Saturday, February 25th, Scotland v Wales, Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, 2:25pm kick-off (Live on BBC 1, 2pm)
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Scotland v Wales preview
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George North has recovered from a bruised thigh to start for Rob Howley’s men
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John Barclay has been named Scotland captain for the showdown with Wales
SCOTLAND face Wales at Murrayfield in the Six Nations on Saturday (2:25pm) – so here’s everything you need to know about the game.
Scotland Team News
John Barclay will captain a Scotland side featuring five changes for the Six Nations encounter at home to Wales.
The 30-year-old is skipper in the absence of Greig Laidlaw, who misses the rest of the campaign with an ankle injury.
Ali Price replaces Laidlaw at scrum-half, with Sean Maitland dropping out and Tim Visser starting on the wing.
FULL STORY | Cotter banks on Barclay to lead Scotland against Wales | https://t.co/GzQEHN5Wrk | #AsOne pic.twitter.com/ezB49ya2wX
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) February 23, 2017
Gordon Reid is in for Allan Dell in the front row, while John Hardie replaces Hamish Watson and Ryan Wilson steps in for Josh Strauss at number eight.
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 John Hardie, 6 John Barclay (c), 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Gordon Reid
Replacements: 16 Ross Ford, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Mark Bennett
Wales Team News
Wales have made one change to their side to face Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday (KO 14.25 BBC/S4C) with George North returning from injury to take his place in the starting XV.
The speedster comes back into the side and lines-up in the back-three alongside Liam Williams and full-back Leigh Halfpenny.
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: One change for Wales in starting XV to face @Scotlandteam with @George_North returning from injury. Charteris on bench pic.twitter.com/YRH6FwqjHi
— Welsh Rugby Union 🏉 (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 22, 2017
Scarlets centre duo Scott Williams and Jonathan Davies continue their partnership as do Ospreys pair Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar at half-back.
Wales name an unchanged pack for the trip to Edinburgh with Rob Evans, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis packing down in the front-row and Jake Ball and Alun Wyn Jones in the second row. Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty make up the unchanged back-row.
On the bench there is just one change with Luke Charteris returning to the matchday squad. He joins fellow forwards on the bench Scott Baldwin, Nicky Smith, Samson Lee and Taulupe Faletau. Gareth Davies, Sam Davies and Jamie Roberts provide the backline cover.
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Sam Warburton, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Jake Ball, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Rob Evans
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Taulupe Faletau, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Jamie Roberts
Scotland v Wales Betting Odds (PADDY POWER)
Scotland: evens
Wales: 5/6
Draw: 22/1
Scotland v Wales Previous Meetings
2016: Wales won 27-23 in Cardiff
2015: Wales won 26-23 in Edinburgh
2014: Wales won 51-3 in Cardiff
2013: Wales won 28-18 in Edinburgh
2012: Wales won 27-13 in Cardiff
2011: Wales won 24-6 in Edinburgh
2010: Wales won 31-24 in Cardiff
2009: Wales won 26-13 in Edinburgh
Scotland v Wales Line-Ups
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Ryan Wilson, 7 John Hardie, 6 John Barclay (c), 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Gordon Reid
Replacements: 16 Ross Ford, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Hamish Watson, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Mark Bennett
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Scott Williams, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Sam Warburton, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Jake Ball, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ken Owens, 1 Rob Evans
Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Samson Lee, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Taulupe Faletau, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Sam Davies, 23 Jamie Roberts
Date: Saturday, February 25
Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 14:25 GMT
Referee: Johnny Lacey (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: JP Doyle (England), Matthew Carley (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)