Cardiff: Fly-half Dan Biggar was on Thursday named in an unchanged Wales team for Saturday’s Six Nations clash with Scotland in Cardiff after overcoming an ankle injury.
A sprained ankle forced Biggar to hobble off during the first half of last weekend’s 16-16 draw with Ireland in Dublin, which saw Rhys Priestland take his place.
But the Ospreys number 10 is fit enough to retain his place in Warren Gatland’s starting XV, with the fit-again Gareth Anscombe replacing Alex Cuthbert among the replacements in the only change to the match squad.
“It’s great to be able to name an unchanged side, with Dan coming through, fit and ready to play,” head coach Gatland said in a Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) press release.
“It’s a reward for some players who put in a great shift in Dublin whilst we will be asking a little more of some of the players as well.”
Biggar was one of Wales’s stand-out performers during their run to the World Cup quarter-finals in October and has become a vital component for Gatland.
Gatland has again picked captain Sam Warburton at blindside flanker, while Justin Tipuric continues at number seven.
Jonathan Davies will win his 50th cap and lines up alongside Jamie Roberts at centre for the 41st time in Tests, with Anscombe offering cover across the back division from the bench.
“It’s great to see Jonathan reach his 50th cap and continue his impressive international partnership with Jamie in the midfield,” Gatland added.
“We were impressed with the impact from the bench last week and that will be just as vital this weekend in what is going to be a tough battle.”
Wales have beaten Scotland in eight successive Tests since Gatland took charge in 2008 and the Scots have not won in the Welsh capital since a 27-22 victory in 2002.
Welsh Grand Slam and Triple Crown hopes were nixed by the draw at the Aviva Stadium, but they remain strong candidates for the title, with three of their remaining four matches at home.
Saracens centre Duncan Taylor replaced Edinburgh’s Matt Scott in the only change to the Scotland team.
Scott has been ruled out with a thigh muscle injury sustained in training on Wednesday, enabling Taylor to come in for his first start since 2014 following two injury-hit seasons.
“This group have worked exceptionally hard this week to improve their accuracy under pressure after a frustrating opening game against England,” said head coach Vern Cotter.
“We created opportunities that could have been capitalised upon and converted into points. As a team we know we can perform better and believe we’re capable of making improvements all over the park.
“We know that Wales in Cardiff will not be easy, but our focus is on improving our attacking and defensive mindset.
Scotland team (15-1) announced on Thursday to play Wales in Saturday’s Six Nations match at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium (1650 GMT kick-off):
Stuart Hogg; Sean Maitland, Mark Bennett, Duncan Taylor, Tommy Seymour; Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw (capt); David Denton, John Hardie, John Barclay; Jonny Gray, Richie Gray; WP Nel, Ross Ford, Alasdair Dickinson
Replacements: Stuart McInally, Gordon Reid, Zander Fagerson, Tim Swinson, Blair Cowan, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Duncan Weir, Sean Lamon
Wales team (15-1) announced on Thursday for Saturday’s Six Nations match against Scotland at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium (1650 GMT kick-off):
Liam Williams; George North, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, Tom James; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Sam Warburton (capt); Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris; Samson Lee, Scott Baldwin, Rob Evans
Replacements: Ken Owens, Gethin Jenkins, Tomas Francis, Bradley Davies, Dan Lydiate, Lloyd Williams, Rhys Priestland, Gareth Anscombe
