Wales set to start Jac Morgan in surprise team selection for Scotland game

Wales are expected to hand Ospreys back-rower Jac Morgan a Test debut when they face Scotland in the Six Nations encounter at the Principality Stadium on Saturday.

The 22-year-old has been one of the players of the season in Wales, with a series of outstanding displays in the United Rugby Championship.

But he didn’t feature in the matchday 23 when Wales were routed 29-7 by Ireland last weekend amid a mass of lost collisions and missed tackles.

Forwards coach Jonathan Humphreys has since admitted the team came out second best in terms of physicality on both sides of the ball.

Now it looks like selectors might turn to the 5ft 11in and 16st Morgan, a player the analytics people Opta reckoned earlier this month had made the most tackles in the URC (144) and also the most dominant tackles (seven) this season.

The Brynamman product is also strong over the ball.

It is thought that Pivac is thinking of teaming him up with Taine Basham and Ross Moriarty in the back row, with Ellis Jenkins and Aaron Wainwright dropping out..

The all-action Basham was Wales’ best player in the reverse against Ireland, with 15 carries and 22 tackles, not one of which was missed. On a day when few in the Welsh team enhanced their reputations, he emerged heavily in credit.

Starting with Moriarty would further beef up Wales’ physicality.

The ultra-tough Dragon was held back against Ireland as he had played only one match after a long-term injury, but the 27-year-old now has more game-minutes in the bank.

Wales aren’t tipped to make wholesale changes, though Alex Cuthbert is pushing hard for inclusion in a back three that could also feature Liam Williams and Louis Rees-Zammit.

Potentially, Pivac could be tempted to continue with the experiment of