Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn earn Scotland recall among five changes for Wales clash

Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn have been recalled to the Scotland back three as part of five changes for the trip to Cardiff to take on Wales.

Scotland’s Six Nations campaign appeared to be heading off the rails after just one match, with head coach Gregor Townsend coming under huge scrutiny following the disheartening opening defeat to Italy in Rome.

However, as they have done with remarkable frequency over the past few years, the Scots produced a simply breathtaking Calcutta Cup display in response to demolish England 31-20 and reignite hopes of a successful championship. For that to be the case, victory over a dismal Wales side who look completely lost is a must, even though Scotland’s record at the Principality Stadium isn’t great –with just one win in their last 12 matches there.

That was the most recent Cardiff encounter in 2024, however, and even though Scotland have trouble following up wins over England with a performance (of their seven victories against the Auld Enemy since 2001, they have lost their next match on six occasions), this game against Steve Tandy’s beleaguered side feels too good an opportunity to miss.

Explosive winger Van der Merwe comes into the starting XV in the place of the injured Jamie Dobie, while full-back Tom Jordan drops to the bench to accommodate Kinghorn’s selection, with the two British and Irish Lions returning to the fray having not been selected for either of the first two Tests.

Back rowers Jack Dempsey and Matt Ritchie were also ruled out through injury earlier this week, so Matt Fagerson comes in at No 8 and Max Williamson starts in the second row alongside Scott Cummings, with Gregor Brown moving from lock to blindside flanker.

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The final change sees Dave Cherry starting at hooker, with George Turner dropping to the bench, while Josh Bayliss and Grant Gilchrist are added to the replacements as the other two switches to the 23 that took on England.

Townsend has once again opted for a 5:3 bench split as George Horne and Darcy Graham join Jordan as back cover, while Pierre Schoeman and Elliot Millar Mills are the prop replacements, joining hooker Turner, lock Gilchrist and back rower Bayliss as the pack options.

Scotland XV: 1 Nathan McBeth, 2 Dave Cherry, 3 Zander Fagerson; 4 Max Williamson, 5 Scott Cummings; 6 Gregor Brown, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Matt Fagerson; 9 Ben White, 10 Finn Russell; 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (capt.), 13 Huw Jones, 14 Kyle Steyn; 15 Blair Kinghorn.

Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 Josh Bayliss; 21 George Horne, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Darcy Graham.