Six Nations 2024: Full-back Cameron Winnett in line for first Wales cap against Scotland
- Published
Cameron Winnett has scored two tries in 11 games for Cardiff this season
Guinness Six Nations 2024: Wales v Scotland |
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Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff Date: Saturday, 3 February Kick-off: 16:45 GMT |
Coverage: Live on BBC One, S4C, BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Scotland, Radio Cymru & live text on the BBC Sport website and app. Highlights on Scrum V, Sunday, BBC Two Wales and online, 4 February and later on demand |
Cardiff full-back Cameron Winnett is in contention for a first Wales cap in the Six Nations opener against Scotland on Saturday.
Centre George North is an injury concern for Wales as he battles a shoulder problem.
Flanker James Botham is pushing for a recall, while fellow Cardiff back row Alex Mann could win his first cap as a replacement.
Lock Dafydd Jenkins, 21 is set to become Wales' second youngest captain.
Wales are due to hold a training session on Thursday with head coach Warren Gatland naming his match-day squad on the same day.
Gatland is looking for a new full-back following the international retirement of Leigh Halfpenny and Liam Williams being unavailable because of his Japan club commitments.
Winnett has impressed this season for his club and was one of five new caps in Gatland's squad.
The 21-year-old has suffered a jaw injury which threatened to rule him out of the opening couple of games but has returned to training this week.
If selected, Winnett's first international appearance would be just the 16th professional game of his career.
Wings Josh Adams and Rio Dyer are in line to start while Wales would hope North could rekindle his World Cup midfield partnership with Nick Tompkins if he proved his fitness.
North, 31, suffered the problem during the Ospreys' Challenge Cup victory against Lions on 21 January. His regional team-mate Owen Watkin and Mason Grady and Joe Roberts provide the alternatives within the squad.
Scarlets half-backs Sam Costelow and Gareth Davies could start together ahead of in-form Cardiff scrum-half Tomos Williams and Ioan Lloyd.
With the three World Cup tight-head props Dillon Lewis, Henry Thomas and Tomas Francis unavailable or not selected, Dragons prop Leon Brown is likely to start and win his 24th cap in a front-row with Gareth Thomas and Ryan Elias.
With Racing 92 lock Will Rowlands having limited time with the Wales squad, new captain Jenkins could partner Adam Beard with Teddy Williams potentially providing the back-up.
After injuries to Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau, Botham is the leading contender to receive the nod to pack down at blind-side flanker in the back row alongside Aaron Wainwright and Tommy Reffell, while Taine Basham and Mackenzie Martin are the other options.
It would be Botham's first Wales' appearance since July 2021.