De Luca had been hailed as the bright young hope in the Scottish centres when he burst on to the scene three years ago.

But the Edinburgh man has struggled to hold down a place in the Scottish side, and failed to capitalise after being given a second chance after an injury to Graeme Morrison.

De Luca was the man stripped of the ball as Maxime Médard scored France’s first try on the opening weekend after just two minutes and things did not improve for him as a sterile Scottish backline failed to trouble Wales.

“I don't know the aim of the national selectors but I am glad to have him,” said Scrivener who stepped in after Rob Moffat was sacked at the end of January.

“I had to think about whether he would start or not and I went for James King instead because he performed well off the bench last weekend and I wanted to give him a run.

“I was not under instruction in any way. I didn't want to change both centres.

“I pick a team based on who the opposition are and the tactics we want to use.”