Wales will name an unchanged starting XV for the first time in 66 Tests when they take on Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday. Interim head coach Matt Sherratt has opted to stick with the same lineup that delivered a strong performance against Ireland, despite falling short in a 27-18 defeat. This marks the first time since 2019 that Wales have retained the same XV for consecutive matches.
Sherratt highlighted the team’s cohesion and effort against Ireland, emphasizing the importance of consistency. “Firstly, I thought the performance was decent,” he said. “It’s a reward for that really. Probably across the board, there were some really good performances. I was keen to let them go again.”
Wales’ recent form has been difficult, with 15 consecutive defeats, but their spirited display against the Six Nations title contenders offered optimism. Their record at Murrayfield is strong, with six wins in their last eight visits to Edinburgh.
Sherratt acknowledged the challenge of maintaining intensity across consecutive matches, particularly with a high-stakes encounter against England looming. “I knew there would be an emotional response for Ireland. We’ve got England at home next week, last one in the Six Nations. That one looks after itself. This week was always going to be the test of the squad,” he said. “But what I sense from the players pretty early on is there is a determination to lift that emotion from the Principality Stadium and take it to Murrayfield.”
Wales have made two changes to their bench, with former captain Dewi Lake returning after recovering from biceps surgery and Cardiff prop Keiron Assiratti also included.
Scotland, meanwhile, make one change to their starting lineup, welcoming back Darcy Graham. The Edinburgh wing replaces Kyle Rowe after missing the 16-15 victory over England due to concussion protocols. Despite passing his head injury assessment before the Twickenham match, Scotland’s medical team opted to give him additional recovery time. Now fully fit, the 27-year-old Scotland’s second-highest try-scorer of all time returns to strengthen the backline.
Head coach Gregor Townsend has also adjusted his replacements, reverting to a 5-3 split on the bench. Forward Sam Skinner and back Jamie Dobie drop out of the matchday squad, with scrum-half George Horne and Kyle Rowe included among the substitutes.
Scotland are aiming for a third consecutive win over Wales in the Six Nations for the first time in the tournament’s history. With back-to-back losses against Ireland and England, they will be eager to bounce back and finish their campaign strongly.
