MY hardest job -- that is how Wales coach Steve Hansen describes the selection of the team to face Scotland at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.
Hansen is in his third and last season in charge of Wales, and his record in the Six Nations Championship reads a dismal one win in nine attempts - against Italy in Cardiff nearly two years ago.
He has also taken Wales on tour Down Under and to the World Cup in Australia, but of all his tasks he believes picking his latest team has been his toughest.
He has made seven changes, one positional, from the England game in the World Cup quarter-final, Mefin Davies and Gareth Llewellyn stepping in for injured pair Robin McBryde and Robert Sidoli, Rhys Williams on the wing, Sonny Parker back at centre, fit-again Duncan Jones back at loose head prop and Martyn Williams recalled at flanker with Dafydd Jones switched to number eight.
Dragons lock or number eight Michael Owen is among the replacements.
Hansen has retained Gareth Thomas at full back for his first game there on home ground after his success in the position against New Zealand and England in the World Cup, and he has left out Jonathan Thomas from the back row despite his form in the World Cup.
"It was the toughest side I've had to pick and a number of quality players have had to miss out," admitted Hansen. "I just hope the players do themselves and the nation justice."
The players he has left out who played against England are Mark Taylor, injured Mark Jones, McBryde and Sidoli, Iestyn Thomas and Jonathan Thomas.
Gareth Thomas will also be chasing the one try he needs to overhaul Ieuan Evans' Welsh record of 33.
"He played at full back in the last two Test matches and did the job in both," explained Hansen.
"He has a good boot when he uses it and offers us a lot of pace at the back."
Hansen decided not to risk McBryde and Sidoli and hopes the pair will be fir for the Ireland game in Dublin a week on Sunday.
"They are on the mend, but it didn't warrant risking losing them for the rest of the tournament," he said.
"It was a tough decision between Duncan and Iestyn because Iestyn has been playing well, but I'm happy with Duncan's ball winning option.
"It was also a tough call in the back row, but I think it is a better combination early in the game. It's up to Martyn to prove he should be in the side, but I'm sure Jonathan will play later in the game."
Hansen's team represents a worthy continuation of the all-out attacking policy he adopted in the latter stages of Wales' World Cup campaign, and he is to be applauded for that.
It will all depend on how much Wales miss key forwards McBryde and Sidoli because the back division looks one of the most exciting in the championship.
Wales team: G Thomas (Celtic Warriors); R Williams (Cardiff Blues), S Parker (Warriors), I Harris (Blues), S Williams (Neath-Swansea Ospreys); S Jones (Llanelli Scarlets), G Cooper (Warriors); Duncan Jones (Ospreys), M Davies (Warriors), A Jones (Ospreys), B Cockbain (Warriors), G Llewellyn (Ospreys), C Charvis (Tarbes, capt), M Williams (Blues), Dafydd Jones (Scarlets). Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys) or G Williams (Blues), G Jenkins (Warriors), M Owen (Newport Gwent Dragons), J Thomas (Ospreys), D Peel (Scarlets), C Sweeney (Warriors), T Shanklin (Blues).
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article