- When? Saturday, 31st October
- Kick-off? 14:15
- Where? Parc y Scarlets (Llanelli, Wales)
- Coverage? Live on BBC and BBC Radio 5 Live from 13:45
Wales vs Scotland preview
Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones will become rugby’s most capped international on Saturday when he makes his 149th test appearance (140th for Wales plus 9 British & Irish Lions caps).
At the other end of the international spectrum, Cardiff Blues back-row Shane Lewis-Hughes will make his first Test appearance for Wales in a back-row alongside experienced Lions duo Justin Tipuric and Taulupe Faletau.
Will Rowlands, fresh from the Premiership Final with Wasps, comes into the side to make his first start for Wales and he packs down alongside captain Jones.
Meanwhile, Captain Stuart Hogg and fly-half Finn Russell return to Scotland’s starting XV.
Hogg’s Exeter Chiefs double-winning team-mate Jonny Gray also returns in the second-row, with Blade Thomson replacing the injured Matt Fagerson at number eight.
Russell replaces Adam Hastings at 10, who drops to the bench.
VIEWS FROM THE CAMP
Wales head coach Wayne Pivac: “It’s a fantastic day for Alun Wyn. He is a tremendous leader in this group and leads by example. When he speaks everybody listens. He is always matter-of-fact, to the point and just a tremendous guy to have in our environment.
“We are so pleased he is going to get the record and he has had to wait longer than we anticipated with the summer tour off but to do it in a Six Nations match will be special for him.”
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend: “We are expecting a physical battle against a very good side, one which we will be working hard to stay in the fight and to finish the fight in Llanelli. Ultimately, this game provides an opportunity for us to end this extended championship on a positive note and go into the Autumn Nations Cup with some added belief in what this group of players can achieve.”
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Key Stats:
- Liam Williams comes in for his 60th start for Wales.
- Scotland have conceded just four tries so far in this championship, having allowed 17 last season.
- Alun Wyn Jones has faced Scotland 12 times, winning ten of those. The two losses came in Edinburgh.
- Scotland have not won three in a row in the Five or Six Nations since 1996 – they beat Ireland, France and Wales.
- When these two last met in the last Six Nations, both sides attempted (and failed) with a drop goal.
- Wales have not been shown a card in the Six Nations for ten straight games.
- Gregor Townsend and current Wales attack coach Stephen Jones, were the two fly-halves last time Scotland triumphed in Wales (2002).
- Stuart Hogg has carried the ball for 377 metres– the most in this year’s Six Nations.
What are the Wales v Scotland odds?
- Wales: 4/9
- Scotland: 15/8
- Draw: 22/1
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What are the Wales v Scotland line-ups?
Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Liam Williams, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Gareth Davies, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Shane Lewis-Hughes, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (c), 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Tomas Francis, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Rhys Carre
Replacements: 16 Sam Parry, 17 Wyn Jones, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Cory Hill, 20 James Davies, 21 Lloyd Williams, 22 Rhys Patchell, 23 Nick Tompkins
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg (c), 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Chris Harris, 12 James Lang, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Rory Sutherland
Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Ben Toolis, 20 Cornell du Preez, 21 Scott Steele, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Duhan van der Merwe