Scotland Six Nations team to face Wales: Enforced changes, the back-row conundrum, what to do with duo

This is in stark contrast to this time last week, when Scotland’s Six Nations hopes were being downplayed in the wake of losing 18-15 to Italy in Rome. The defeat also turned the spotlight on head coach Gregor Townsend’s future. No such talk right now.

Of course, all that could change with the fickle nature of sport. Scotland are now expected to head to Cardiff on Saturday and record a win over Wales, who sit bottom of the standings and are struggling for form and confidence. A positive result would keep Scotland in the hunt for a Triple Crown and the Six Nations title itself.

Scotland are spending the first part of this week at a warm-weather training camp in Spain. It will permit Townsend and his coaches to mull over their team for the Wales match. With injuries, changes will be required. This is also Scotland’s third match in as many weeks. The boss may want to freshen it up in any case.

We take a look at what selection posers Townsend faces for round three of the Six Nations:

The front row

Townsend sprang a surprise in the front row by starting Nathan McBeth at loosehead prop over Pierre Schoeman. The latter came on after 49 minutes and helped Scotland see out the win over England. While McBeth played his part, the scrum was probably Scotland’s weakest sector, with the English winning a couple of penalties from them.

With that in mind, Schoeman’s experience may come into Townsend’s thinking for Cardiff.

George Turner did well at hooker in place of Ewan Ashman. Scotland’s lineout was far more secure than it was in Rome. It is hard to see any change at tighthead prop considering Zander Fagerson’s importance to pack at set-plays and at the breakdown.

The rest of the forwards

Townsend will need to reconfigure his back row after two important players picked up injuries against England.

No 8 Jack Dempsey has a bicep issue and there are fears his tournament could be over. Flanker Jamie Ritchie hurt his knee at the end of the first half and he is heavy odds-against not to be fit for Wales.

Both men played really well against England and while Scotland are blessed with options at flanker, replacing Dempsey’s raw power and physicality will be challenging.

His Glasgow Warriors teammate Matt Fagerson can play at No 8 and appears the most likely switch. He was dropped from the team that lost to Italy but did well in the second half against England. Edinburgh’s Magnus Bradbury could also be an option.

Townsend is not short of options at flanker. The in-form Rory Darge should be selected. A straight swap for Ritchie could be made by bringing in Fagerson, Josh Bayliss or young Freddy Douglas, or there may be a temptation to move the versatile Gregor Brown from lock into the back row. If Townsend does that, Max Williamson - who came on against England - or the vastly experienced Grant Gilchrist could come in at second row and partner Scott Cummings.

Brown is likely to start after a strong display against England - as long as he recovers from a “stinger” picked up on Saturday. Where he slots in will allow other pieces of the jigsaw to be filled.

The wing kings

Townsend stuck with with wingers Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie despite their underwhelming displays against Italy. That faith was rewarded. Steyn was named man of the match against England and Dobie put in one helluva shift.

Steyn will surely keep his place against Wales. Dobie’s inclusion is less certain. The Glasgow man picked up a blow to the shoulder and he is not a shoo-in to feature in Cardiff.

Darcy Graham came off the bench for Dobie against England and while he didn’t get a chance to run properly at the visitors, he was excellent in defence. It feels like Graham is ahead of Duhan van der Merwe in the pecking order, even if the big winger’s finishing ability might come in handy against a Wales team that has conceded more than 100 points in two matches.

Jordan v Kinghorn

Full-back continues to be a talking point when it comes to Scotland. Tom Jordan was retained for the visit of England and he played well. Some wanted Blair Kinghorn to be reinstated but as it was, the 29-year-old wasn’t missed.

Kinghorn ended up playing the full 80 minutes for his club side Toulouse on Sunday night as they picked up an important 13-9 French Top 14 win away at Stade Francais. By all accounts, he played well at No 15.

It would be harsh to remove Jordan from post after an assured display against England. The temptation, however, may come from having a more attack-minded full-back on the pitch. Kinghorn’s ball-carrying abilities would ask questions of Wales, of that there is no doubt.

But after not being named in the matchday squad for the first two games, like Van der Merwe it would be a noteworthy decision to reinstate Kinghorn.

My Scotland team: T Jordan; K Steyn, S Tuipulotu, H Jones, D Graham; F Russell, B White; P Schoeman, G Turner, Z Fagerson, S Cummings, M Williamson, G Brown, R Darge, M Fagerson.

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