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Wales have named their team for their Natwest 6 Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday with Josh Adams set to make his debut on the wing.
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The 22-year-old, who has scored 13 tries for Worcester this season, will earn his first cap at Principality Stadium and is joined by six Scarlets across the back-line.
Leigh Halfpenny and Steff Evans complete the back three alongside Adams with Hadleigh Parkes and Scott Williams partnering in the midfield. Rhys Patchell and Gareth Davies take their regional partnership onto the international stage.
Rob Evans, Ken Owens and Samson Lee pack down together with Cory Hill named alongside captain Alun Wyn Jones in the second row.
Aaron Shingler and Josh Navidi, who started alongside each other three times in the autumn, start with British & Irish Lion Ross Moriarty at No.8.
TEAM NEWS ??????? Wales name team for @SixNationsRugby opener against @Scotlandteam, with @JoshAdams951 set for debut. Gêm enfawr yn @principalitysta! https://t.co/PnCmyDtWAa #WALvSCO pic.twitter.com/LWVDnL3tdE
— Welsh Rugby Union ? (@WelshRugbyUnion) January 30, 2018
“The first-up game against Scotland this weekend is really important for us and this is a great chance for this group of players to get us off to a good start” said Wales Head Coach Warren Gatland.
“We have been watching Josh (Adams) closely, he is top try-scorer in the English Premiership and has been going well and we are excited for him.
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“Both Rhys (Patchell) and Gareth (Anscombe) have been training really well over the last couple of weeks. It was a tough call between them, Rhys has started most of his games for the Scarlets at ten, we are really happy with his form and the combination with Gareth at nine.”
Scotland captain John Barclay on facing Scarlets teammate Rhys Patchell
“We know what a quality player Ross (Moriarty) is, it’s great he is back and available and we are looking forward to seeing his explosive ball carrying on Saturday” Gatland added.
“For this opening game, we looked at a lot of combinations, especially the front-row. It is exciting to see Samson back playing well and the familiarity of the Scarlets front-row will be important.”
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Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones and Tomas Francis provide the front-row cover on the bench with Ospreys duo Bradley Davies and Justin Tipuric completing the forward contingent. Aled Davies, Gareth Anscombe and Owen Watkin provide the back-line cover.
WALES TEAM TO PLAY SCOTLAND (SATURDAY FEBRUARY 3 KO 14.15GMT)
Leigh Halfpenny (Scarlets) (74 Caps)
Josh Adams (Worcester) (*UNCAPPED)
Scott Williams (Scarlets) (51 Caps)
Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) (1 Cap)
Steff Evans (Scarlets) (5 Caps)
Rhys Patchell (Scarlets) (5 Caps)
Gareth Davies (Scarlets) (27 Caps)
Rob Evans (Scarlets) (20 Caps)
Ken Owens (Scarlets) (52 Caps)
Samson Lee (Scarlets) (34 Caps)
Cory Hill (Dragons) (10 Caps)
Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys) (113 Caps) CAPT
Aaron Shingler (Scarlets) (13 Caps)
Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) (7 Caps)
Ross Moriarty (Gloucester) (17 Caps)
Replacements:
Elliot Dee (Dragons) (2 Caps)
Wyn Jones (Scarlets) (5 Caps)
Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) (26 Caps)
Bradley Davies (Ospreys) (57 Caps)
Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) (52 Caps)
Aled Davies (Scarlets) (5 Caps)
Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) (11 Caps)
Owen Watkin (Ospreys) (2 Caps)
Wales haven’t lost to Scotland in Cardiff since 2002, and before last season’s 29-13 defeat at BT Murrayfield, they’d been on a nine-match winning run over their Celtic rivals.
