Thu 1 Feb 2024 | 02:42
Scotland and Wales finalise teams to compete in Six Nations opening weekend

Wales versus Scotland is always a cracker. Traditionally the Welsh would enter the fixture as comfortable favourites, but recently it's been the turn of Scotland to exert power over their blue challengers.

In 2024, it's expected to go much the same way, with Wales at the start of a rebuild, and Scotland boasting a formidably talented side. This is Six Nations rugby, however, so anything can go.

Let's have a look at the teams:

Scotland

15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (1)

14. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (15)

13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (43)

12. Sione Tuipulotu – Vice-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (22)

11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (34)

10. Finn Russell – Captain - Bath Rugby (75)

9. Ben White – Toulon (18)

1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (26)

2. George Turner – Glasgow Warriors (40)

3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (62)

4. Richie Gray – Glasgow Warriors (78)

5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (33)

6. Luke Crosbie – Edinburgh Rugby (7)

7. Jamie Ritchie – Vice-Captain – Edinburgh Rugby (46)

8. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (40)

Replacements

16. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (12)

17. Alec Hepburn – Exeter Chiefs (uncapped)

18. Elliot Millar-Mills – Northampton Saints (uncapped)

19. Sam Skinner – Edinburgh Rugby (30)

20. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (15)

21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (26)

22. Ben Healy – Edinburgh Rugby (4)

23. Cameron Redpath – Bath Rugby (9)

Wales

15. Cameron Winnett (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – uncapped / heb gap)

14. Josh Adams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 54 caps)

13. Owen Watkin (Ospreys / Gweilch – 36 caps)

12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens / Saraseniaid – 32 caps)

11. Rio Dyer (Dragons / Dreigiau – 14 caps)

10. Sam Costelow (Scarlets – 8 caps)

9. Gareth Davies (Scarlets – 74 caps)

1. Corey Domachowski (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 6 caps)

2. Ryan Elias (Scarlets – 38 caps)

3. Leon Brown (Dragons / Dreigiau – 23 caps)

4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs / Caerwysg – 12 caps) Captain / Capten

5. Adam Beard (Ospreys / Gweilch – 51 caps)

6. James Botham (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 9 caps)

7. Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers / Caerlŷr – 13 caps)

8. Aaron Wainwright (Dragons / Dreigiau – 43 caps)

Replacements

16. Elliot Dee (Dragons / Dreigiau – 46 caps)

17. Kemsley Mathias (Scarlets – 1 cap)

18. Keiron Assiratti (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 2 caps)

19. Teddy Williams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 1 cap)

20. Alex Mann (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – uncapped / heb gap)

21. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 53 caps)

22. Ioan Lloyd (Scarlets – 2 caps)

23. Mason Grady (Cardiff Rugby / Caerdydd – 6 caps)

Words from Wales coach Warren Gatland

"Cameron Winnett is just a lovely footballer and I think he’s going to develop into a quality international player in the future. He’s young and there’ll be no pressure on him. We’ve been impressed with the way that he’s trained. He’s done really well in training, progressed really well and following consultation with his surgeon everyone was happy for him to be selected.

"It’s also great that Alex Mann is on the bench and will hopefully get his debut as well.

"I think there’s a really nice balance in the squad. We’ve got some players who were involved in the world cup so have some experience and then some exciting youngsters and when I look at that forward pack, it’s not a small forward pack. It’s a big forward pack.

"Scotland haven’t won here in a long, long time and it’s an opportunity for us to continue with that record. The roof’s going to be open, Scotland want the roof open which I think is a little bit disappointing from an atmosphere point of view, because when that roof is shut it does tend to create a lot more atmosphere and noise in the stadium. But that’s the decision that they made.

"The players understand how important this first game is in the competition. The sold out stadium, go out there, you get the Six Nations off to a good start, you can create some momentum.

"I’ve been really pleased with their attitude and the way that they’ve trained this week and we should be really excited about this first game."

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