SCOTLAND BOSS GREGOR Townsend has made three changes to his starting XV for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Wales at Principality Stadium in Cardiff [KO 2.15pm], which is currently still scheduled to go ahead.
Meanwhile, his Welsh counterpart, Wayne Pivac, has announced four changes to his own starting team.
All three Scottish changes come in the pack as number eight Nick Haining misses out on the matchday squad through illness after starting last weekend’s win over France.
Magnus Bradbury comes into the starting XV in his place, with Matt Fagerson promoted to the bench. Stuart McInally replaces Fraser Brown at hooker, while Sam Skinner comes into the second row in place of Scott Cummings.
As for home team Wales, Cory Hill comes into the second row and will line up alongside captain Alun Wyn Jones, who is set to equal the world record for Test appearances in Cardiff on Saturday as he draws level with Richie McCaw on 148 appearances.
Sale Sharks man WillGriff John is named for his Wales debut at tighthead prop, with Wyn Jones coming in at loosehead, and Rhys Webb starts at scrum-half after a sharp replacement appearance against England last weekend.
As things stand, the Six Nations tie is set to go ahead as scheduled but that situation could still change amidst the coronavirus outbreak.
Wales:
15. Leigh Halfpenny
14. George North
13. Nick Tompkins
12. Hadleigh Parkes
11. Liam Williams
10. Dan Biggar
9. Rhys Webb
1. Wyn Jones
2. Ken Owens
3. WillGriff John
4. Cory Hill
5. Alun Wyn Jones (captain)
6. Ross Moriarty
7. Justin Tipuric
8. Josh Navidi
Replacements:
16. Ryan Elias
17. Rhys Carre
18. Leon Brown
19. Will Rowlands
20. Taulupe Faletau
21. Gareth Davies
22. Jarrod Evans
23. Johnny McNicholl
Scotland:
15. Stuart Hogg (captain)
14. Sean Maitland
13. Chris Harris
12. Sam Johnson
11. Blair Kinghorn
10. Adam Hastings
9. Ali Price
1. Rory Sutherland
2. Stuart McInally
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Sam Skinner
5. Grant Gilchrist
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Hamish Watson
8. Magnus Bradbury
Replacements:
16. Fraser Brown
17. Allan Dell
18. Willem Nel
19. Scott Cummings
20. Matt Fagerson
21. George Horne
22. Duncan Weir
23. Kyle Steyn
In what world does this go ahead
@Cranesofdublin: In the world according to Trump & Johnstone where global warming doesn’t exist, Covid19 is nothing much & the Brits still have an empire ffs
@Cranesofdublin: The world of the player flogging Welsh Rugby Union. It’s about money. This is the Union that consistently slips in an additional fixture every summer and autumn
Haaa, ooo man, the brits really dont give a sh##. Suppose they traditionally are bse , foot and mouth.
At least ther is something to watch.
But having said that, pandemic is bit more important then sport
@Paddy Waggon: we’ll just have to start watching the soaps. Nothing else for it. A 100 euro each/way double there on Eastenders and Corrie!!…..its gonna be a bleak few months.
@Ray Ridge: storylines in Fair City are scintillating these days
Hi boys
see the first post on my twitter
only 18+
@Annaa69: How the F are you still getting away with this?