For the first time in almost two years, Sam Warburton will start an RBS 6 Nations Test match and not be Wales captain.
The flanker will line up against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday, with his back-row colleague Ryan Jones leading out the side after having helped orchestrate back-to-back away victories over France and Italy.
Rob Howley, the Wales coach, admitted that Warburton, who is seven years Jones' junior and has won exactly half of his 72 caps, was left "disappointed" by the decision. However, the 2011 World Cup captain, who led Wales to the grand slam last season, has dismissed any notion of it affecting him. "My focus right now is making sure I do myself justice and playing well at the weekend," he said after regaining the No.7 shirt from Justin Tipuric. "Getting the captaincy back won't be a motivating factor."
This time last year, 24-year-old Warburton was being touted as a clear favourite to captain the 2013 British and Irish Lions in Australia, but other players such England's Chris Robshaw and Brian O'Driscoll of Ireland have seemingly now moved ahead.
"It almost feels like winning my first cap because of the need to impress," he added. "I am delighted about being back playing again. You do really miss it."
Howley has shown during his stint as interim head coach that he is not afraid to make the big decisions. The choice between Warburton and Tipuric was one such call, and then having opted for a fit-again Warburton, the captaincy proved another.
"I just want Sam to go out and concentrate and focus on his own game," Howley said. "He is a world-class seven, he has proved that over the last 18 months. He is fantastic in the contact area at the breakdown and we will certainly need that attribute against Scotland."
Gethin Jenkins, the Toulon prop will miss the game with a calf muscle injury while, in the only other change, lock Alun-Wyn Jones replaces Andrew Coombs.
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