The Japan Times - Graham returns for Scotland's Six Nations match against Wales

The Edinburgh wing was concussed following a sickening clash of heads with his own co-captain Finn Russell during a 32-18 defeat by champions Ireland at Murrayfield on February 9 and missed the 16-15 loss away to England a fortnight ago.

Graham replaces Glasgow Warriors' Kyle Rowe, who drops to the bench.

The 27-year-old Graham, Scotland's second-highest try-scorer of all time, passed his head injury assessment before the England match on February 22.

But Scotland's coaches and medical staff decided upon a precautionary approach to ensure he was fully recovered given the severity of his clash with Russell.

Townsend, meanwhile, has reverted to a 5-3 split between forwards and backs on his bench after opting for a 6-2 formation against England, with scrum-half George Horne joining Rowe among the replacements.

Scotland are aiming to make it three wins in a row over Wales -- now on a national record losing streak of 15 straight Test defeats -- for the first time in the Six Nations era.

But another loss this championship would raise fresh questions over whether Townsend, whose contract expires in April next year, remains the right man to lead Scotland into the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

The former Scotland playmaker is the longest-serving head coach of the Dark Blues in the professional era, having been appointed in 2017.

Townsend, however, has been unable to improve on Scotland's record of never finishing higher than third in the Six Nations.

Scotland last won a championship back in the last edition of the old Five Nations in 1999.

Scotland (15-1)

Blair Kinghorn; Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Tom Jordan, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell (co-capt), Ben White; Jack Dempsey, Rory Darge (co-capt), Jamie Ritchie; Grant Gilchrist, Jonny Gray; Zander Fagerson, Dave Cherry, Pierre Schoeman

Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Will Hurd, Gregor Brown, Matt Fagerson, George Horne, Stafford McDowall, Kyle Rowe

Coach: Gregor Townsend (SCO)

M.Matsumoto--JT