Chiefs duo start for Wales against Scotland

By Mark Stevens
9/2/23

Exeter Chiefs lock Dafydd Jenkins will make his first-ever Guinness Six Nations Championship start in Saturday's clash with Scotland at BT Murrayfield (4:45pm).

The 20-year-old, who came off the bench in last weekend's loss to Ireland, is one of six changes made by head coach Warren Gatland.

Jenkins will be joined in the side by club-mate Christ Tshiunza, who will make his Six Nations debut at blind-side flanker.

Other changes see Wyn Jones named at loose-head prop, the Scarlets man returns having missed the autumn through injury. Dillon Lewis starts at tight-head prop with captain Ken Owens at hooker. In the back row, Jac Morgan moves to No. 8 with Tommy Reffell at open-side flanker.

The Wales backline remains the same from the opening fixture.

There are four changes among the replacements, Ospreys second row Rhys Davies could win his first senior international cap from the bench.

Dragons tight-head Leon Brown is in line to make his first Wales appearance since last year’s Championship if brought on as a substitute. Scott Baldwin, Rhys Carre and Taulupe Faletau provide the remaining forward cover. Rhys Patchell joins Rhys Webb and former Chiefs winger Alex Cuthbert as the Wales replacement backs.

Gatland said: "We’ve made some changes but tried to keep some continuity with the same backline. Wyn has been working really hard in the last three weeks in camp and he gets an opportunity. Then Dafydd Jenkins comes into the second row, looking a bit to the future. Christ Tshiunza as well. We’re looking at options at eight if Toby Faletau picks up an injury who’s going to cover there, so Jac gets that chance.

"We thought we created opportunities last week but we weren’t clinical enough in terms of finishing off some of those chances. We need to start better. We gave away some stupid penalties and unforced penalties when we weren’t really under a lot of pressure so that’s again been an area that we’ve spoken about. We’ve tried to focus on the positives and the things that we can address ourselves.

"Scotland have some experience in that squad, so it’s going to be a great encounter and it’s a good test of the improvements that we can make from the things that we need to tidy up from last week."

WALES SIDE TO FACE SCOTLAND

15. Liam Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 82 caps)
14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby – 45 caps)
13. George North (Ospreys – 110 caps)
12. Joe Hawkins (Ospreys – 2 caps)
11. Rio Dyer (Dragons – 4 caps)
10. Dan Biggar (Toulon – 104 caps)
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby – 41 caps)
1. Wyn Jones (Scarlets – 45 caps)
2. Ken Owens (Scarlets – 87 caps, capt)
3. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 46 caps)
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 2 caps)
5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 42 caps)
6. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 3 caps)
7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 5 caps)
8. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 7 caps)

16. Scott Baldwin (Ospreys – 35 caps)
17. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 18 caps)
18. Leon Brown (Dragons – 22 caps)
19. Rhys Davies (Ospreys – uncapped)
20. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 96 caps)
21. Rhys Webb (Ospreys – 37 caps)
22. Rhys Patchell (Scarlets – 21 caps)
23. Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 56 caps)