Guinness men’s Six Nations: Scotland v Wales
Venue: British Gas Murrayfield Date: Saturday, 8 March Kick-off: 16:45 GMT
Coverage: Watch on BBC One, listen on Radio 5 Live, BBC Radio Scotland & BBC Sounds; text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and app
Darcy Graham returns to the Scotland XV to face Wales in Saturday’s Six Nations encounter as Gregor Townsend makes one change to the side that lost in a dramatic finale to England.
The Edinburgh wing missed the match at Twickenham after being concussed during the defeat by Ireland in the second match of the tournament.
He replaces Glasgow Warriors’ Kyle Rowe, who drops to the bench.
Following his player-of-the-match performance against England, Duhan van der Merwe starts on the opposite wing, while Huw Jones and Tom Jordan make up the centre partnership for the third game in a row.
Scrum-half Ben White will be looking to score a try in his fourth Six Nations game running.
Pierre Schoeman, Dave Cherry and Zander Fagerson again comprise the front row, having done likewise against England and Italy.
Prop Rory Sutherland has recovered from the back injury that ruled him out against England and takes his place on the bench, which has a 5-3 split.
Graham return not unexpected – analysis
Tom English, BBC Scotland’s chief sports writer
Rowe has done a fine job in Graham’s absence, but the minute that Townsend was confident of the latter’s fitness then he was always going to return.
Graham made a blistering start to the Six Nations with a line-break that was the turning point of the game. He was on fire.
Missing the England game and much of the Ireland match has damaged his Lions hopes, but he’s back now. As well as trying to rescue Scotland’s season, the Lions will be on his mind for sure.
Graham has the oddest of records against Wales. He’s scored against them in 2019, 2021 and 2022 – all losses.
He didn’t score against them in his other appearance – in 2020 – and Scotland won. Graham missed the victories in 2023 and 2024. He’ll be motivated to the high heavens on Saturday.
Scotland line-up to face Wales
Starting XV: Blair Kinghorn (Toulouse), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors), Tom Jordan (Glasgow Warriors), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh), Finn Russell, co-captain (Bath), Ben White (Toulon); Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh), Dave Cherry (Edinburgh), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), Jonny Gray (Bordeaux Begles), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Rory Darge, co-captain (Glasgow Warriors), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh), Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers), Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors), Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors).
