Gregor Townsend has adjusted his Scotland selection with five starting changes and two additions to the bench as he manages injuries and seeks to strengthen the scrum and back three ahead of the Cardiff trip
Gregor Townsend has reshaped his Scotland side for the Guinness Men’s Six Nations trip to Cardiff, naming a 23-man squad on 19 February that mixes steady foundations with targeted changes. Facing Wales at the Principality Stadium on 24 February, Townsend has made five changes to the starting XV and tweaked the bench as he juggles form, fitness and a clear tactical brief.
Injury and availability – The biggest blow is Jamie Dobie, who will undergo shoulder surgery and is out for the rest of the tournament. Townsend also pointed to a number of ongoing injury concerns that forced other omissions and influenced the final 23.
Medical clearances and return-to-play protocols have been central to the selection process. – Rather than panic, the coach has used those absences to refresh certain areas while protecting the spine of the team.
Tactical intent Townsend’s message is straightforward: improve the platform early and lift Scotland’s aerial threat out wide.
That has translated into forward selections designed to tighten scrum and lineout performance, plus back-three choices picked for height, hang-time and counter-attacking pace. The halfback pairing remains unchanged to preserve attacking structure and game management.
Pack and set-piece focus – The front five have been adjusted to give Scotland a stronger start in the scrum and more reliable ball at the lineout. Nathan McBeth starts at loosehead with Zander Fagerson at tighthead, and Dave Cherry brings energy at hooker. Max Williamson earns a starting spot in the second row alongside Scott Cummings, with Grant Gilchrist named among the replacements. – The aim is practical: fewer missed throws, cleaner maul retention and quicker, more secure ball for the backs. That should shorten outside defenders’ workloads and create more attacking phases from which Scotland can build.
Backline and aerial game – Ben White and Finn Russell remain the halfback axis, pairing Premiership sharpness with creative flair. In midfield, captain Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones keep the collision and distribution responsibilities. – On the wings and at full-back Townsend has picked players who can deal with high balls and turn possession into momentum. Duhan van der Merwe starts on the left, Kyle Steyn keeps his place on the right after a strong performance last week, and Blair Kinghorn is named at full-back to add aerial presence and counter-attack threat.
Bench balance and game management Townsend’s bench includes specialists to shore up set-pieces and contest the air in the late stages. The replacements are arranged to manage cumulative fatigue and to offer tactical options: forwards who can change the dynamic at the breakdown and add punch through the middle, plus backs capable of shifting the tempo.
Potential risks Any reshuffle carries the danger of slightly weakened cohesion and temporary defensive misalignment. To counter that, Scotland will rely on clearer set-piece calls, disciplined kick-chase patterns and a measured rotation of minutes to protect fitness while keeping intensity high.
Who’s in the XV Scotland starting XV (caps): 15. Blair Kinghorn (63) 14. Kyle Steyn (30) 13. Huw Jones (60) 12. Sione Tuipulotu (35) – captain 11. Duhan van der Merwe (52) 10. Finn Russell (91) – vice-captain 9. Ben White (33) 1. Nathan McBeth (7) 2. Dave Cherry (17) 3. Zander Fagerson (78) 4. Max Williamson (11) 5. Scott Cummings (47) 6. Gregor Brown (14) 7. Rory Darge (36) – vice-captain 8. Matt Fagerson (61)
Replacements: George Turner, Pierre Schoeman, Elliot Millar Mills, Grant Gilchrist, Josh Bayliss, George Horne, Tom Jordan, Darcy Graham.
What this means going into Cardiff Townsend has chosen pragmatism over panicked tinkering. The selection is aimed at delivering a stronger first-half platform through scrummaging and lineout security, while injecting fresh legs and aerial competence out wide. If Scotland can nail the set-pieces early and maintain disciplined kick-chase, they should be able to exploit the pace and power on their flanks. Conversely, the side must manage the natural risks of change—mainly cohesion—and use the bench smartly to close out the game. How well that plan translates into the noise and pressure of the Principality Stadium will decide the night.
