FORGET swear boxes, had members of the Wales squad put a pound in a jar every time they uttered the words “wounded animal” this week then enough would have been raised to fund a fifth region.

A response is expected at the Millennium Stadium tomorrow following Scotland’s toothless performance in the Calcutta Cup last weekend.

Visiting head coach Andy Robinson will have his players pumped up, yet it will be a huge shock if this wounded animal has not been put out of its misery by Wales come 5pm.

The last-gasp win in Ireland, arguably the toughest fixture of the five, has raised hopes and expectations for Warren Gatland’s side.

It was more the manner of the victory given that Gethin Jenkins, Matthew Rees, Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris and Dan Lydiate – five first choice forwards – watched it on television because of injury.

Wales played with a verve and physicality that impressed but it was the character to dig deep late on for victory and prevent another addition in the ‘ones that got away’ folder that was most striking. Few expect it to be as tight seven days later.

Things went wrong for Wales in Dublin – chiefly an appalling 42.9% record from the kicking tee and a 71.4% success rate at the lineout – yet it was all smiles as Rhys Priestland hoofed the ball into the crowd and Wayne Barnes blew his whistle.

An awful lot of things went right for Scotland in Edinburgh – 62% possession, 72% territory, nine clean breaks to England’s one, 238 passes to England’s 72, 62 tackles to England’s 168 – yet there were frowns on faces as Ben Foden hacked the ball into touch and George Clancy signalled the end.

It is that familiar failure to convert pressure into points that means Robinson’s side are overwhelming underdogs this afternoon.

They have failed to score a try since their World Cup opener against Romania four games ago... and one of those fixtures was against Georgia.

While tomorrow’s visitors are searching for their cutting edge, the hosts head into the game fresh from a clinical performance.

Wales took their chances in Dublin with the only real failure to convert coming during a brutal first half attack when superb Irish defence stopped several powerful charges just short and then got underneath Ryan Jones over the line.

They played with belief and confidence in attack and if Wales churn out plenty of quick ball then it is hard to see Scotland living with them this weekend.

Scrum-half Mike Phillips is thriving because of good organisation at the breakdown while fly-half Rhys Priestland, who distributed beautifully in Dublin, has a raft of gamebreakers on his outside.

The midfield of Jamie Roberts and Jon Davies is powerful, and they run clever lines, while the back three combines the imposing physique of wings George North and Alex Cuthbert with the elusive running of full-back Leigh Halfpenny.

That is an awful lot of talent to keep quiet and Scotland won’t dominate possession of the ball as they did at Murrayfield last weekend.

But it would be foolish to dismiss the visitors purely on their recent limp attacking performances on the international stage.

Their players are doing well in the club scene with Edinburgh earning a home Heineken Cup quarter-final and Glasgow in the Pro12 playoff places.

Scotland have some dangerous runners, especially in a back row that shone against England.

Their pack made seven line breaks and number eight Dave Denton and Ross Rennie ran for a whopping 120 metres.

Scotland come with a desire to play at a high tempo under a shut roof and they have some big threats IF they can get on the front foot, but that won’t be as easy this weekend.

England’s scramble defence was magnificent last weekend but don’t expect to see Wales forced into such measures so often tomorrow.

The hosts will enjoy much more possession and will look to hold onto the ball as superbly as they did in the closing stages at the Aviva Stadium. Do that and the Scottish defence will eventually crack.

Which means that Andy Robinson will be looking for his charges to stop Wales at source with the hope that a gigantic second row partnership will cause maximum disruption.

The sight of 6ft 9in Richard Gray and 6ft 8in Jim Hamilton could give hooker Huw Bennett the collywobbles following his chastening experience in Dublin.

But it will need more than a shaky lineout to stop Wales this weekend.

Scotland won’t be as wasteful as they were on opening day and they are certainly no pushovers.

But it will be a home win tomorrow afternoon and unlike two years ago there will be no need for dramatic late heroics.