THE Millennium Stadium may have been repackaged but the feeling is that the outcome will remain the same when Scotland visit this evening.

The Scottish script was that a Calcutta Cup success on the back of an encouraging World Cup would lead to them heading to Wales with confidence of ending their long drought in Cardiff.

Instead it was frightfully familiar at Murrayfield as an uninspired England triumphed, so much so that a BBC Scotland journalist wrote an amusing and spot-on ‘Five things we already knew’.

It means they head south with glum faces and expectations low for a clash against a Wales side who have not lost to Scotland under Warren Gatland.

There were no regions the last time they won at the Millennium Stadium on April 6, 2002, a victory that itself ended an eight-year wait for success in Wales.

A pair of late penalties by Brendan Laney and Duncan Hodge secured a 27-22 triumph against a home side that featured Newport’s Andy Marinos, Chris Anthony and Ian Gough plus Ebbw Vale’s Iestyn Thomas.

It made it a miserable couple of weekends in the capital for the Black and Ambers contingent, who the previous Friday had seen their reign as Principality Cup holders ended by Cardiff in the quarter-finals following a late try by Rob Howley.

The former scrum-half will be a central figure again this evening at the recently-renamed Principality Stadium; the coach will be desperate for his attack to spark after a frustrating start to the Six Nations.

Wales’ opener in Dublin was engaging and tense but the visitors failed to deliver on their pre-tournament pledge to be more cutthroat after their World Cup woes against the Aussies and Springboks.

Trips to the 22 went unrewarded with just one try scored – by number eight Taulupe Faletau from the base of a five-metre scrum.

There were signs of them attempting to play a wider game but their style, especially in the first half, left you musing about that old adage about ‘earning the right to go wide’.

Strangely for Gatland’s Wales, they didn’t mix enough direct running down the 10 channel with the desire to get the ball in the hands of runners out wide and when it did go wide the skill level let them down.

It prompted yet more pledges of learning the lessons; expect Jamie Roberts and George North to introduce themselves to Scotland fly-half Finn Russell early on.

The Dublin draw wasn’t a complete disaster and Wales still fancy a title tilt but one of their biggest positives from the Aviva Stadium, the set piece, will be put under more pressure today.

Scotland boast a formidable tight five of the Gray brothers behind an Edinburgh trio of Al Dickinson, Ross Ford and WP Nel who have caused mayhem in the Guinness Pro12.

In fact, look through the visitors’ line-up and you see why there was optimism this time last week with a strong back row, good game controller in Greig Laidlaw and strong midfield options.

Yet they’ve lost eight straight games in the Six Nations and it is hard to see that streak being ended, even if the Scots will undoubtedly be fiercely competitive.

Even with a six-day turnaround Wales should just have too much power for them and after starting slowly in Dublin should come flying out on home soil.

Fingers crossed Tom James will get the chance to show his Cardiff Blues form on the wing while Justin Tipuric has another chance to convince Gatland that Lydiate isn’t needed against the heavy units of France and England (even a stellar display may not be enough on that front).

With Dan Biggar pulling the strings, Sam Warburton and Liam Williams sharper after injury and Taulupe Faletau being Taulupe Faletau, expect the Scottish drought in Cardiff to continue.

In 2010 Dan Parks produced a superb display to win man of the match before enduring a nightmare ending that allowed Shane Williams to steal the spoils 31-24.

Wales will be hoping for a few Shane-like thrills while Scotland will be happy if the match is in the balance in the closing stages.

Wales: Liam Williams, G North, J Davies, J Roberts, T James, D Biggar, G Davies, R Evans, S Baldwin, S Lee, L Charteris, A W Jones, S Warburton (captain), J Tipuric, T Faletau. Replacements: K Owens, G Jenkins, T Francis, B Davies, D Lydiate, Lloyd Williams, R Priestland, G Anscombe.

Scotland: S Hogg, S Maitland, M Bennett, D Taylor, T Seymour, F Russell, G Laidlaw, A Dickinson, R Ford, WP Nel, R Gray, J Gray, J Barclay, J Hardie, D Denton. Replacements: S McInally, G Reid, Z Fagerson, T Swinson, B Cowan, S Hidalgo-Clyne, D Weir, S Lamont.

Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)