Scotland flanker Jamie Ritchie has been ruled out for the rest of the Six Nations with a hamstring injury.
The 25-year-old went off in the second half of last weekend’s victory over England, and the Scottish Rugby Union confirmed, while announcing the team to face Wales in Cardiff on Saturday, that his campaign is over.
In one of five changes to the side that started the Calcutta Cup match, Ritchie will be replaced by Exeter’s Sam Skinner for this weekend’s trip to the Principality Stadium.
There are three changes to Gregor Townsend’s front row for the match in Cardiff, with Edinburgh’s Pierre Schoeman and WP Nel starting alongside hooker Stuart McInally.
Glasgow’s Sione Tuipulotu comes in to make his third Scotland appearance at inside centre.
Zander Fagerson, George Turner and Rory Sutherland drop to the bench, while Sam Johnson has been released to play for Glasgow on Friday.
Edinburgh’s Grant Gilchrist will win his 50th cap at lock.
Glasgow flanker Rory Darge is among the substitutes and will win his first cap if he gets off the bench. Scrum-half Ben White, who scored a debut try against England last weekend, is again a replacement, alongside Blair Kinghorn and Cam Redpath.
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) February 10, 2022
Scotland team to play Wales
Forwards: 1 Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), 2 Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby), 3 WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby), 4 Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs), 5 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), 6 Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs), 7 Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby), 8 Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors)
Backs: 9 Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), 10 Finn Russell (Racing 92), 11 Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors), 12 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), 13 Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby), 14 Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), 15 Stuart Hogg (CAPTAIN, Exeter Chiefs)
Replacements: 16 George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), 17 Rory Sutherland (Worcester Warriors), 18 Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), 19 Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby), 20 Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors)*, 21 Ben White (London Irish), 22 Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby), 23 Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby)
* Denotes uncapped player