Wales v Scotland: Gabriel Hamer-Webb set to make early debut as Steve Tandy makes four changes after France punch | Rugby union news

Gabriel Hamer-Webb is set to make his Wales debut in this weekend's Six Nations clash against Scotland in Cardiff.

Head coach Steve Tandy made four changes to the team that suffered a heavy 54-12 defeat to France last weekend.

Scarlets pair Sam Costelow and Taine Plumtree arrive as does Dragons lock Ben Carter. Adam Beard, Ellis Mee, Dan Edwards and Olly Cracknell all dropped out of the team altogether.

Gloucester lock Freddie Thomas, Cardiff flanker James Botham and Scarlets full-back Blair Murray are called to the bench.

The most notable announcement is the inclusion of Hamer-Webb, 25, who joined the Tigers from Cardiff last summer.

He lines up in the back three with Louis Rees-Zammit and Josh Adams as Wales look to improve after conceding more than 100 points in their opening two games in this year's competition.

“We think they are the best team to face Scotland and with a six-day turnaround you also want a bit of freshness before the game,” Tandy said.

“Gabe has really impressed me with the way he has attacked training, the way he has learned, the way he has adapted and the way he has settled into the team. His training efforts have been exceptional.

“Then when you look at his time at Leicester, even when he wasn't in the team, everyone was saying he was an incredible team player. He also kept pushing, he never gave up and then when he got his opportunity at Leicester he grabbed it with both hands and now this opportunity has come and it's completely deserved.”

The Wales team will face Scotland

Wales starts the XV: 15 Louis Rees-Zammit; 14 Gabriel Hamer-Webb, 13 Eddie James, 12 Joe Hawkins, 11 Josh Adams; 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Tomos Williams; 1 Rhys Carre, 2 Dewi Lake (c), 3 Tomas Francis, 4 Dafydd Jenkins, 5 Ben Carter, 6 Taine Plumtree, 7 Alex Mann, 8 Aaron Wainwright.

Substitutes:
16 Ryan Elias, 17 Nicky Smith, 18 Archie Griffin, 19 Freddie Thomas, 20 James Botham, 21 Kieran Hardy, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Blair Murray.

Townsend recalls Kinghorn and Van der Merwe for Wales clash

Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe have been reinstated into Scotland's starting XI for Saturday's Guinness Six Nations clash against Wales in Cardiff.

The British and Irish Lions duo were left out of the 23 for the opening two matches against Italy and England due to question marks over their form.

Toulouse's Kinghorn will start at full-back in place of Tom Jordan, who drops to the bench, while Van der Merwe, Scotland's top try scorer, returns to the wing to succeed Jamie Dobie, who is out due to injury.

There are three other changes in the starting XV the 31-20 victory against England last weekend – all in the pack.

Dave Cherry replaces George Turner at hooker, the latter falling to the bench.

Back rowers Jamie Ritchie and Jack Dempsey are out due to injury, with Matt Fagerson coming in at eighth and versatile Gregor Brown, who started in the second row last weekend, moving to blindside.

Glasgow lock Max Williamson takes Brown's place in the second row.

Forwards Grant Gilchrist and Josh Bayliss are returned to the team as substitutes, with Gregor Townsend once again starting a 5-3 split on the bench.

The Scotland team will face Wales

Scotland starting XV:
15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White; 1 Nathan McBeth, 2 Dave Cherry, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Max Williamson, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Gregor Brown, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Matt Fagerson.

Substitutes:
16 George Turner, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 George Horne, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Darcy Graham