Six Nations: Scotland’s John Barclay banks on his local knowledge of Wales

Scotland’s new captain, John Barclay, has had a head start on his team’s analysts this week. On Saturday at Murrayfield he will become the eighth player to lead his country against Wales while playing for a Welsh club and only the second Scot, after Arthur Smith in 1960. He has inside intelligence.

Barclay, a flanker with the Scarlets and a colleague of the Wales forwards Rob Evans, Ken Owens and Jake Ball, takes over as Scotland’s captain from Greig Laidlaw, who suffered an ankle injury against France in the last round that is set to sideline him for the rest of the season.

The bruising encounter in Paris also ended the Six Nations campaign of the No8 Josh Strauss, and five players were treated for head injuries. Three of Scotland’s five changes for the visit of Wales, who have not lost at Murrayfield since 2007, were enforced, with the wing Sean Maitland ruled out by the rib injury he suffered playing for Saracens at Gloucester last week.

Laidlaw’s replacement at scrum-half, Ali Price, will make his first international start and at No8 Ryan Wilson returns after being ruled out of the defeat in France by an elbow infection. Harlequins’ Tim Visser takes over at wing while the two voluntary changes see John Hardie replace Hamish Watson at flanker and Gordon Reid come in at loosehead for Allan Dell.

Wales intend to use the scrum as a weapon, with Scotland conceding nine penalties at the set piece in the opening two rounds and see the breakdown as a means of slowing down possession for Price and his Glasgow half-back colleague Finn Russell. “We know the Welsh will throw everything at us but we will keep our attacking mind-set and look to convert pressure to points as often as possible,” said the Scotland head coach, Vern Cotter. “We have had two weeks to recover from France, reflect and prepare a game plan for Wales.”

Both teams lost in the last round with Wales blowing a lead against England four minutes from time, but Scotland are still in contention for the Triple Crown having beaten Ireland at home on the opening weekend. “It is a huge weekend for the championship and we are still right in the mix,” Cotter said. “It is disappointing to lose Greig but John has played a vital role in our leadership group and has led by example in this and previous campaigns.”

The Wales interim head coach, Robert Howley, has demanded more of an input from his bench after being underwhelmed by their overall contribution against England. “When you make changes, you expect an impact,” he said. “We are looking for a better one this week. The contact area will be key and the scrum has been a focal area for us.”

The Lions No8 Taulupe Faletau remains on the bench, with Ross Moriarty retaining the place after his muscular display against England.

Scotland team

Hogg; Seymour (both Glasgow), Jones (Stormers), Dunbar (Glasgow), Visser (Harlequins); Russell, Price; Reid, Brown, Fagerson (all Glasgow), R Gray (Toulouse), J Gray (Glasgow), Barclay (Scarlets, capt), Hardie (Edinburgh), Wilson (Glasgow). Replacements Ford, Dell, Berghan (all Edinburgh), Swinson (Glasgow), Watson (Edinburgh), Pyrgos (Glasgow), Weir (Edinburgh), Bennett (Glasgow).

Kick-off 2.25pm. TV BBC S4C.