to wind up the opposition in the week before the game (disguised as refreshing honesty), questioning the motives behind Scotland's wish for the roof to remain open. Andy Robinson, being equally as stubborn as Gatland, has rightfully stuck to his guns. It is likely that the roof being open does even matters up, given Wales are more used to playing with it shut. But the assertion that Scotland want the roof open so that we can play in muddy conditions is once again rubbish. It is again playing to the stereotype of Parks as a rainy-day stand-off. While that is a role he can play well, we in Scotland are all hoping that he can show us he is more than the stereotype and free up our new look back division filled with powerful runners (and Chris Paterson). And if it does rain and he kicks Wales into submission, well I suppose we'd take that too.

Rory Baldwin is the Editor of Scottish Rugby Blog.