Returning winger George North is the only change to the Wales starting line-up as they seek to get back to winning ways in the Six Nations against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
North missed the last-gasp 21-16 defeat at home to England on February 11 but has recovered from a dead leg and will replace Alex Cuthbert in a back three that also includes winger Liam Williams and full-back Leigh Halfpenny.
There was some debate around the expected make-up of the pack, especially the back-row, with the return to full fitness of Taulupe Faletau.
However, caretaker coach Rob Howley has stuck with the loose forward trio of Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty, who have impressed in the competition so far, leaving Faletau to take his place on the bench once more.
There is also one change among the replacements as lock Luke Charteris comes in for Cory Hill.
“We have been able to select from a position of strength which is a huge positive and it is good to welcome George back into the starting XV and Luke (Charteris) on to the bench,” Howley said in a Welsh Rugby Union statement.
“In terms of intensity and performance, we stepped up a level against England and we need to take the positives from that performance and take it into 80 minutes against Scotland at Murrayfield. We know what we are capable of and we want to deliver that on Saturday alongside the result, which international rugby is all about.”
Wales opened their Six Nations campaign with a comprehensive 33-7 victory in Italy before suffering the agonising home defeat to England.
There was less than an hour before kick-off at the Principality Stadium when Northampton powerhouse wing North, with 28 tries in 66 Tests to his credit, failed a fitness test on a leg injury suffered in Wales’s tournament opener against Italy and was replaced by Cuthbert.
England came from behind to win when, with just four minutes left, Elliot Daly scored a dramatic try in the corner after opposing wing Cuthbert missed a tackle.
Coach Rob Howley’s decision to select Cardiff flyer Cuthbert, now no longer even in the match day 23 for this weekend’s visit to Murrayfield, against England was slammed as a “blind hope” call by former Wales wing Shane Williams.
The experienced Faletau was again among the replacements, with his Bath teammate Luke Charteris taking over as second-row cover from Newport Gwent Dragons lock Cory Hill after recovering from a fractured hand.
Moriarty was one of Wales’s outstanding performers against England and Howley also faced flak for taking him off as early as the 53rd minute. Knee injuries have seen Faletau make just a couple of 80-minute appearances for Bath this season.
Scotland, beaten 22-16 by France last time out, are due to name their side today.
Both Wales and Scotland remain in title contention after one win from two matches so far this Six Nations, with the Welsh beating Italy 33-7 in Rome first time up and the Scots launching their campaign with a 27-22 win at home to Ireland.
Wales, however, have dominated this fixture in recent years and will head to Edinburgh seeking a 10th consecutive win over Scotland.
They have not lost to Scotland since a 21-9 defeat in 2007, a match where all of the Scots’ points came courtesy of seven Chris Paterson penalties, with Wales’s winning streak also featuring four successive victories at Murrayfield.
George North
