Gabriel Hammer-Webb is set to make his Wales debut in this weekend’s Six Nations match against Scotland in Cardiff.
Head coach Steve Tandy made four changes to the team that suffered a crushing 54-12 loss to France last weekend.
Scarlets pair Sam Costelow and Tain Plumtree will be joined by Dragons lock Ben Carter. Adam Beard, Ellis Mee, Dan Edwards and Ollie Cracknell all dropped out of the squad permanently.
Gloucester Lock’s Freddie Thomas, Cardiff flanker James Botham and Scarlets full-back Blair Murray will be called up to the bench.
The most eye-catching announcement is the addition of 25-year-old Hamer Webb, who joined the Tigers from Cardiff last summer.
He joins Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams in a back three as Wales look to improve after conceding more than 100 points in their first two games in this year’s competition.
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Wales captain Dewi Lake has heaped praise on Louis Rees-Zammit, who has returned to the Six Nations after a stint in American football.
“We feel this is the best team to play against Scotland. We will need to be fresh going into the game with six days to play,” Tandy said.
“Gabe really impressed me with the way he approached training, the way he learned, the way he adapted and the way he just settled into the team. His approach to training was great.”
“And when you dig into his career at Leicester, even when he wasn’t in the team, everyone said he was a great team player. He also kept pushing, never gave up, and when he had the chance at Leicester, he grabbed it with both hands. And now this chance has come around, and it’s completely well-deserved.”
Wales play against Scotland
Wales starting 15: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit. 14 Gabriel Hammer Webb, 13 Eddie James, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Josh Adams. 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Tomos Williams. 1 Reece Carre, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 3 Thomas Francis, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 5 Ben Carter, 6 Tyne Plumtree, 7 Alex Mann, 8 Aaron Wainwright.
Alternatives:
16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 James Botham, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Blair Murray.
Townsend recalls Kinghorn and Van der Merwe for match against Wales
Duan van der Merwe (right) and Blair Kinghorn (left) both return to the Scotland squad for the next game against Wales
Blair Kinghorn and Duane van der Merwe have returned to Scotland’s starting XI for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match against Wales in Cardiff.
The British and Irish Lions duo were left out of the 23-man squad for the first two matches against Italy and England, with question marks surrounding their form.
Toulouse’s Kinghorn will start at full-back in place of the benched Tom Jordan, while Scotland’s top try-scorer Van der Merwe returns to the wing in place of the injured Jamie Dobbie.
There are three further changes to the XV that started last weekend’s 31-20 win over England, and they’re all in the pack.
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James Cole previews the third round of the Six Nations as Scotland have no excuses against Wales and England and Ireland’s sides are in jeopardy
Dave Cherry replaced George Turner at hooker, with Turner dropping to the bench.
Backfielders Jamie Ritchie and Jack Dempsey are absent through injury, with Matt Fagerson starting as number eight and versatile Gregor Brown, who started in the second row last weekend, moving to blindside flanker.
Glasgow lock Max Williamson will replace Brown in the second row.
Forwards Grant Gilchrist and Josh Bayliss return to the squad as substitutes, with Gregor Townsend once again on the bench for the 5-3.
Scotland national team plays against Wales
Scotland starting 15:
15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Hugh Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Duan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White. 1 Nathan McBeth, 2 Dave Cherry, 3 Xander Fagerson, 4 Max Williamson, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Gregor Brown, 7 Rory Durge, 8 Matt Fagerson.
Alternatives:
16 George Turner, 17 Pierre Schumann, 18 Elliott Miller Mills, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 George Horne, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Darcy Graham
