Gethin Jenkins will miss Wales’ Six Nations match away to Scotland with a calf muscle injury, interim head coach Rob Howley says.

Prop Jenkins, now with French club Toulon, suffered the problem during Wales’ 26-9 win against Italy in Rome and the 97-times capped prop was replaced by Paul James in the starting line-up for this weekend’s match at Murrayfield.

Two other changes from the side that triumphed at Rome’s Olympic Stadium saw Sam Warburton, Wales’ Grand Slam-winning captain last season, replace openside flanker Justin Tipuric in a reshaped back row, with experienced lock Alun-Wyn Jones taking over from Andrew Coombs.

However, although Warburton is back after suffering a shoulder injury earlier in the Championship, fellow flanker Ryan Jones has been retained as captain.

Jones, who has led Wales a record 31 times, took over from Warburton when Wales beat France in Paris.

Coombs and Tipuric are on the bench, replacing Jones and Warburton respectively, with Scott Andrews filling the replacement spot vacated by James.

Both second-placed Wales and Scotland, level on four points, have title aspirations heading into this weekend’s penultimate round of matches, although it is Grand Slam-chasers England who currently top the table.

“We have spoken a lot about momentum in this tournament, and we go into the game with two wins under our belt, but Scotland are in the same position and it’s going to be a good challenge,” Howley said.

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; Alex Cuthbert, Jonathan Davies, Jamie Roberts, George North; Dan Biggar, Mike Phillips; Toby Faletau, Sam Warburton, Ryan Jones (capt); Ian Evans, Alun-Wyn Jones; Adam Jones, Richard Hibbard, Paul James. Res: Ken Owens, Scott Andrews, Ryan Bevington, Andrew Coombs, Justin Tipuric, Lloyd Williams, James Hook, Scott Williams.