Rugby – Wales v Scotland team news:Wales coach Warren Gatland has made two changes for the Six Nations clash against Scotland on Saturday, but lock Alun-Wyn Jones keeps his place. Jones was sin-binned during Wales' defeat at Twickenham on Saturday, and England scored 17 unanswered points in his absence.
Jones was strongly criticised by a furious Gatland after the game, but has avoided the humiliation of being dropped.
Cardiff Blues wing Leigh Halfpenny returns to the side instead of his Blues colleague Tom James, while Ospreys forward Jonathan Thomas replaces lock Luke Charteris following a poor display by the Welsh lineout at Twickenham.
Prop Gethin Jenkins, who missed the England loss due to a calf muscle injury, is one of five Blues players named on the bench. Jenkins though, faces further fitness checks later this week.
Scrum-half and hooker were also areas of possible scrutiny for Gatland, but he has decided to retain the Blues pair of Gareth Cooper and Gareth Williams. Gatland said: “Jonathan Thomas brings more than 50 caps of experience to the tight five and offers us some extra mobility around the field.
“Leigh Halfpenny is a recognised right wing who offers us an extra kicking option, and his return to full fitness after limited training in the run-up to the England game allows his selection.
“We are pleased to be able to name Gethin Jenkins, although he will undergo further fitness assessments later in the week.”
Saturday’s game sees Chris Paterson become the first Scot to make 100 international appearances and he will be presented with a specially-commissioned cap to mark the occasion. Phil Godman today paid the price for Scotland’s opening defeat to France as Dan Parks was recalled at outhalf for Saturday’s trip to Wales.
Parks’ return was one of three changes from Sunday’s 18-9 loss at Murrayfield, with prop Euan Murray and back-three man Rory Lamont also back in tandem. Lamont was named on the left wing, with brother Sean surprisingly moved to outside centre in place of Max Evans.
Scotland coach Andy Robinson revealed the inclusion of the big-kicking Parks was in order to play a more territorial game after France dominated in that department on Sunday.
“We needed to improve our owning of territory, winning the territorial battle and marrying the two together of being able to play with the ball in hand but also looking to be able to dominate territory,” he said.
“We didn’t do that well enough last week and while we showed some really good attacking intent, we turned too many balls over. Dan’s coming in not just to kick the ball - we still want to move it, we still want to play with the ball in hand.”
Robinson also admitted Sean Lamont — Scotland’s best player on Sunday — had been switched from wing to beef up the centre.
“Sean’s played at centre for Llanelli, so he’s had the ability to play there,” Robinson said. “He’s very physical; we think there’s going to be a big physical battle in the centres but also in the way that Wales defend, they really do rush up hard.”
Wales:L Byrne (Ospreys); L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues); P James (Ospreys), G Williams (Cardiff Blues), A Jones (Ospreys), J Thomas (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt). Replacements:H Bennett (Ospreys), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), R Rees (Cardiff Blues), A Bishop (Ospreys), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues).
Scotland:C Paterson (Edinburgh); T Evans (Glasgow), S Lamont (Scarlets), G Morrison (Glasgow), R Lamont (Toulon); D Parks (Glasgow), C Cusiter (Glasgow, capt); A Dickinson (Gloucester), R Ford (Edinburgh), E Murray (Northampton), N Hines (Leinster), A Kellock (Glasgow), K Brown (Glasgow), J Barclay (Glasgow), J Beattie (Glasgow). Replacements:S Lawson (Gloucester), A Jacobsen (Edinburgh), R Gray (Glasgow), A MacDonald (Edinburgh), M Blair (Edinburgh), P Godman (Edinburgh), M Evans (Glasgow).