Head Coach Gregor Townsend today named three changes to the starting Scotland team for this Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations finale against Wales in Cardiff (14 March, kick-off 2.15pm) – live on BBC.
All three adjustments are made to the forward pack, where hooker and vice-captain Stuart McInally, number 8 Magnus Bradbury (both Edinburgh), and second-row Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs) come in – the latter starting for the first time this campaign.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT 🏴
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 12, 2020
Scotland team named to face Wales in our final 2020 Guinness Six Nations Test at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff this Saturday (kick-off 2.15pm). #AsOne pic.twitter.com/BgSR8qqPBJ
Glasgow Warriors pair Fraser Brown (hooker) and Scott Cummings (second-row) move to the bench as a consequence, with fellow Warrior Matt Fagerson coming into the match-day squad to take the place among the replacements vacated by the promoted Bradbury, with Nick Haining unavailable through illness.
Scotland Head Coach, Gregor Townsend, said: “We set out this season to improve our consistency over a run of five tough games, something we have done well so far.
“We’ve stayed in the fight in every game, which is a credit to how hard the players have worked in training and during the Tests.
“It’s also been encouraging to see how well the players have grown together and have taken on board the input from new coaches, Steve (Tandy) and Pieter (de Villiers), who have done a great job in their first season with the team.
Scotland team to play Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff
15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) – 76 caps
14. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 48 caps
13. Chris Harris (Gloucester) – 18 caps
12. Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps
11. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh) – 21 caps
10. Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors) – 20 caps
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 32 caps
1. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh) – 7 caps
2. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh) – 37 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 29 caps
4. Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs) – 7 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh) – 42 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh) – 18 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh) – 32 caps
8. Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh) – 14 caps
Substitutes:
16. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 50 caps
17. Allan Dell (London Irish) – 32 caps
18. Willem Nel (Edinburgh) – 38 caps
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) – 12 caps
20. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps
22. Duncan Weir (Worcester Warriors) – 28 caps
23. Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap
List of Rugby union events affected by coronavirus outbreak
The following is a list of rugby union affected by a coronavirus outbreak, which has killed more than 1,800 people and infected more than 70,000 in China after emerging late last year in Wuhan, Hubei province.
Six Nations: Ireland vs. Italy in Dublin on March 7; Italy vs. England in Rome on March 14; France vs. Ireland in Paris on March 14, postponed.
Women’s Six Nations: Italy vs. Scotland in Legnano on Feb. 23; Scotland vs. France in Glasgow on March 7; Ireland vs. Italy in Dublin on March 8; Italy vs. England in Padua on March 15; Wales vs. Scotland in Cardiff on March 15; France vs. Ireland in Villeneuve-d’Ascq on March 15, postponed.
European Championship: Georgia vs. Russia will now be played behind closed doors
Pro14: Zebre vs. Ospreys on Feb. 29; Treviso vs. Ulster on Feb. 29; Cardiff vs. Zebre on March 21; Treviso vs. Munster on March 21; Munster vs. Treviso on March 27; Zebre vs. Connacht on March 27, postponed.