JOHN BARCLAY has been named as Scotland captain for Saturday's Six Nations clash with Wales in the absence of injured skipper Greig Laidlaw.

The Scarlets flanker was given captaincy duties for part of Scotland's 22-16 defeat to France a fortnight ago after scrum-half Laidlaw limped off with an ankle problem.

It will be the second time the 30-year-old has led the national team, seven years after he was named captain for an autumn test against New Zealand.

Scotland Head Coach Vern Cotter, said: “John has played a vital role in our leadership group and has led by example throughout this and previous campaigns.

“It was disappointing to lose Greig [Laidlaw] however we continue to develop a system of shared leadership in this squad, which has supported this transition.

“It’ll be a proud moment for John and one which he thoroughly deserves.”

Cotter has shuffled his pack for the visit of the Welsh to Murrayfield, with five changes being made to his starting team from the side that lost in Paris. 

There are three changes in the pack as Edinburgh flanker John Hardie comes into the side in the place of Hamish Watson, Ryan Wilson returns to take the injured Josh Strauss' number eight shirt and Gordon Reid is preferred in the front row to Allan Dell.

Ali Price, who replaced Laidlaw at the Stade de France, starts at scrum-half, while Tim Visser replaces Sean Maitland after the wing failed to recover in time from a rib injury.

"We’ve now had two weeks to recover, reflect and prepare a new game plan for Wales," said Cotter.

"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.

“The players have worked hard to prepare for this game and are really looking forward to putting in a top performance.

“It’s a huge weekend in the championship and we’re still right in the mix.”

SCOTLAND TEAM

15 Stuart Hogg

14 Tommy Seymour

13 Huw Jones

12 Alex Dunbar

11 Tim Visser

10 Finn Russell

9 Ali Price

1 Gordon Reid

2 Fraser Brown

3 Zander Fagerson

4 Richie Gray

5 Jonny Gray

6 John Barclay (captain)

7 John Hardie

8 Ryan Wilson

Substitutes

16 Ross Ford

17 Allan Dell

18 Simon Berghan

19 Tim Swinson

20 Hamish Watson

21 Henry Pyrgos

22 Duncan Weir

23 Mark Bennett