Wales vs Scotland: Josh Adams to make Six Nations debut as Warren Gatland names 10 Scarlets player in starting XV
Worcester Warriors wing will make his first start for Wales in the championship curtain-raiser against Scotland at the Principality Stadium
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Your support makes all the difference.Warren Gatland is “excited” to see what Josh Adams can do at Test level after the Worcester Warriors wing was named in the Wales Rugby starting line-up for this Saturday’s Six Nations curtain-raiser against Scotland Rugby.
The 22-year-old will make his debut for Wales after excelling in the Premiership this season, leading the way with nine tries in his 13 league appearances this season, with George North and Liam Williams both absent from the squad through injury.
“We have been watching Josh closely, he is top try scorer in the English Premiership and has been going well and we are excited for him,” Gatland said, with the Wales head coach also naming 10 Scarlets players in the starting XV.
“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."
Among the 10 players hailing from the reigning Pro14 champions is fly-half Rhys Patchell, who takes the No 10 shirt despite having just five caps to his name as both Dan Biggar and Rhys Priestland are ruled out with shoulder and hamstring injuries respectively, with Gareth Anscombe of the Cardiff Blues providing cover among the replacements.
“Both Rhys and Gareth have been training really well over the last couple of weeks,” Gatland added. “It was a tough call between them, Rhys has started most of his games for the Scarlets at 10, we are really happy with his form and the combination with Gareth [Davies] at nine.”
With North and Williams ruled out of the opener, Leigh Halfpenny starts at full-back with Steff Evans on the left wing, meaning that Hallam Amos is left out having only just returned to training. New Zealand-born Hadleigh Parkes continues at centre alongside Scott Williams after making his debut in the autumn international victory over South Africa last month, with Jonathan Davis another absentee after suffering a foot injury that has already ended his season in November.
Gatland is able to call on his strongest front-row as the Scarlets trio of Rob Evans, Ken Owens and Samson Lee all start, with captain Alun Wyn Jones set to win his 114th cap in the second-row alongside Cory Hill. Lee missed the autumn internationals as he struggled with a nagging Achilles injury, but he has returned to club action this month and proven his fitness to Gatland to earn an immediate recall.
“For this opening game, we looked at a lot of combinations, especially the front-row,” said Gatland. “It is exciting to see Samson back playing well and the familiarity of the Scarlets front-row will be important.”
However, that is where the familiarity among the forwards ends, as a spate of back-row injuries has left Gatland somewhat limited on options, though there is still enough talent to pick from to ensure neither British and Irish Lion Justin Tipuric nor in-form Scarlets openside James Davies – younger brother of Jonathan – make the team.
Instead, Gatland sticks with Aaron Shingler at blindside flanker with Josh Navidi preferred in the No 7 shirt, while Gloucester’s Ross Moriarty is selected at No 8 despite missing nearly the entirety of this season so far with a back injury that he suffered on the Lions tour.
“We know what a quality player Ross is, it's great he is back and available and we are looking forward to seeing his explosive ball carrying on Saturday,” noted Gatland, who has selected Tipuric as back-row cover ahead of Davies, along with his Ospreys teammates Bradley Davies and Owen Watkin. Elliot Dee covers Owens at hooker with props Wyn Jones and Tomas Francis also named, while Scarlet Aled Davies will cover his club colleague Davies at scrum-half.
Wales team to face Scotland
Leigh Halfpenny; Josh Adams, Scott Williams, Hadleigh Parkes, Steff Evans; Rhys Patchell, Gareth Davies; Rob Evans, Ken Owens, Samson Lee; Cory Hill, Alun Wyn Jones; Aaron Shingler, Josh Navidi, Ross Moriarty.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Wyn Jones, Tomas Francis, Bradley Davies, Justin Tipuric, Aled Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Owen Watkin.
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