Six Nations: Scotland v Wales
Kick-off: 4.45pm, Saturday. Venue: Murrayfield. How to follow: The Irish Times liveblog will begin at 4.15pm. On TV: Live on Virgin Media One.
George North’s hopes of winning his 100th Wales cap on Saturday have been dashed by injury.
North had been set for a third successive start at outside centre in Wales’ Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland.
Head coach Wayne Pivac said that North had overcome the problem with his eye suffered during a 21-16 victory over Ireland last weekend and was now sidelined by a foot injury.
“George’s eye injury that he had, he is over that, which is pleasing,” Pivac said. “He has got a foot injury, and hopefully he will be right for the England game.
With North’s fellow centres Johnny Williams and Jonathan Davies also absent, Pivac has turned to Nick Tompkins and Owen Watkin as his midfield partnership at Murrayfield.
New Zealand-born Cardiff Blues centre Willis Halaholo, who qualifies for Wales through residency and was only called into Wales’ Six Nations squad on Wednesday, is among the replacements.
Centre Williams and wing Hallam Amos are unavailable because of head injuries suffered in the Ireland game, while that fixture also claimed scrum-half Tomos Williams (hamstring) and flanker Dan Lydiate (knee), in addition to North.
Liam Williams returns from a three-match ban to replace Amos, with Gareth Davies taking the number nine shirt and Aaron Wainwright called into the back row as Pivac makes five enforced changes.
Scarlets flanker Josh Macleod would have replaced Lydiate and won his first cap, but he was injured in training, while fellow flanker Josh Navidi is also injured.
James Botham — grandson of England cricket great Sir Ian Botham — joins Halaholo on the bench. He won three caps during Wales’ Autumn Nations Cup campaign.
Despite missing the Scotland game, 28-year-old North will still break Australia captain Michael Hooper’s record as the youngest player to reach a century of caps for their country if he plays against England on February 27th.
The loss of so many frontline players, though, presents Pivac with a major test of his squad depth as Wales prepare to tackle England’s resurgent Calcutta Cup conquerors.
“We have to feel extremely disappointed for Josh (Macleod), who we selected to start and to win his first cap, only to be ruled out later that day through injury,” Pivac said.
“It is a quick six-day turnaround this week, but we are looking forward to getting back out there.
“We have picked up a couple of injuries, but we see it as more of an opportunity for those coming into the side.”
Macleod, meanwhile, suffered a serious injury during training and faces a number of months on the sidelines.
Pivac added: “He ruptured his Achilles tendon in a training session. He was named in the team, and then to go out training half an hour later and be stretchered off was not great for him, not great for any of us.
“We are sad and disappointed for Josh, first and foremost. A debut against Scotland would have been something he has dreamt of.”
Meanwhile, Gregor Townsend has been forced into three changes with flanker Jamie Ritchie, centre Cameron Redpath and winger Sean Maitland all dropping out through injury following last weekend’s memorable victory over England.
Scarlets backrow forward Blade Thomson, Harlequins midfielder James Lang and Edinburgh winger Darcy Graham come into the side for the BT Murrayfield encounter.
All three played in Scotland’s Six Nations win over Wales in October, which was their first away win against their opponents in 18 years.
Head coach Townsend said: “It was a very encouraging performance at Twickenham and the squad performed to a level which has to be the benchmark throughout the tournament.
“Wales are also coming into this game after a win and will have the same objective, so it will be a tough challenge as always.
“Both teams were involved in physical contests last weekend, and that is evidenced by the injuries Wales and we ourselves have picked up.
“For us, we are able to bring in three quality players in Blade, James and Darcy. They have been training well and are highly motivated to make the most of this opportunity.”
Townsend’s bench is unchanged following last Saturday’s 11-6 triumph, Scotland’s first win at Twickenham for 38 years.
Wales: L Halfpenny (Scarlets); L Rees-Zammit (Gloucester), O Watkin (Ospreys), N Tompkins (Dragons), L Williams (Scarlets); D Biggar (Northampton), G Davies (Scarlets); W Jones (Scarlets), K Owens (Scarlets), T Francis (Exeter), A Beard (Ospreys), A W Jones (Ospreys, capt), A Wainwright (Dragons), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Bath).
Replacements: E Dee (Dragons), R Jones (Ospreys), L Brown (Dragons), W Rowlands (Wasps), J Botham (Cardiff Blues), K Hardy (Scarlets), C Sheedy (Bristol), W Halaholo (Cardiff Blues).
Scotland: S Hogg; D Graham, C Harris, J Lang, D van der Merwe; F Russell, A Price; R Sutherland, G Turner, Z Fagerson, S Cummings, J Gray, B Thomson, H Watson, M Fagerson.
Replacements: D Cherry, O Kebble, WP Nel, R Gray, G Graham, S Steele, J van der Walt, H Jones.
