Wales travel to face Scotland in their Six Nations Round 2 fixture on Saturday (4.45pm); Warren Gatland makes five changes after his side lost 34-10 to Ireland in Cardiff; Dafydd Jenkins replaces Alyn Wyn Jones, Christ Tshiunza, Tommy Reffell in for Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau
By Michael Cantillon
Last Updated: 09/02/23 12:34pm
Dafydd Jenkins has been named to start for Wales for the first time vs Scotland away on Saturday in the Six Nations
Warren Gatland has made five changes to his side to face Scotland in Round 2 of the Six Nations, with young trio Dafydd Jenkins, Christ Tshiunza and Tommy Reffell replacing Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.
The other changes see Dillon Lewis come in for the injured Tomas Francis (calf) at tighthead, and Wyn Jones return to start at loosehead in place of Gareth Thomas.
Wales were well beaten in Gatland’s Cardiff homecoming last week by Ireland, as Andy Farrell’s charges registered a bonus-point 34-10 win at the Principality Stadium, leaving Wales in need of a response this week.
Second row Jones, 37, and flanker Tipuric, 33, have been left out of the matchday squad entirely, while 32-year-old back-row Faletau is named among the replacements.
Alun Wyn Jones has been left out of Wales’ squad of 23 altogether
Exeter lock Jenkins, 21, comes in for his first Wales start, while club team-mate Tshiunza starts at blindside flanker for his Six Nations debut. Leicester’s 23-year-old back-row Reffell starts at openside, with Ospreys’ Jac Morgan switching to No 8 to accommodate the two new flankers.
Leicester Tigers back-row Tommy Reffell has come into the second row
The backline is unchanged, with full-back Leigh Halfpenny absent again after a back spasm caused him to withdraw late last week for Liam Williams.
Wings Josh Adams and Rio Dyer, centres George North – who has shaken off a knock to start – and Joe Hawkins – impressive last week in his first Test start – scrum-half Tomos Williams and fly-half Dan Biggar all remain in the side.
Ke …