Gareth Jenkins has made four changes to the Wales side for the RBS Six Nations Round 2 clash against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday (Kick-off 3.30pm).
Ian Gough’s place in the second row is taken by Blues lock Robert Sidoli, whilst Martyn Williams, Rhys Thomas, Jamie Robinson and Chris Czekaj all keep their places in the Wales team.
Gethin Jenkins moves to the replacements bench alongside Tom Shanklin and Mike Phillips.
“We’ve said same again to most of the back-line that faced Ireland and given them the chance to add a more clinical edge to what they achieved last weekend, with Mark Jones as the only change providing a welcome boost in Hal’s absence,” said Jenkins.
“We are also pleased to name Tom Shanklin on the bench, who should play some part in proceedings on Saturday, although his recent injury has left him a little short of match practice.
“In the forwards we are blessed with an abundance of talent at prop and we have gone for both Adam and Duncan (Jones) to give us the kind of impetus and freshness we will require there in light of the six-day turnaround before this fixture.
“Chris (Horsman) and Gethin (Jenkins) both did their jobs well last weekend, but we are lucky to be able to utilise the strength in depth we have in their respective areas.
“In the second row Ian Gough also gives way to a fresher Rob Sidoli in another selection choice which is testimony to the talent available in this squad.”
“We may have lost the first battle of the Championship, but that doesn’t mean our campaign is over by any means,” added Jenkins.
“Scotland are not a side to be under-estimated, they can be especially dangerous at home and we will not be going into this game under-estimating them.
“But there were many positive points to take from our performance against Ireland and we will be looking to the Scotland game for a marked improvement and to get our Six Nations trophy challenge back on track.”
Cardiff Blues season ticket holders are invited to apply to the ticket office for tickets for this weekend’s Scotland v Wales RBS 6 Nations fixture at Murrayfield.
There are a selection of tickets for this game available as from today. Ticket prices vary from £30 to £45 to £60.
Tickets are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, to apply call 029 2030 2030 with your season ticket number.
Wales Team: Kevin Morgan (Dragons), Mark Jones (Scarlets), Jamie Robinson (Blues), James Hook (Ospreys), Chris Czekaj (Blues), Stephen Jones (Scarlets, c), Dwayne Peel (Scarlets), Duncan Jones (Ospreys), T Rhys Thomas (Blues), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Robert Sidoli (Blues), Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Alix Popham (Scarlets), Martyn Williams (Blues), Ryan Jones (Ospreys)
Replacements: Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Ian Gough (Dragons), Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), Michael Phillips (Blues), Ceri Sweeney (Dragons), Tom Shanklin (Blues)
Wales Squad Profiles
15 Kevin MORGAN (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 23.02.77. 5’10”. 13st 4lbs
International record: 40 caps (W23, L16, D 1; 55 pts – 11T)
14 Mark JONES (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 07.11.79. 6’2″. 13st 7lbs
International record: 25 caps (W 10, L 13, D 2; 50 pts – 10T)
13 Jamie ROBINSON (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 07.04.80. 6’2″. 15st 0lbs
International record: 16 caps (W 6, L 10; 25 pts – 5T)
12 James HOOK (OSPREYS)
DoB: 27.06.85. 6’0″. 12st 11lbs
International record: 7 caps (W 2, L 4, D 1; 51 pts – 2T, 13C, 5PG)
11 Chris CZEKAJ (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 14.12.85. 6’3″. 15st 12lbs
International record: 3 caps (W 1, L 2; 5 pts – 1T)
10 Stephen JONES (LLANELLI SCARLETS, CAPTAIN)
DoB: 08.12.77. 6’1″. 14st 12lbs
International record: 59 caps (W 26, L 31, D 2; 521 pts – 6T, 91C, 100P, 3DG)
9 Dwayne PEEL (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 31.08.81. 5’9″. 13st 8lbs
International record: 49 caps (W 22, L 25, D 2; 25 pts – 5T)
1 Duncan JONES (OSPREYS)
DoB: 18.09.78. 6’0″. 17st 4lbs
International record: 34 caps (W 14, L 18, D 2)
2 Thomas Rhys THOMAS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 23.04.82. 6’0″. 16st 6lbs
International record: 15 caps (W 7, L 7, D 1)
3 Adam Rhys JONES (OSPREYS)
DoB: 08.03.81. 6’0″. 19st 0lbs
International record: 37 caps (W 19, L 16, D 2; 5 pts – 1T)
4 Robert SIDOLI (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 21.06.79. 6’6″. 18st 2lbs
International record: 38 caps (W 17, L 20, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)
5 Alun-Wyn JONES (OSPREYS)
DoB: 19.09.85. 6’5″. 17st 0lbs
International record: 6 caps (W 2, L 4)
6 Alix POPHAM (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 17.10.79. 6’3″. 17st 4lbs
International record: 20 caps (W 8, L 11, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)
7 Martyn WILLIAMS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 01.09.75. 6’0″. 15st 8lbs
International record: 66 caps (W 29, L 34, D 3; 53 pts – 10T, 1DG)
8 Ryan JONES (OSPREYS)
DoB: 13.03.81. 6’5″. 17st 10lbs
International record: 12 caps (W 7, L 4, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)
16 Matthew REES (LLANELLI SCARLETS)
DoB: 09.12.80. 6’2″. 15st 11lbs
International record: 6 caps (W 2, L 3, D 1; 5 pts – 1T)
17 Gethin JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 17.11.80. 6’2″. 19st 0lbs
International record: 41 caps (W 16, L 23, D 2; 15 pts – 3T)
18 Ian GOUGH (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 10.11.76. 6′ 5″. 17st 4lbs
International record: 36 caps (W 15, L 18, D 3; 5 pts – 1T)
19 Jonathan THOMAS (OSPREYS)
DoB: 27.12.82. 6’5″. 16st 10lbs
International record: 28 caps (W 14, L 12, D 2; 30 pts – 6T)
20 Michael PHILLIPS (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 29.08.82. 6’3″. 14st 0lbs
International record: 18 caps (W 9, L 8, D 1; 10 pts – 2T)
21 Ceri SWEENEY (NEWPORT GWENT DRAGONS)
DoB: 21.01.80. 5’10”. 13st 7lbs
International record: 29 caps (W 15, L 14; 84 pts – 4T, 23C, 5PG, 1DG)
22 Tom SHANKLIN (CARDIFF BLUES)
DoB: 24.11.79. 6’2″. 15st 7lbs
International record: 36 caps (W 16, L 19, D 1; 80 pts – 16T)
Welsh Rugby’s ’50 Cap’ Club
92 – Gareth Llewellyn (1989-2004)
90 – Gareth Thomas (1995-2007)*
87 – Neil Jenkins (1991-2002)
84 – Colin Charvis (1996-2007)*
72 – Ieuan Evans (1987-1998)
66 – Martyn Williams (1996-2007)*
59 – Rob Howley (1996-2002)
59 – Stephen Jones (1998-2007)*
58 – Garin Jenkins (1991-2002)
55 – JPR Williams (1969-1981)
54 – Robert Jones (1986-1995)
53 – Gareth Edwards (1967-1978)
53 – Scott Gibbs (1991-2001)
52 – Scott Quinnell (1993-2002)
52 – Mark Taylor (1998-2006)
51 – David Young (1987-2001)
* Still current internationals