Injuries sidelined both players last summer when Wales toured South Africa and for the four-game autumn series which culminated in a thrilling win against Australia.

Henson is back in his familiar number 12 shirt, while Phillips reclaims the scrum-half role he performed so effectively last term.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has made three changes to the side which defeated Australia 21-18 in November – all behind the scrum.

Henson replaces Tom Shanklin with Jamie Roberts moving to outside centre, while Phillips takes over from an injured Gareth Cooper, who was due to undergo minor knee surgery today.

Gloucester star Cooper is expected to be sidelined for a fortnight, meaning could also miss the Millennium Stadium appointment with England on Saturday week.

Leigh Halfpenny, meanwhile, makes a Six Nations debut on the wing.

The 20-year-old Cardiff Blues prospect, one of Wales’ autumn stars, starts with Mark Jones still recovering from appendix surgery.

Shanklin and fit-again Ospreys hooker Huw Bennett are on the bench, where their colleagues will include Sale Sharks scrum-half Dwayne Peel, who was initially omitted from Gatland’s 28-man Six Nations squad but then called up when Cooper succumbed to injury.

The starting XV features five survivors from Wales’ last Murrayfield trip two years ago which resulted in a 21-9 defeat – captain Ryan Jones, fly-half Stephen Jones, prop Adam Jones, lock Alun-Wyn Jones and flanker Martyn Williams.

Gatland said: “We have tried to select on form and are particularly keen to get a look at the partnership in midfield of Gavin Henson and Jamie Roberts, which we have been able to select for the first time.

“But we have had close calls to make throughout the squad, and selection is always down to a matter of opinion. Now we wait and see if these players selected can prove those options correct.

“Teams have gone to Scotland in the past and been over-confident and expected a result.

“But the Scots will be looking forward to taking us on, and if we take the challenge lightly we will be playing straight into their hands.

“They are a much-improved outfit over the last 12 months, and they have the talent and the ability to turn teams over.”