Scotland make one change for Wales in Six Nations

Scotland head coach Vern Cotter has named a team with one change for this weekend’s Six Nations match against Wales in Cardiff on Saturday.

Saracens 26-year-old back Taylor comes in to the starting line up replacing Matt Scott and partnering Mark Bennett.

Scott injured his quad in training yesterday so he drops out of the squad and Sean Lamont comes into the team in the replacements.

The match will be Taylor’s fifth start in 14 caps for Scotland, and his first since the 2014 summer tour win over USA (24-6), with an untimely succession of injuries curtailing his involvement for the national team over the past two seasons.

Despite missing out on international opportunities, Taylor has excelled for his club side, building on their English Premiership title success last season with stirring performances in the current campaign.

All else is unchanged for the men in dark blue meaning Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour make up the back three, with the backs completed by Finn Russell and captain Greig Laidlaw.

The unchanged pack will again see John Barclay, John Hardie and David Denton in the back-row, and brothers Jonny and Richie Gray at lock, behind the all-Edinburgh Rugby front-row of Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford and Willem Nel.

Scotland Head Coach, Vern Cotter, said: “This group have worked exceptionally hard this week to improve their accuracy under pressure after a frustrating opening game against England.

“We created opportunities that could have been capitalised upon, and converted into points.

“As a team we know we can perform better and believe we’re capable of making improvements all over the park.

“We know that Wales in Cardiff will not be easy but our focus is on improving our attacking and defensive mindset.”
Scotland team to play Wales at Principality Stadium

Adam Ashe (shoulder), Fraser Brown (ankle), Alex Dunbar (posterior thigh), Grant Gilchrist (groin), Henry Pyrgos (wrist), Peter Horne (foot), Matt Scott (quad), Richie Vernon (Shoulder), Tim Visser (hamstring) were all unavailable due to injury.

Scotland

15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors), 14. Sean Maitland (London Irish) , 3. Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors) , 12. Duncan Taylor (Saracens) , 11. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) , 10. Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) , 9. Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester) (c), 8. David Denton (Bath Rugby) ,7. John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) , 6. John Barclay (Scarlets) ,5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) ,4. Richie Gray (Castres) ,3. Willem Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) , 2. Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) ,1. Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby) ,

Replacements : 16. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby) , 17. Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) , 18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) , 19. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) , 20. Blair Cowan (London Irish) , 21. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby) , 22. Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors) , 23. Sean Lamont (Glasgow Warriors)