Schoeman, Nel to start for Scotland against Wales
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Gregor Townsend has named his squad to face Wales on Saturday in Cardiff in the second round of the 2022 Six Nations, where Grant Gilchrist will make his 50th appearance for Scotland.
The Edinburgh lock debuted for Scotland against France in 2013 and will lead the team out in Cardiff as vice-captain to complement his achievement.
Exactly 10 years on from his Scotland debut against Wales in Cardiff, Captain Stuart Hogg will mark the occasion with his 90th cap for his country in the same stadium.
Exeter Chiefs’ Jonny Gray will partner Gilchrist after making his return to the Scotland line-up in last Saturday’s thrilling 20-17 victory over England to retain the Calcutta Cup.
Gray’s Exeter teammate Sam Skinner will start the match in place of Jamie Ritchie in one of five changes from last weekend’s starting line-up. Ritchie has received surgery on a hamstring injury and will be out for the rest of the 2022 Six Nations Championship.
Edinburgh’s Hamish Watson retains his place in the back row with Glasgow Warriors’ No.8 Matt Fagerson also starting, fresh from his Player of the Match performance against England.
There are three changes in the front row with Edinburgh’s Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel starting alongside hooker Stuart McInally.
Glasgow Warriors’ Ali Price and Racing 92’s Finn Russell continue their partnership at 9 and 10 respectively.
There is only one change in the backline with Glasgow Warriors’ centre Sione Tuipulotu set to make his third Scotland appearance at inside centre. He’ll play alongside Gloucester’s Chris Harris, meanwhile Worcester Warriors’ wing Duhan van der Merwe also starts. Darcy Graham will line up on the other wing at the Millennium Stadium following his impressive performance against England.
Glasgow Warriors’ duo Zander Fagerson and George Turner will start the match on the bench alongside Worcester Warriors’ prop Rory Sutherland and Edinburgh’s Magnus Bradbury.
Glasgow Warriors’ flank Rory Darge will make his debut for his country if he comes off the bench, following an impressive season so far for the Scotstoun side.
Fresh from a dream debut, scrumhalf Ben White is once again an option from the bench along with Edinburgh’s Blair Kinghorn. Bath’s Cam Redpath will be aiming for his second Scotland cap after his making his Scotland debut against England last year at Twickenham.
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg (captain), 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Sam Skinner, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 WP Nel, 2 Stuart McInally, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Magnus Bradbury, 20 Rory Darge, 21 Ben White, 22 Blair Kinghorn, 23 Cameron Redpath.
Date: Saturday, February 12
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kick-off: 14.15 (14.15 GMT)
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant referees: Wayne Barnes (England), Chris Busby (Ireland)
TMO: Brett Cronan (Australia)
