Recalled: Sam Warburton
Wales have included Sam Warburton and Alun-Wyn Jones in their starting line-up for Saturday's Six Nations meeting with Scotland at Murrayfield.
Meanwhile, Paul James will win his 44th cap and comes into the side after Gethin Jenkins failed to recover from a calf injury picked up in Italy.
Jones and Warburton, who both featured from the bench in Rome after recovering from injuries, start at second-row and at openside respectively.
Ryan Jones (Ospreys) who has led Wales to two successive away victories will again captain the side and will line up in the back-row alongside Warburton and Toby Faletau at number eight.
Alun-Wyn Jones comes into the second-row to partner regional team-mate Ian Evans and in the front-row James comes in to play alongside Ospreys duo Richard Hibbard and Adam Jones.
Wales and Scotland go into Saturday's match level on points in the Six Nations table with two victories apiece and the visitors will be looking for their fifth successive away victory in the tournament, a feat they haven't achieved before.
For the fourth match running, interim coach Rob Howley names an unchanged backline.
Mike Phillips will continue his partnership at half-back with Ospreys fly-half Dan Biggar with Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies named in the centre. Leigh Halfpenny, Alex Cuthbert and George North make up the back-three.
"We have had two good, hard fought away victories but we know will have to be at our best again to come away from Murrayfield with the result," said Howley.
"It's disappointing for Gethin to miss out but Paul has impressed and made an impact in each game he has played.
"We are bringing in a wealth of experience with Alun Wyn and Sam and they both performed well off the bench in Rome. Ryan has led the team to two wins and deserves to captain the side against Scotland.
"We have spoken a lot about momentum in this tournament and we go into the game with two wins under our belt but Scotland are in the same position and it's going to be a good challenge."
There are three changes on the replacements bench. Scott Andrews comes into the matchday squad to replace Paul James and Andrew Coombs and Justin Tipuric take their place amongst the replacements.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Mike Phillips, 8 Toby Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Ryan Jones (capt), 5 Ian Evans, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Ken Owens, 17 Scott Andrews, 18 Craig Mitchell, 19 Andrew Coombs, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 James Hook, 23 Scott Williams.
Date: Saturday, March 9
Kick-off: 14:30
Venue: Murrayfield
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Glen Jackson (New Zealand), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Comments
jontheref says...
Have to agree, lots of sensible discussion here.
I also agree, having Scott Williams in would give some variety in the backs.
Becks only just back, so probably early for him.
BTW the comments about Craig Joobert will wake new_j4a up, and you know how grumpy he is after his nap!
Only comments on the wonderkind!
Almost flawless indeed!
Posted 08:29 07th March 2013
ShamanSheep says...
@rugbyclone - right, thanks for clearing that up, it'll be nice to see Bevington back in the red shirt if he gets on.
@rico - I agree with your comments on Roberts - he probably should have taken the 2 weeks off, give scott williams a chance I guess. I think a comparison of Howley to Lancaster is unfair - even though he's an inexperienced international rugby coach, Lancaster clearly has a gift for man management, and this team is his team. In the games so far, I think Howley's substitutions have largely been good - I don't see really what else he could have done regarding substitutions during the games - made a couple of early changes against Ireland (Tips and Owens) who did well, no change at the scrum against France so Hibbard and Jenkins went early which was OK by me (in hindsight!). Tips. should have started against Ireland, everyone knows that and P James probably also deserved the spot but I honestly don't think it would have made a massive difference to the result. Biggar needed backing and has got it and is improving. There's obviously a slight irritation with this Wales team (from me included) and we're looking to say 'if only this is done or that is done' then it'll make a big difference but I honestly don't believe that to be the case.
Posted 20:50 06th March 2013
rugbyclone says...
It's definately Ryan Bevington and Scott Andrews, apparently Craig Mitchell is carrying a knock, but has travelled to Scotland as cover along with Lou Reed, Aaron Shingler, Matthew Rees, Tavis Knoyle and Liam Williams
Posted 17:04 06th March 2013
5Lock4ward says...
@Kent, That might be difficult as England are playing well and Gatland may feel some pressure to select English players after his unfortunate comments regarding their possible non-selection based on media coverage. I'm referring to Hamilton's form over Wyn-Jones' reputation (I personally never saw what the big deal was and I don't think too many people on the Lions tour of South Africa did either). I'm also pointing out that Brown is leading a Scottish side to new levels whereas Warburton isn't even the obvious choice w/in his own national side even though a year ago he was touted as Lions captain.
Posted 13:00 06th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
A good team that I think will bash out a sting of wins quite soon. They could go as far as South Africa but they'll always struggle against top teams that play creative rugby.
@sharmansheep: some of us were harping on about the boring game plan of Wales last year. It got ignored because try were winning. And before that it was ignored because ShaneW there.
Posted 10:37 06th March 2013
rico says...
@shamansheep - I just think R.Howley doesn't make the big descisions when needed, i'm sure he has full remit to change things during the game, and his record when 'in charge' is basically atrocious. I agree though that Gatland's mantra is all over this team, and the gameplan is unlikely to change dramatically but it's the fine tweaks to these systems that give you the margins - lancaster has been spot on with his subs / personnel selection without altering England's gameplan too much and England are flying. On J Roberts...he has admitted these are '2 weeks of hell' - don't think he should be juggling the two - can't be 100% focused on Rugby with all the other stuff going on with him at the mo - maybe should have knocked these last two games on the head.... he's some way off where he can be when he's at his best i feel, and Medical finals could be a factor in his lack of form / concentration on the pitch. So many spills in contact this season from him... Despite my worries about Howley!... I still think we will have enough to beat Scotland, and set up a classic down at the Millenium against England and hopefully wreck their Grand Slam party!
Posted 05:09 06th March 2013
Waz4before says...
Agree Tipric is unlucky not to be in the starting line-up but understand the process that wales are going through with Warburton; he lost his mojo sometime last year and the pressure seemed to have increased on him bringing him almost to breaking point and a once-certain shoe-in for the Lions captaincy seemed - at one point - to be questionable whether he would even get a seat on the plane. So Tipic is unlucky but this looks like a slow, rebuild of Warburton the player and I'm sure wales hope they get him back to where he was last season. My personal opinion is he would actually benefit by not touring with the Lions as many players suffer a dip in form/fitness the season after the Lions Tour and he can ill afford another year on the fringe of the Wales team, but in his shoes he'd be mad to turn down a Lions opportunity if/when it comes his way
Posted 03:25 06th March 2013
Kent says...
@ 5Lock4ward : At the expense of Parling and Lunchbox (or whatever his name is)
Posted 22:44 05th March 2013
rugbybutten says...
Craig Joubert.....it's worrying..which way will he flop?
Robert Howley's selection is a bit disappointing but while Wales are winning then the critics ,, me very much included must abide, I really cannot see Scotland winning this one, another gallant losing effort most probably.
With regard to new faces coming thru eg Coombes we surely must revert to the B team to give these players experience. Look what 7s has done for Hook, Cuthbert, Issacs.. this has been their only chance of goldfish bowl international rugby and that has proved a blooding ground for backs.
Posted 21:29 05th March 2013
ABlack says...
Warburton had a couple of good games in the last WC and then has faded since. Why?
Posted 20:54 05th March 2013
pedro_olavo says...
What?! No Byrne?
Posted 18:48 05th March 2013
Jhamer25 says...
Actually ollieosprey gethin has played brillient in the passed 2 games for Wales. Just watch him dismantel one of the world leading tight heads (castro). Adam Hibbard and Paul are a very good front row but Howley made the best decision in keeping with him through all the tournament becuase he hasn't had game time and it has taken time to get back to where he was agaisnt france and itlay.
Especially Italy, he was the best forward before he got went off injured.
Paul is good but he doesn't bring what gethin can bring. But paul is a great back up to have.
Also Gehtin hasn't had any game time to be off form
Posted 17:52 05th March 2013
ShamanSheep says...
@ollieosprey - I'm as frustrated as you about roberts hitting up the middle (or failing to) on a consistent basis, but it's not his fault he's being used like this - it's Gatlands gameplan. Scott Williams and Beck would be used in the same way if picked, plus I wouldn't exactly describe S. Williams as a creative player. Blaming it on the players is looking in the wrong direction. It's the way we play, its Gatlands way and you can't suddenly rip up the gameplan in the middle of a campaign.
Regarding the straight selection choices, I'd agree with you re. Tipuric and James. I think AWJ is the our best lock by a distance and as such should start, hard luck Coombs, sometimes that's how it is.
@rico - Howley can't change Gatlands gameplan - sure he can make small changes and decisions on selection, which everyone is free to disagree with - but to say he isn't 'big enough / brave enough' is pretty harsh considering he's in charge temporarily and doesn't have the mandate to change things.
Everyone wasn't carping on about the incredibly boring gameplan last year when we won it - have you all just woken up? This is the reality of Wales under Gatland, brutal, predictable and fairly boring when winning, brutal and incredibly boring in defeat. Some on the field heads up rugby by Priestland, John Davies and (hopefully in the future) Tipuric and Hook can occasionally change this but the gameplan remains the gameplan.
Posted 17:07 05th March 2013
5Lock4ward says...
This is where Hamilton and Brown nail down their seats on the plane to Australia.
Posted 16:23 05th March 2013
rico says...
I admire S. Warburton and think he is a fantastic player but tipuric has got to be feeling hard done by? what has warburton done to warrant being picked ahead of tipuric? Mr Howley please explain....I Just Don't get it.... AWJ ahead of Coombs makes more sense as Coombs has played his heart out for first two and a half games but was looking a little legworn (First 6N campaign for him and International rugby is really big step-up physically) when replaced by awj in Italy, Agree with ollieosprey's points (well made) and i think really highlights the fact that Howley doesn't know what he's doing at this level and isn't big enough / brave enough to change anything....just sticks with obviously not working personnel and game plan a la Oz tour (a few tweaks to game plan and personnel would have turned the fine margins in our favour with some obvious changes i reckon) and a la autumn Internationals - i could have done what Howley has done in his times in charge....Nothin! bar from forced personnel changes due to injuries etc...... does he know what form is?
Posted 16:02 05th March 2013
ShamanSheep says...
BBC Sport has Andrews and Bevington on the bench, PR has Andrews and Mitchell - which is correct PR?
It should of course be Mitchell and Bevington, Andrews needs more game time for the Blues, he's nowhere near standard yet. Bevington is quality and we don't need 2 tightheads on the bench, especially as James can cross over if we're desperate.
Posted 15:13 05th March 2013
ollieosprey says...
Why is Roberts still starting? why don't go for a positive attacking game with Scott Williams or Beck... The same thing has happened every game, In the first half Wales try to use Roberts to crash down the middle and he either drops the ball or goes backwards, his only benefit at the moment is his defence and that isn't brilliant at the moment. This favouritism in the welsh squad is getting stupid, I really respect what Lancaster is doing with England in playing in form players, look where they are.
Tipuric doesn't deserve to be dropped and neither does Coombs, Phillips probably shouldn't be playing makes too many bad decisions (got lucky with that kick over the top v Italy), Hook should have more game time off the bench too push Biggar and too have more than five minutes to actually do anything and Gethin Jenkins should have never been first choice over Paul James on form.
Can't expect out of form players who are low on confidence to just put on a Wales shirt and be brilliant.
Another great example is Priestland in the autumn...
Posted 14:53 05th March 2013
melkdave says...
Wel a not totally unexpected 1st XV from Wales,but i do feel Tipric is unlucky to not be starting,considering his the form openside atm.Also feel the same about A.Coombs ,his done very well in all his matches so far.Going to be a very had and close game againstScotland ,if the scots keep their disapline this year.Halfpennys kicking from range i think could be the differance at the end of the game .Very close to call,but Wales by 3 a long range penalty from just over halfway ,with 4 mins to go .
Posted 14:20 05th March 2013
tellitlikeitis says...
Craig Joubert is refereeing this game?! Dear God, all bets are off. Wales not doing well will be good for England too, and we all saw Joubert last week v France. Google 'craig joubert england v france' for all you need to know.
Posted 14:00 05th March 2013
makemehappy says...
A bit of a surprise with Warburton. Why do they pick Andrews? He really doesn't convince at all!
Would much rather Jackson refereeing!
Posted 13:30 05th March 2013