WALES coach Wayne Pivac has made six changes from the team that lost to France last week for tomorrow’s match against Scotland in Llanelli, including giving a debut to Cardiff Blues flanker Shane Lewis-Hughes. The two other alterations to the pack from that 38-21 loss in Paris see Tomas Francis come in at tighthead and Will Rowlands selected at lock for his second cap.
In the backs, Gareth Davis replaces the injured Rhys Webb at scrum-half, Owen Watkin is at centre, and Liam Williams takes over on the right wing from George North - a selection which Gregor Townsend saw as particularly noteworthy. “I think the omission of George North, while it’s surprising, it does show the quality they have as Liam Williams comes in and he’s obviously a fantastic player,” the Scotland coach said.
“[Left-winger] Josh Adams has been outstanding this last couple of seasons and you’ve got a Lions full back in Leigh Halfpenny. But we can’t focus [on Wales] too much, because by this time of the week we want to do our own work and make sure our game’s in place.”
Captain Alun Wyn Jones will set a new world record for international appearances when he plays in his 149th Test - 140 for Wales and nine for the Lions. Last week he equalled New Zealander Richie McCaw’s record of 148.
Wales (v Scotland): L Halfpenny (Scarlets); Liam Williams (Scarlets), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Owen Watkin (Ospreys), J Adams (Cardiff); D Biggar (Northampton), G Davies (Scarlets); R Carre (Cardiff), R Elias (Scarlets), T Francis (Exeter), W Rowlands (Wasps), A Wyn Jones (Ospreys, captain), S Lewis-Hughes (Cardiff), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Bath).
Substitutes: S Parry (Ospreys), W Jones (Scarlets), D Lewis (Cardiff), C Hill (Cardiff), James Davies (Scarlets), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff), R Patchell (Scarlets), N Tompkins (Dragons).
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