Dafydd Jenkins has been backed to show leadership and wisdom beyond his years when he leads Wales into Six Nations battle on Saturday.

 

Exeter’s 21-year-old lock will become the youngest Wales captain since Gareth Edwards in 1968 when he leads his country out against Scotland at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

 

The honour is being handed to him only 12 caps into his Test career, but it does not come as a surprise to his club coach Rob Baxter, who insists the rookie is a natural leader.

 

Jenkins first captained Exeter at the age of 19, and this season he has led impressively from the front, with the Chiefs firmly in Premiership play-off contention and through to the Champions Cup round of 16.

 

“He pretty much gets everything right,” said Baxter of Jenkins.

 

“Our job is to try not to put too much on his shoulders, but at the same time he is exactly the kind of guy you want as captain of your team.”

 

Wales have enjoyed huge success in the Six Nations over the past 20 years, being crowned champions on six occasions, with four of those titles achieved in Grand Slam fashion.

 

Five Triple Crowns can also be added to an impressive roll of honour as they have repeatedly punched above their weight, but any challenge for silverware this season would be against the odds.

 

The long road to World Cup 2027 in Australia starts with Wales fielding their least-experienced Six Nations starting XV since 2019, as a combination of factors mean players like Louis Rees-Zammit, Liam Williams, George North, Dan Biggar and Taulupe Faletau are unavailable.

 

Cardiff full-back Cameron Winnett will make his Wales debut, but coach Warren Gatland has faith in the 21-year-old, based on his club form and what he has shown in training since coming into the senior squad from the U20s.

 

“Cameron is a lovely player and I think he’s going to develop into a quality international player in the future,” said Gatland.

 

“He’s young and there’ll be no pressure on him. We’ve been impressed with the way he’s trained.

 

“He’s done well in training and following consultation with his surgeon everyone was happy for him to be selected.”

 

The Scotland game is followed by England at Twickenham, Ireland in Dublin and France at home, so Wales are unquestionably up against it.

 

But Scotland have not beaten Wales in Cardiff since 2002, a day that their former outside-half and now head coach Gregor Townsend recalls “wasn’t a great game to play in but I have more fond memories of now”.

 

Wales have won 11 successive times in Cardiff – nine Six Nations games, a World Cup warm-up and an Autumn Test – although Scotland did win a Covid-impacted contest at Llanelli in 2020.

 

Townsend said: “We don’t talk about why we’ve struggled here in the past, but we talk about the record.

 

“Not many have played throughout those years, although a few played here two years ago when we didn’t perform and produce our best rugby.

 

“You have defeats and wins in your Test career and the one against Ireland (the 36-14 loss at the 2023 World Cup) is more in our minds than the one two years ago, and certainly those 10 or 20 years before that.”

 

Scotland full-back Blair Kinghorn misses out after picking up a knee injury playing for Toulouse last weekend.

 

Glasgow’s Kyle Rowe deputises to make his first international start, his only previous cap coming away to Argentina in July 2022 when he appeared as a substitute and lasted only 10 minutes before damaging his ACL.

 

“Blair didn’t think he’d be out this week, but we had the scan done in camp and he will be out for the first two games,” said Townsend.

 

“We’re really pleased with Kyle’s form and see him as someone comfortable in that position, and it’s really important we’ve got someone with confidence coming into such a big fixture.”

 

Townsend says the game has “come a couple of days too soon” for recently appointed co-captain Rory Darge, who has been sidelined by a knee injury, so outside-half Finn Russell leads the side.

 

Six Nations history might be against them, but Scotland will arrive in Cardiff as firm favourites to end their dismal losing run.

 

Wales field just seven of the side that lost to World Cup quarter-final opponents Argentina last time out, and players like Russell, wing Duhan van der Merwe and centre Huw Jones are genuine game-breakers more than capable of testing a new-look Wales side.

 

The Six Nations action for Wales starts on Friday night in Colwyn Bay where Dragons centre Harri Ackerman will captain a new-look u20 team that features eight players making their debut.

 

There is also a new head coach in Richard Whiffin, who said: “The boys have trained well for the last couple of weeks and the guys who have been selected to play have earned the right through their training and their regional performances.

 

“We’re now just excited to finish off the week and get up to North Wales and give it a crack.”