Champions out to finish on a high with team featuring six changes.
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Wales coach Warren Gatland named six changes Thursday in his side to play Scotland on Saturday as the champions look to finish the Six Nations with a flourish.
Wales’ 29-18 loss to England at Twickenham on Sunday ended their hopes of becoming the first side to win an unprecedented third successive Six Nations title.
Gatland responded by making changes across the team, although several are injury-enforced.
Three come in the backs with Liam Williams replacing Leigh Halfpenny following the star full-back’s season-ending shoulder injury at Twickenham, while Mike Phillips comes in for scrum-half Rhys Webb, who also suffered a knock against England.
But at fly-half Dan Biggar makes his first start of the championship following Rhys Priestland’s lacklustre display against England, with James Hook again left kicking his heels on the bench.
Up front, prop Gethin Jenkins will become Wales’ most-capped player when he makes his 105th appearance, one more than former fly-half Stephen Jones, although the veteran forward will hope to avoid a third successive yellow card after being sin-binned at Twickenham for failing to scrummage straight.
Jenkins is a member of a changed front row where Scarlets duo Rhodri Jones and hooker Ken Owens make their first starts of the Championship.
Luke Charteris returns from injury to partner Alun Wyn Jones in the second row with the rest of the pack unchanged.
Ospreys front row forwards Richard Hibbard and Adam Jones drop to the bench as does Priestland.
Defeats this season by Ireland and England, both vying for the title on Saturday, have led to accusations Wales are becoming too predictable a a side when faced with major opposition.
Nevertheless they will still be favourites to beat a Scotland team seeking a first win in Cardiff since 2002 and whose lone success this tournament was a last-gasp win over Italy, although they were unluckly to lose 19-17 to France at Murrayfield last weekend.
Saturday’s match will be former Wales coach Scott Johnson’s last in charge of Scotland, with the Australian handing over to New Zealander Vern Cotter at the end of the season to concentrate solely on his role as director of rugby at the Scottish Rugby Union.
Wales team to play Scotland in a Six Nations international at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium on Saturday (1445GMT kick-off):
Wales (15-1)
Liam Williams; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Taulupe Faletau, Sam Warburton (capt), Dan Lydiate; Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris; Rhodri Jones, Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins
Replacements: Richard Hibbard, Paul James, Adam Jones, Jake Ball, Justin Tipuric, Rhodri Williams, Rhys Priestland, James Hook
Scotland (15-1)
Stuart Hogg; Dougie Fife, Alex Dunbar, Matt Scott, Max Evans; Duncan Weir, Greig Laidlaw; David Denton, Kelly Brown (capt), Ryan Wilson; Jim Hamilton, Richie Gray; Geoff Cross, Scott Lawson, Ryan Grant
Replacements: Ross Ford, Alasdair Dickinson, Euan Murray, Tim Swinson, Alasdair Strokosch, Chris Cusiter, Duncan Taylor, Jack Cuthbert
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