Scotland: Scotland coach Matt Williams denied yesterday that playing Hugo Southwell at inside-centre against France tomorrow in the Six Nations Championship opener was a gamble.
The versatile Edinburgh player had a nightmare at fullback in the thrashing by South Africa during the autumn.
But Williams has kept faith with the 24-year-old, who will win his eighth cap, and paired him with Andy Craig in a new partnership for the daunting Stade de France clash.
Williams said: "We felt Hugo's play with ball in hand since he came into the side has been exceptional. His courage in defence is also exceptional and he has been used almost sparingly at Edinburgh, either starting or during the match, as a centre."
Williams has been hit by injuries and he made five changes - two positional - from the side which got dismally swept aside by the Springboks.
Chris Paterson has reverted to fullback after his stint on the wing in place of Southwell. Ben Hinshelwood and Allan Jacobson were injured while star man Simon Taylor is close to being back after sustaining knee ligament damage in last season's poor campaign.
Number eight Ross Beattie did not face the South Africans but he was also ruled out this week with a twisted knee.
Edinburgh's back-row forward Ally Hogg plays despite recent knee trouble.
SCOTLAND: C Paterson (Edinburgh); S Danielli (Borders), A Craig (Glasgow), H Southwell (Edinburgh), S Lamont (Glasgow); D Parks (Glasgow), C Cusiter (Borders); T Smith (Northampton), G Bulloch (Glasgow, capt), G Kerr (Leeds), S Grimes (Newcastle), S Murray (Edinburgh), J White (Sale), A Hogg (Edinburgh), J Petrie (Glasgow). Replacements: R Russell (London Irish), B Douglas (Borders), N Hines (Edinburgh), J Dunbar (Leeds), M Blair (Edinburgh), G Ross (Leeds), B Hinshelwood (Worcester).
WALES: Martyn Williams hopes to celebrate winning his 50th cap tomorrow by achieving another career landmark - beating England. Lions flanker Williams has been on the receiving end of some thumping defeats against England.
A Welsh victory would end an eventful time for Williams, who was all but ruled out of the Millennium Stadium clash last week. A disc problem in his neck continued to trouble the 29-year-old, and medical opinion was he wouldn't recover to face England, or Italy on Saturday week.
When Colin Charvis then succumbed to a foot injury, Wales coach Mike Ruddock called up Neath-Swansea Ospreys openside Richie Pugh, while Williams' Cardiff colleague Robin Sowden-Taylor also found himself required for training.
WALES: G Thomas (Toulouse, capt); Luscombe (Newport Gwent Dragons), Shanklin (Cardiff Blues), Henson (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), S Williams (Neath-Swansea Ospreys); S Jones (Clermont Auvergne), Peel (Llanelli Scarlets); Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), Davies (Gloucester), A Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Cockbain (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Sidoli (Cardiff Blues), D Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons). Replacements: McBryde (Llanelli Scarlets), Yapp (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), R Jones (Neath-Swansea Ospreys), Cooper (Newport Gwent Dragons), Sweeney (Newport Gwent Dragons), Morgan (Newport Gwent Dragons).
