Scotland team to face Wales for 6 Nations Round 3

Head Coach Vern Cotter today confirmed back-row John Barclay will captain Scotland against Wales this Saturday in the RBS 6 Nations at BT Murrayfield.

The absence of Laidlaw prompts one of three changes to the side, with Glasgow Warriors’ Ali Price set to make his first start for the national team.

Back-row Ryan Wilson has recovered from the elbow infection and replaces the injured Josh Strauss (kidney), while Harlequins wing Tim Visser gets his first opportunity of the championship as a straight swap for Sean Maitland, who has failed to recover from the rib injury sustained representing Saracens last weekend.

Gordon Reid and John Hardie get their first start of the campaign, trading places with Allan Dell and Hamish Watson, who have been named on the bench after starting the opening two games.

Scotland team to play Wales at BT Murrayfield in the RBS 6 Nations
Saturday 25 February

15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 50 caps; 16 tries, 3 pens, 89 points

14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 33 caps; 14 tries, 70 points
13. Huw Jones (Stormers) – 5 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
12. Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors) – 21 caps; 6 tries, 30 points
11. Tim Visser (Harlequins) – 28 caps; 11 tries, 55 points

10. Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors) – 24 caps; 2 tries, 3 cons, 3 pens, 25 points
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 2 caps

1. Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors) – 21 caps
2. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 22 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps
4. Richie Gray (Toulouse) – 62 caps; 3 tries, 15 points
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 30 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
6. John Barclay CAPTAIN (Scarlets) – 57 caps; 4 tries, 20 points
7. John Hardie (Edinburgh Rugby) – 14 caps; 3 tries, 15 points
8. Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 24 caps

Substitutes:
16. Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby) – 104 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
17. Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby) – 5 caps
18. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby) – 1 cap
19. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors) – 27 caps; 1 try, 5 points
20. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – 7 caps; 1 try, 5 points
21. Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps; 4 tries, 3 pens, 29 points
22. Duncan Weir (Edinburgh Rugby) – 25 caps; 2 tries, 7 cons, 10 pens, 1 drop, 57 points
23. Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors) – 19 caps; 6 tries, 30 points