Six Nations 2020: Scotland make three changes to pack for Wales match

Number eight Magnus Bradbury and hooker and vice-captain Stuart McInally are in the starting XV in Wales

Head coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes to Scotland's forward pack for Saturday's Six Nations match against Wales in Cardiff.

Hooker Stuart McInally comes in for Fraser Brown, with Sam Skinner added to the second row for Scott Cummings, who drops to the bench.

Number eight Nick Haining, who misses out through illness, is replaced by Edinburgh teammate Magnus Bradbury.

The rest of the team which beat France 28-17 at Murrayfield on Sunday remains.

With the same selection of backs for the third consecutive Test, the Scotland team has a familiar look, with props Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson, and flankers Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson among the 10 players to have started every match in this Six Nations.

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Scotland's victory over Grand Slam-chasing France followed a win over Italy, those results coming after losses to England and Ireland.

Wales have only one win from their four matches in this year's championship, against Italy in Cardiff.

Scotland's back three comprises Stuart Hogg, Blair Kinghorn and Sean Maitland, with Glasgow Warriors half-backs Ali Price and Adam Hastings and their Scotstoun team-mate Sam Johnson at centre alongside Gloucester's Chris Harris.

'We hope to get to play'

The match is scheduled to go ahead as planned despite the other two Six Nations matches- Ireland against France and Italy versus England - being postponed due to the coronavirus.

Townsend said he would be "surprised" if the game was called off just two days before, but accepted the situation could change quickly.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has recommended gatherings of more than 500 people be cancelled from Monday with the UK government expected to step up its response later on Thursday.

"We are obviously at the behest of the policy makers and things have been put in place that will let the game go ahead," Townsend said.

"We have followed all procedures in terms of contact, washing hands and we saw at the weekend what a fantastic spectacle that was and how great the Six Nations is. We hope we get to play this weekend but we understand if that's not the case then it's for serious reasons."

Other sporting events will go ahead but without spectators present. Asked whether Scotland would take up the option to play behind closed doors, Townsend responded: "My opinion is irrelevant on that.

"I think it's whether it is the way the organisers and the Welsh Rugby Union want to go. We will just prepare as if we will be playing in front of a full house in a difficult, iconic venue."

Scotland squad

Scotland: Hogg (capt); Maitland, Harris, Johnson, Kinghorn; Hastings, Price; Sutherland, McInally, Fagerson, Skinner, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, Bradbury.

Replacements: Brown, Dell, Nel, Cummings, Fagerson, Horne, Weir, Steyn.