Jones trio and Sidoli drafted for Scotland
The RBS Six Nations second round clash against Scotland on Saturday will see ‘Hair Bear’ props Duncan and Adam Jones come into the front row for Worcester’s Chris Horsman and the Blues’ Gethin Jenkins, the latter moving to the bench.
Ian Gough (Dragons) also moves to the replacements bench and his place in the second row is taken by Blues lock Robert Sidoli. The final change comes in the backline where Jenkins has replaced the injured Hal Luscombe with Scarlets wing Mark Jones.
“We’ve kept 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. “Hal injured his knee against the Irish and Mark’s return to full fitness has come just at the right time for us.
“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; we have gone for both Adam and Duncan (Jones) to give us the kind of impetus and freshness we will require 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.”
Wales Captain and fly half Stephen Jones, fullback Kevin Morgan, lock Sidoli and back row Martyn Williams are the four members of the starting XV this weekend who played in the last defeat to Scotland at Murrayfield on March 8th 2003.
Four years ago Scotland ran out 30-22 winners, but rank just two victories to Wales’s five in all-time RBS Six Nations meetings, with just one of those being at home.
“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 underrated, they can be especially dangerous at home and we will not be going into this game underestimating them.
“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 RBS Six Nations trophy challenge back on track.”
Wales: 15. Kevin Morgan (Dragons), 14. Mark Jones (Scarlets), 13. Jamie Robinson (Blues), 12. James Hook (Ospreys), 11. Chris Czekaj (Blues), 10. Stephen Jones (Scarlets, Captain), 9. Dwayne Peel (Scarlets), 1. Duncan Jones (Ospreys), 2. T Rhys Thomas (Blues), 3. Adam Jones (Ospreys), 4. Robert Sidoli (Blues), 5. Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), 6. Alix Popham (Scarlets), 7. Martyn Williams (Blues), 8. Ryan Jones (Ospreys)
Replacements: 16. Matthew Rees (Scarlets), 17. Gethin Jenkins (Blues), 18. Ian Gough (Dragons), 19. Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys), 20. Michael Phillips (Blues), 21. Ceri Sweeney (Dragons), 22. Tom Shanklin (Blues)
