Dyer and Brown set for Scots challenge

09/02/2023

Head coach Warren Gatland has named his Wales senior men’s team to play Scotland on Saturday 11 February (KO 4.45pm live on BBC and S4C) in the second round of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations - and he names Dragons RFC duo Rio Dyer and Leon Brown in the match day squad.

There are six changes, one positional, to the Wales XV that faced Ireland last weekend.

Dafydd Jenkins will make his first start for Wales, partnering Adam Beard in the second row. Wyn Jones, named at loose-head prop, 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. Christ Tshiunza will start at blind-side flanker and make his Guinness Six Nations debut. Tommy Reffell is 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 tighthead 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 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 senior men’s team to face Scotland in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, Saturday 11 February KO 4.45pm GMT. Live on BBC and S4C.

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) captain

3. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Rugby – 46 caps)

4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs – 2 caps)