Six Nations: Lake on bench as Wales XV unchanged for Scotland
Image source, Huw Evans Picture AgencyDewi Lake is due to play his first Six Nations game since 2022 at Murrayfield
Men’s Six Nations: Scotland v Wales
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 8 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC One, BBC Sport website and app. Text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app. Listen live on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra.
Matt Sherratt has named an unchanged starting XV for Wales’ Six Nations trip to Scotland, while Dewi Lake and Keiron Assiratti are recalled to the bench.
Lake, who captained Wales during the 2024 summer tour and the autumn internationals, was called up to the squad after recovering from a bicep injury.
He takes the place of Evan Lloyd on the bench, with Elliot Dee the starting hooker, while tighthead prop Assiratti is preferred to Henry Thomas.
Sherratt has kept faith with the side which showed encouraging signs of improvement in his first game in interim charge against Ireland.
And should there be no late withdrawals, this would be the first time Wales have fielded an unchanged starting team since the 2019 World Cup against Georgia and Australia.
Dee is joined in the front row by Nicky Smith and WillGriff John who enjoyed some scrum dominance in the 27-18 defeat in Cardiff.
Will Rowlands will look to continue his return to form in the second row alongside Dafydd Jenkins, who along with Tommy Reffell are the only two survivors from Wales’ starting side who lost 27-26 to Scotland in last year’s Six Nations.
Reffell is the preferred open-side flanker option, with Aaron Wainwright once again named among the impact players. He is joined in the back-row by skipper Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau, who this week said he had not given up hope of a fourth tour with the British and Irish Lions this summer.
Gareth Anscombe has recovered from a head knock suffered against Ireland to partner Tomos Williams in the half-backs, with Max Llewellyn and Ben Thomas in the centre.
With Josh Adams ruled out with a hamstring problem, there is another opportunity for Scarlets trio Ellis Mee, Blair Murray and Tom Rogers to impress in a backline comprising of just 15 Test caps.
Wales travel to Murrayfield propping up the Six Nations table with three defeats, while Scotland are fourth after their opening round win over Italy.
“This week we’ve challenged ourselves to keep improving,” said Sherratt.
“We want to keep the same intent and bravery as we showed last time out, but making sure that we are building on our game.
“We’re excited for the challenge of playing Scotland in Edinburgh and can’t wait to get out there on Saturday.”
Wales: Murray; Rogers, Llewellyn, B Thomas, Mee; Anscombe, Tomos Williams; Smith, Dee, John, Rowlands, Jenkins, Morgan (capt), Reffell, Faletau.
Replacements: D Lake, G Thomas, Assiratti, Teddy Williams, Wainwright, R Williams, J Evans, Roberts.
