Six Nations 2014: Wales make six changes to face Scotland

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Mike Phillips WalesImage source, Getty Images

Wales coach Warren Gatland has changed both half-backs for Saturday's Six Nations finale against Scotland.

Dan Biggar replaces Rhys Priestland at fly-half and Mike Phillips comes in for the injured Rhys Webb at scrum-half.

Liam Williams fills in at full-back after Leigh Halfpenny dislocated a shoulder in the loss to England.

Ken Owens and Rhodri Jones get the nod over British and Irish Lions front-row pair Richard Hibbard and Adam Jones, while lock Luke Charteris returns.

Perpignan's Charteris suffered a neck injury in training before last week's defeat at Twickenham but returns to the side to partner Alun Wyn Jones for the game in Cardiff, with Jake Ball dropping to the bench.

Despite being sin-binned in successive Six Nations games against France and England, loose-head Gethin Jenkins keeps his starting spot and will become his country's most-capped player.

The Cardiff Blues and Lions prop will make his 105th appearance on Saturday, moving one ahead of former fly-half Stephen Jones.

Media caption,

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Jenkins will feature in a new look front-row alongside Scarlets pair Owens and Rhodri Jones, who get their first starts of the campaign.

The back row remains unchanged, with captain Sam Warburton playing alongside Dan Lydiate and Taulupe Faletau.

Gatland also keeps faith with the three-quarter line that started Sunday's game at Twickenham, with Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies at centre and Alex Cuthbert and George North on the wings.

Wales will be intent on finishing the competition on a high against a Scotland team who are looking for their first victory in Cardiff since 2002.

"Saturday is an opportunity for us to put in a performance we know we can and finish the Six Nations on a high," said Gatland.

"We've made a number of changes and freshened things up with a just a six-day turnaround between matches.

"Scotland will come looking to play some rugby and had a morale boosting win against Italy and were unlucky to lose against France in recent weeks."

Media caption,

Six Nations 2014: Dylan Thomas fires Wales finale

Ospreys duo Hibbard and Adam Jones drop to the bench alongside Paul James, Jake Ball and Justin Tipuric as the forward replacements.

Scarlets half-backs Rhodri Williams and Priestland are joined by Perpignan's James Hook as backs cover.

Wales: Liam Williams (Scarlets); Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), Jonathan Davies (Scarlets), Jamie Roberts (Racing Metro), George North (Northampton Saints); Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Mike Phillips (Racing Metro); Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Ken Owens (Scarlets), Rhodri Jones (Scarlets), Luke Charteris (Perpignan), Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys), Dan Lydiate (Racing Metro), Sam Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), Taulupe Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements: Richard Hibbard (Ospreys), Paul James (Bath Rugby), Adam Jones (Ospreys), Jake Ball (Scarlets), Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), Rhodri Williams (Scarlets), Rhys Priestland (Scarlets), James Hook (Perpignan).

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