Scotland rookie Adam Hastings will handle pressure at the Principality

Adam Hastings will be winning only his fourth cap when the match starts at the Principality Stadium

Scotland captain Stuart McInally insists Adam Hastings can handle the pressure after Wales coach Warren Gatland put the spotlight on the rookie outside-half ahead of their Cardiff clash today.

Hastings, the son of former Scotland great Gavin, will win only his fourth cap at the Principality Stadium, with Racing 92 fly-half Finn Russell unable to play as the game falls outside World Rugby’s international window. The 22-year-old’s previous three Test appearances came on Scotland’s summer tour against Canada, the United States and Argentina.

Gatland put the focus firmly on Hastings at his pre-match press conference by saying “we have got to make sure we put as much pressure on him as we possibly can”.

But McInally, pictured, responded: “Adam’s been playing really well for Glasgow. Since he’s come on the scene he’s shown a lot of potential and been earning his stripes.

“He played very well on the summer tour, especially in that last game against Argentina.

“We’re really excited to see him play. He works very hard on his game and he’s got a lot of confidence that he can go out and express himself.

“In training he’s been very vocal as well, which is important for a 10.”

However, Hastings will not be the only player under the spotlight. His opposing No.10, Gareth Anscombe, will also be making only his fourth start for his coutry.

The New Zealand born players had apperared in 19 Test matches and this is his big opportunity to press his claims ahead of Northampton’s Dan Biggar, who is unavailable this weekend.

Victory for Wales on Saturday would give them six successive wins against all opponents, equalling their longest unbeaten run since 2012, when they took the Six Nations title and Grand Slam and  then defeated the Barbarians.

Scotland have an abysmal record in Cardiff, with only one victory in the Welsh capital since 1996. That came in 2002 and Scotland have lost on their last nine visits to the Principality Stadium – the latest being a 34-7 defeat nine months ago.

“Going back to that game in February, we started poorly,” McInally said. “Wales played really well that day and we weren’t at our best.

“We know the challenge that faces us, they’re physical and when they get the crowd behind them here they’re a very hard team to beat.

“But we’ve got our strategy in place that we think we can come here and  win.”

The two teams will compete for the inaugural Doddie Weir Cup, with the Welsh and Scottish Rugby Unions donating a six-figure slice of the gate money to the former Scotland second-row forward’s charity foundation.

Weir is suffering from Motor Neurone Disease and the 48-year-old was at the Principality Stadium yesterday to see the Scotland team run.

“It’s the first time we are playing for the Doddie Weir Cup and he’s an inspirational guy,” McInally said.

“It was nice to see him here and the boys do take a  bit of added inspiration from that.

“We want to put in a performance that everyone is proud of, especially him.

“We’ve been building towards the World Cup for the last couple of years, but this is the home run into it now.

“We’re very aware of the number of games we have until the World Cup, but there’s a lot of rugby to be played before then and it will be good to get off to a good start.”

Scotland: Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh); Tommy Seymour (Glasgow), Huw Jones (Glasgow), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow), Lee Jones (Glasgow); Adam Hastings (Glasgow), Ali Price (Glasgow); Allan Dell (Edinburgh), Stuart McInally (c) (Edinburgh), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Glasgow), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Hamish Watson (Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow). Replacements: Fraser Brown (Glasgow); Alex Allan (Glasgow); Simon Berghan (Edinburgh); Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh); Matt Fagerson (Glasgow); George Horne (Glasgow); Pete Horne (Glasgow); Darcy Graham (Edinburgh).