Scotland have dropped long-time captain and totem Greig Laidlaw to the bench in favour of Ali Price as Gregor Townsend made significant changes to the team to take on Wales in the Guinness 6 Nations on Saturday.
The 34-year-old skipper is one of three players to be axed after the 27-10 loss to France in Paris, with centre Sam Johnson also omitted. Peter Horne moves to inside centre with Finn Russell returning, while WP Nel also comes back from the injury sustained against Italy.
The other changes see Darcy Graham come in for the injured Sean Maitland, but the significant change is Price for Laidlaw, the first time the Glasgow Warriors scrum-half has been preferred to the veteran since the opening game of the 2018 6 Nations – again against Wales.
Hamish Watson comes back but only the bench, as Nel is the only change in the starting pack, while Nick Grigg is retained instead of Johnson, who drops out of the matchday squad altogether.
Scotland team: Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh); Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Nick Grigg (Glasgow Warriors), Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby); Finn Russell (Racing 92), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors); Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby), Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby, capt), WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby); Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors); Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby), Josh Strauss (Sale Sharks).
BREAKING | Jonny Gray and Tommy Seymour will make their 50th appearance in a Scotland side – that features four changes – against Wales in the Guinness Six Nations this Saturday at BT Murrayfield (kick-off 2.15pm) – live on BBC.
4️⃣ ➡️ Russell, Price, Graham & Nel all start pic.twitter.com/BflNT5FtNp
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) March 7, 2019
Replacements: Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Gordon Reid (London Irish), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh Rugby), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont-Auvergne), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Bryon McGuigan (Sale Sharks).
