Warren Gatland hails "fantastic" contribution of Wales' bench players in Six Nations

It would be no surprise to see the combination of Biggar and Gareth Anscombe – Wales’ current starting number 10 – again play a pivotal role in Saturday’s Murrayfield appointment with Scotland.

“I think both the 10s have been good coming off the bench,” Wales head coach Gatland said.

“It’s something that we did identify going back to the autumn, just in terms of the strength in depth we are trying to create in this squad and how important our bench has been.

“Our bench has been fantastic for us, so when we select the side we do talk about the potential impact of players coming off the bench. Not just carrying on, but giving us an impact off the bench.

“In fairness, they’ve been excellent, not just in the last game, but in a number of games for us.

“It has been a definite consideration when we’ve been picking the side.”

The England result has left Wales, unbeaten for 12 Tests, requiring wins against Scotland and then Ireland in Cardiff seven days later to secure the Six Nations title and a third Grand Slam of Gatland’s reign.

And Gatland added: “There is no doubt it was an important result for us. We prepared exceptionally well in those two weeks leading up to England.

“We were very confident within the squad we were going to deliver a good performance.

“Going in at half-time (Wales trailed 10-3), it wasn’t about the pressure England were putting on us, it was about the inaccuracies in our game that was giving England some ascendancy.

“We sorted those things out at half-time and had 60 per cent territory and domination.

“Our territory and possession against England was a pretty impressive statistic, and for us to finish as strong as we did in the last 20 minutes when they struggled to get out of their half, was excellent.

“We finished strongly, and we can build on that for this week.”

Wales have already beaten Scotland this season, claiming a 21-10 success in an autumn series opener, while they have only lost once in the Six Nations against them since 2007.

That defeat, though, came two years ago after Wales lost a 13-9 interval lead and conceded 20 unanswered second-half points.

Wales hooker Ken Owens said: “They look to play a very loose, open and expansive game, which we saw there two years ago, so we know the challenge they are going to bring and the quality they have in their side.

“They are a very good outfit – we always have a tough battle against them – and I think they know what we are going to bring, so they will look to nullify that, but we also know their threats.

“We are worrying about ourselves, and we are looking forward to getting out on the field, getting the result and keeping the momentum going.”