WARREN Gatland has defended his decision to give under-fire scrum-half Gareth Cooper another chance to revitalise his international career at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday.

The Blues No. 9 has retained his place in the Wales starting XV to play Scotland, despite widespread calls for his regional rival Richie Rees to be handed his first international start.

Cooper, like many of his team-mates, endured a difficult evening at Twickenham and was dragged off by Gatland after delivering a looping pass over the head of half-back partner Stephen Jones with 12 minutes remaining.

However, after naming just two changes to his side to face the Scots, the New Zealander uttered a staunch defence of the British Lion's game at HQ.

"We had a close look at Gareth's game and thought that his decision-making was pretty good, we were pretty happy with lots of his game," insisted Gatland.

"There's a couple of things he could have speeded up on, but we felt his box kicks were good — the wingers didn't chase well enough. He made a good break down the right-hand side when he put Tom James away, he got bumped off once by Danny Care, but made a try-saving tackle on our line on James Haskell.

"Yes, there are a couple of areas he needs to work on, but we feel he gets better the more games he plays.

"Richie did well when he came on.

"But without setting the world on fire, Gareth's been doing a good job."

As he has done throughout his tenure as national coach, Gatland has again made it clear he is not ready to bow to public or media pressure.

At yesterday's team announcement at the squad's Vale of Glamorgan base he was asked how he justified the selection of Cooper and Blues hooker Gareth Williams, who struggled with his line-out throwing against England.

Gatland's reply was: "Because I am the coach."

He went on: "We weren't happy with the way our line-out went, but the hooker wasn't totally responsible for that."

As it is, the lone Dragons representative at Twickers, Luke Charteris, pays the price for Wales's line-out failings, with Jonathan Thomas coming in at second row, where he has played most of the season for the Ospreys.

Before the tournament began Gatland revealed he was considering Thomas as a back-row forward, essentially in the No. 6 jersey.

But the versatile Osprey, by virtue of experience and extra mobility, comes in to partner Liberty team-mate Alun Wyn Jones in the boilerhouse.

Elsewhere, Lions prop Gethin Jenkins has recovered from the calf problem that forced him to sit out the England game, but is named on the bench, having not trained until today.

"We didn't want to force it with Gethin," explained Gatland.

"We also didn't think it was fair on Paul James — the scrum went very well last weekend.

"Gethin will get some time on Saturday and put himself in contention for selection against France."

Behind the scrum, Leigh Halfpenny is preferred to fellow Blues flyer Tom James.

Ospreys No. 8 Ryan Jones will captain Wales for the 21st time, taking him to joint fourth alongside Gareth Thomas, one behind Rob Howley and Colin Charvis (22), but still some way off Ieuan Evans's record of 28.

And Saturday will also signal yet another landmark for flanker Martyn Williams, who goes past Gareth Llewellyn on the all-time appearance list with 93 caps. Only Charvis (94) and Gareth Thomas (100) are ahead of the veteran openside.