Ruddock wary of Scottish threat

Six Nations Team newsMike Ruddock attempted last night to play down escalating hype and hysteria surrounding a possible Grand Slam season by claiming there had been "no talk of it" in the Welsh camp.

The Wales coach has made two changes - both enforced following an injury to skipper Gareth Thomas - for Sunday's clash against Scotland at Murrayfield.

With the influential Thomas nursing a broken thumb, Newport Gwent Dragons wing Kevin Morgan lines up at fullback and experienced Cardiff Blues speedster Rhys Williams has been handed Wales' number 14 jersey.

On the bench, Llanelli Scarlets scrumhalf Mike Phillips takes over from an injured Gareth Cooper and Dragons wing Hal Luscombe is recalled following Williams' promotion.

But fears that Ruddock could lose hooker Mefin Davies have been allayed after the Gloucester forward successfully tested a thumb injury during some intensive training sessions.

A Wales victory this weekend would leave them one win away from a first Grand Slam since 1978, setting up a potential title showdown against unbeaten rivals Ireland in Cardiff.

An estimated 40,000 Welsh fans, many of them snapping up tickets the Scottish Rugby Union could not sell to home supporters, will travel north confidently expecting only a second Wales triumph at Murrayfield in 20 years.

Ruddock though, has tried to keep the lid on, despite his team edging ever closer towards Six Nations glory.

"I can honestly tell you that there has been no talk (within the camp) of a Grand Slam, Triple Crown or the championship," he said.

"We didn't set any long-term goals before the start of the season because I don't believe in it. You obviously want to win every game, that goes without saying, and you want to perform in every game.

"Our goals have been to play to the best of our ability and play a style of rugby that people are excited about. We felt that if we could do that, then we would get some results.

"The players are mature enough to know that we prepare for each game and do our homework. The focus has all been on our performance - no one has got time to sit around and talk about external factors."

Ruddock is wary, not only of a Scottish side coached by his former Leinster colleague Matt Williams, but also a miserable Murrayfield record. "Scotland are going to be tough," he added. "I think they have really fronted-up in the championship and played a lot of good rugby. They came out against France, for example, and were so unlucky. They lost the game in the 77th-minute to a charged-down kick."

Italy coach John Kirwan has made several changes to his starting XV to face England on Saturday at Twickenham.

Fullback Gert Peens has been brought in to replace Roland de Marigny and will also take on kicking duties and prop Salvatore Perugini comes in for Leandro Castrogiovanni, who drops to the bench.

Wing Kaine Robertson deputises for Mirco Bergamasco, who has been shifted to centre alongside Andrea Masi. Lock Carlo Antonio Del Fava will be making his first start for Italy.

WALES (v Scotland, Six Nations Championship at Murrayfield on Sunday): K Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons); R Williams (Cardiff Blues), T Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), G Hanson (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), S Williams (Neath-Swansea Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne), D Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), M Davies (Gloucester), A Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), B Cockbain (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), R Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), M Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons, capt). Replacements: R McBryde (Llanelli Scarlets), J Yapp (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), R Sowden-Taylor (Cardiff Blues), M Phillips (Llanelli Scarlets), C Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), H Luscombe (Newport Gwent Dragons).

ITALY (v England, Six Nations Championship at Twickenham on Saturday): G Peens (L'Aquila); K Robertson (Viadana), M Bergamasco (Stade Francais), A Masi (Viadana), L Nitoglia (Calvisano); L Orquera (Padova), A Troncon (Treviso); A Lo Cicero (L'Aquila), F Ongaro (Treviso), S Perugini (Calvisano), CA Del Fava (Rugby Parma), M Bortolami (Narbonne, capt), A Persico (Agen), D dal Maso (Treviso), S Parisse (Treviso). Replacements: G Intoppa (Calvisano), M Castrogiovanni (Calvisano), M Savi (Viadana), S Dellape (Agen), S Orlando (Treviso), P Griffen (Calvisano), M Barbini (Padova).