WALES go into this year’s RBS 6 Nations championship a clear distance behind champions England and contenders Ireland in the stakes.
But they should not be underestimated, with fresh blood coming into interim boss Rob Howley’s set-up and an old face as new captain in Alun Wyn Jones, who replaces Sam Warburton.
Jones has over 100 caps for Wales and has been seen as the perfect replacement for Cardiff Blues flanker Warburton, who faces competition in the back row.
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There is big experience in the squad, with Taulupe Faletau, Dan Biggar, Jamie Roberts, George North and Leigh Halfpenny adding hundreds of caps’ worth of experience.
While seven uncapped players, including Leicester fly-half Owen Williams, Thomas Young and Ashton Hewitt, are all fighting for their first appearances.
Wales 6 Nations fixtures
Sun, Feb 5 – Italy vs Wales – Stadio Olimpico, Rome – 2pm (GMT) – ITV – REPORT
Sat, Feb 11 – Wales vs England – Principality Stadium, Cardiff – 4.50pm – BBC – REPORT
Sat, Feb 25 – Scotland vs Wales – Murrayfield, Edinburgh – 2.25pm – BBC – PREVIEW
Fri, Mar 10 – Wales vs Ireland – Principality Stadium – 8.05pm – BBC
Sat, Mar 18 – France vs Wales – Stade de France, Paris – 2.45pm (GMT) – ITV
Who is in the Wales side to play Scotland?
Halfpenny, North, Davies, Scott Williams, Liam Williams, Biggar, Webb; Evans, Owens, Francis, Ball, Jones, Warburton, Justin Tipuric, Ross Moriarty.
Who is in the Wales 6 Nations squad?
FORWARDS
Front row
Scott Andrews
Nicky Smith
Rob Evans
Rhodri Jones
Tomas Francis
Samson Lee
Kristian Dacey
Ken Owens
Scott Baldwin
Second row
Jake Ball
Alun Wyn Jones
Rory Thornton
Luke Charteris
Cory Hill
James King
Back row
Justin Tipuric
Olly Cracknell
Ross Moriatry
Taulupe Faletau
Sam Warburton
Thomas Young
BACKS
Half-backs
Gareth Davies
Rhys Webb
Aled Davies
Dan Biggar
Sam Davies
Owen Williams
Centres
Jamie Roberts
Jonathan Davies
Scott Williams
Wingers/Full-backs
Ashton Hewitt
Alex Cuthbert
Steffan Evans
George North
Liam Williams
Leigh Halfpenny
Who is the captain of the Wales squad?
Alun Wyn Jones comes in as full-time captain for Wales this season, replacing Sam Warburton, who has largely been seen off his best form since the last Rugby World Cup.
Jones brings 105 caps' worth of experience to the Welsh second row and was also the victorious skipper as the British and Irish Lions won their previous three-test series in Australia in 2013.
The Ospreys lock is one of the elder-statesmen of the Welsh game and has earned himself a reputation as one of the toughest names in world rugby.
Don't be surprised if Warren Gatland names him as British and Irish Lions captain should he have a good tournament this year.
Who are the new faces in the Wales 6 Nations squad?
Owen Williams
The fact that the Leicester fly-half has not had a single cap in red will surprise many Tigers fans, who have been watching him grow with each season.
But the 24-year-old needs to add more consistency to his game to dislodge Dan Biggar at No10.
He will surely face a battle with favoured Osprey Sam Davies if he wants to get game-time should Bigger pick up a knock.
Rory Thornton
The Osprey is 6fr 7in and at the age of 23 has the frame to follow in the footsteps of the current Welsh skipper.
Part of an exciting group of players at the Liberty Stadium, Thornton is going from strength to strength and don't rule out a cameo appearance for Wales this spring at the very least.
Olly Cracknell
From the same stable is the Ospreys back row Olly Cracknell - one of a pair of young flankers Howley is tipping to push established names Warburton and Tipuric.
The 22-year-old was born in Leeds but qualifies to play for Wales through his grandfather.
Thomas Young
Another promising back-row starlet, the Wasps back row has been described as the "revelation of the Premiership" by none other than England's 2003 World Cup-winning coach Sir Clive Woodward.
The Aberdare-born ace, 24, is also the son of Wasps coach Dai Young, who won 51 caps for Wales himself.
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Aled Davies
Not to be mistaken with the two-time Paralympic champ discus thrower, scrum-half Davies, 24, has picked up 71 games for the Scarlets and has scored three tries.
Ashton Hewitt
Just 22, Hewitt is one of the youngest names in Howley's squad and one of just two Newport-Gwent Dragons players.
The winger has come through the ranks and scored seven tries for the Dragons last season, with five already this term he is surely set to break his 35-point haul last term.
Steffan Evans
Should injuries happen to Halfpenny and Liam Williams, then surely Evans will get a shot at full-back.
Other than that it might be slim-pickings for the Scarlets man.
Evans also dabbled in some sevens rugby but never made it into the Team GB squad for their first outing at the Olympic Games.
Who is injured for Wales?
Gethin Jenkins remains a notable absentee after 126 caps, but at the age of 26 it remains to be seen whether the Cardiff Blues prop would be asked back into the Wales set-up.
Dan Lydiate picked up knee ligament damage in the 27-13 victory over South Africa at the Principality Stadium and is out.
Gareth Anscombe had surgery on a groin problem in December while Keelan Giles, who has scored 11 tries for the Ospreys this season, would have been in the squad if he hadn't picked up a hamstring problem.
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