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Scotland make three changes to their team to play Wales
By Online Editors
Scotland boss Gregor Townsend has made three changes for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match against Wales.
Having ended France’s Grand Slam hopes with a resounding success last Sunday at BT Murrayfield, Townsend had responded to the six-day turnaround between games by re-energising his pack for the trip to Cardiff.
Stuart McInally, a try scorer off the bench versus the French, will start in place of the now benched Fraser Brown at hooker, Sam Skinner comes in at lock for Scott Cunnings who drops to the bench while Magnus Bradbury takes over at No8 from the ill Nick Haining.
Matt Fagerson comes into the matchday squad to take the place among the replacements vacated by the promoted Bradbury.
Scotland boss Gregor Townsend said: “We set out this season to improve our consistency over a run of five tough games, something we have done well so far.
“We’ve stayed in the fight in every game, which is a credit to how hard the players have worked in training and during the Tests.
“It’s also been encouraging to see how well the players have grown together and have taken on board the input from new coaches, Steve (Tandy) and Pieter (de Villiers), who have done a great job in their first season with the team.
“We have huge respect for the Welsh team, who narrowly missed out on a World Cup final a few months ago. They are well-coached and have some outstanding players.
“It will be a fantastic occasion and one last opportunity to play to our potential in this championship.”
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Latest Comments
33, unlikely?
It’s actually an interesting question, how does his RL career impact you perception of his ‘rugby age’?
I’d imagine he’s fresher than a 26 yo rugby player, he’s fitting and done more k’s, but had less impacts (unsure of his injuries).
Anyway, your conclusion doesn’t really hit the mark. What you’ve not asked yourself is would he be better at 33, with 6 years under his belt, than 28/9, and only 2 years experience. If he really is considering it a major goal of course, he may just want an Olympic medal and leave etc.
Still, in relation to your topic, what I suspected would be his thinking is the ever increasing value in playing in Japan. Perhaps he’d try and give this first WC a go, trying to make it in the All Blacks, obviously playing Super Rugby, then he’d take a much bigger contract in Japan? Learn how to run around people with better accuracy and consistency (rofl), and then return to NZ as an improved player to Australia 2027, with the hope to fine tune further and make the most of his marketability in the bonanza that America 2031 is going to leave behind. 33 is still prime earning age and who knows what the MLR market is going to be like them, if teams have started to have major backers etc.
It’s all about the money afterall (yes, I wasn’t referring to his ability re USA31’)!
Go to commentsNo, just an overly zealous fan who doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
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