GLOUCESTER’S Ross Moriarty has retained his place at number eight for Wales’ RBS 6 Nations Championships clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Moriarty had a superb match in Wales’ defeat by England last Saturday week and that means he has kept fit-again British Lions star Toby Faletau, cousin of former Thornbury Broncos stars Billy and Mako Vunipola, out of the starting team.

Scotland will be without Gloucester captain Greig Laidlaw who has suffered ankle ligament damage.

The Welsh team was announced on Wednesday morning.

L Halfpenny (Toulon); G North (Northampton), J Davies (Scarlets), S Williams (Scarlets), L Williams (Scarlets); D Biggar (Ospreys), R Webb (Ospreys); R Evans (Scarlets), K Owens (Scarlets), T Francis (Exeter), J Ball (Scarlets), AW Jones (Ospreys, capt), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues), J Tipuric (Ospreys), R Moriarty (Gloucester).

Replacements: S Baldwin (Ospreys), N Smith (Ospreys), S Lee (Scarlets), L Charteris (Bath), T Faletau (Bath), G Davies (Scarlets), S Davies (Ospreys), J Roberts (Harlequins).