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Beard’s return to second row is Wales’ sole change for Scotland

Warren Gatland Inpho
Warren Gatland has made just one injury-enforced change to his starting XV as lock Adam Beard comes into the team to take on Scotland in Round Four of the Guinness Six Nations.

Warren Gatland has made just one injury-enforced change to his starting XV as lock Adam Beard comes into the team to take on Scotland in Round Four of the Guinness Six Nations.

Beard – who started the first two games of the Championship before coming off the bench against England in Cardiff – replaces the injured Cory Hill.

Hill scored the pivotal try in the second half of their win over England but an ankle injury has ruled him out of the Championship.

That means Beard – who is yet to taste defeat in his first 11 Test caps for his country – is back in the second row alongside skipper Alun Wyn Jones.

Jake Ball comes onto the bench as the lock cover but otherwise the matchday 23 is the same that downed England in such impressive style.

Rob Evans, Ken Owens and Tomas Francis again form the front row with Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric and Ross Moriarty named in the back row as Wales continue their hunt for a Grand Slam.

Gareth Davies and Gareth Anscombe start at scrum-half and fly-half respectively with Hadleigh Parkes and Jonathan Davies forming the midfield partnership.

Josh Adams, George North and Liam Williams line-up in the back-three.

Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith and Dillon Lewis provide the front row cover on the bench with Jake Ball and Aaron Wainwright completing the forward contingent. Aled Davies, Dan Biggar and Owen Watkin provide the backline cover.

WALES TEAM TO PLAY SCOTLAND (Saturday March 9 KO:14.15 on BBC & S4C)

15. Liam Williams (Saracens) 14. George North (Ospreys) 13. Jonathan Davies (Scarlets) 12. Hadleigh Parkes (Scarlets) 11. Josh Adams (Worcester Warriors) 10. Gareth Anscombe (Cardiff Blues) 9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets)

1. Rob Evans (Scarlets) 2. Ken Owens (Scarlets) 3. Tomas Francis (Exeter Chiefs) 4. Adam Beard (Ospreys) 5. Alun Wyn Jones (Capt) (Ospreys) 6. Josh Navidi (Cardiff Blues) 7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys) 8. Ross Moriarty (Dragons)

REPLACEMENTS:

16. Elliot Dee (Dragons) 17. Nicky Smith (Ospreys) 18. Dillon Lewis (Cardiff Blues) 19. Jake Ball (Scarlets) 20. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons) 21. Aled Davies (Ospreys) 22. Dan Biggar (Northampton Saints) 23. Owen Watkin (Ospreys)