Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made one change to his starting line-up to take on Scotland in Saturday’s Six Nations clash at Murrayfield.
The Grand Slam contenders are without Cory Hill after his injured his ankle during the 21-13 win over England ten days ago, meaning Ospreys lock Adam Beard will partner captain Alun Wyn Jones in the second row.
With 11-cap Beard promoted from the bench, Scarlets forward Adam Ball takes his place as Wales seek a 13th consecutive win in Test rugby.
Gareth Anscombe remains the preferred choice to start at fly-half despite Dan Biggar‘s impressive impact off the replacements’ bench as Wales swept aside England with a dominant second-half performance.
Leigh Halfpenny’s recovery after spending three months on the sidelines with concussion-related symptoms continues to bring him closer to a Wales recall, after turning out for the Scarlets again in their 10-6 victory over Munster last weekend.
But Ospreys centre Owen Watkin is named the utility back replacement in a five-three split, which sees Aled Davies chosen as the back-up scrum-half.
The last time Wales met Scotland at Murrayfield in the 2017 Six Nations, tries by wing duo Tommy Seymour and Tim Visser meant the hosts bested Gatland’s men 29-13.
Wales squad to play Scotland in the Guinness Six Nations (Saturday, Murrayfield, KO 14:15)
Wales: 15 Liam Williams, 14 George North, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Hadleigh Parkes, 11 Josh Adams, 10 Gareth Anscombe, 9 Gareth Davies; 1 Rob Evans, 2 Ken Owens, 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Adam Beard, 5 Alun Wyn Jones (capt), 6 Josh Navidi, 7 Justin Tipuric, 8 Ross Moriarty
Replacements: 16 Elliott Dee, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Jake Ball, 20 Aaron Wainwright, 21 Aled Davies, 22 Dan Biggar, 23 Owen Watkin
