Blog Banner

Lewis starts as Wales take on Scotland

International | 9th February 2023


Dillon Lewis has been promoted into Wales' starting line-up for the Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland on Saturday (KO 4.45pm).

The Cardiff prop is one of five changes made by Warren Gatland for the trip to BT Murrayfield, as Wales look to bounce back from last week's defeat to Ireland.

Academy graduate Lewis, who will move within three caps of his half century, is joined in the matchday 23 by five of his Blue and Blacks team-mate.

Liam Williams, Josh Adams and Tomos Williams are all retained in an unchanged backline, while Rhys Carré and Taulupe Faletau feature on the bench.

In addition to tighthead prop Lewis, further changes in the pack include Wyn Jones, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell and Christ Tshiunza.

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)

5. Adam Beard (Ospreys – 42 caps)

6. Christ Tshiunza (Exeter Chiefs – 3 caps)

7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers – 5 caps)

8. Jac Morgan (Ospreys – 7 caps)

Replacements

16. Scott Baldwin (Ospreys – 35 caps)

17. Rhys Carre (Cardiff Rugby – 18 caps)

18. Leon Brown (Dragons – 22 caps)

19. Rhys Davies (Ospreys – uncapped)

20. Taulupe Faletau (Cardiff Rugby – 96 caps)

21. Rhys Webb (Ospreys – 37 caps)

22. Rhys Patchell (Scarlets – 21 caps)

23. Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys – 56 caps)