Just 14 of the 46 players return from the last time these sides met in 2018. There are 5 returning starters for Fiji with another 2 players promoted from the bench from that previous game. Four years ago Stuart Hogg, Grant Gilchrist, Jamie Ritchie and Matt Fagerson also started while Jonny Gray, Adam Hastings and Chris Harris were on the bench.
Tale of the tape
BACKS
63 Tries 28
94kg Average weight 91kg
262 Total caps 103
27.7 Average age 27.3
FORWARDS
914kg Pack weight 941kg
24 Tries 15
325 Total caps 158
29.1 Average age 29.4
SUBSTITUTES
143 Total caps 57
17 Tries 3
26.1 Average age 26.8
6 Scotland changes from last Test (v Australia)
- 15 – Hogg for Smith [+]
- 13 – Harris for Bennett [+]
- 12 – Redpath for Tuipulotu [=]
- 10 – Hastings for Kinghorn [+]
- 2 – Turner for Cherry [+]
- 4 – Gray for Skinner [-]
Head to heads
SCOTLAND
15 Hogg
14 Graham
13 Harris
12 Redpath
11 vd Merwe
10 Hastings
9 Price
1 Schoeman
2 Turner
3 Z. Fagerson
4 R. Gray
5 Gilchrist
6 Ritchie (c)
7 Watson
8 M. Fagerson
16 Ashman
17 Sutherland
18 Walker
19 J. Gray
20 Dempsey
21 White
22 Kinghorn
23 Tuipulotu
HEAD-TO-HEAD
ADV Scotland
ADV Scotland
EVEN
EVEN
ADV Scotland
ADV Scotland
ADV Scotland
ADV Scotland
ADV Fiji
ADV Scotland
EVEN
ADV Scotland
ADV Scotland
EVEN
ADV Fiji
EVEN
ADV Scotland
ADV Fiji
ADV Scotland
ADV Scotland
EVEN
ADV Scotland
ADV Fiji
FIJI
Murimurivalu 15
Tuicuvu 14
Nayacalevu (c) 13
Ravouvou 12
Habosi 11
Botitu 10
Lomani 9
Mawi 1
Matavesi 2
Saulo 3
Mayanavanua 4
Rotuisolia 5
Tuisue 6
Botia 7
Mata 8
Ikanivere 16
Natave 17
Tagi 18
Ratuniyarawa 19
Kamikamica 20
P. Matawalu 21
Tela 22
Maqala 23
Overall
Backs – advantage Scotland
As ever, huge attention will be focused on the half-backs with Scotland restoring Adam Hastings to the 10 shirt for the first time since October 2020 and Fiji opting to give an exceptionally talented centre in the shape of Vilimoni Botitu a run at stand off. The two scrum halves have been pretty much ever-present since the last RWC – could both sides do with a bit more serious competition for the 9 jersey running into the next World Cup?
Progression of half-back pairings in this fixture over the last decade:
- 2012 – Blair / Laidlaw v Matawalu / Ralulu
- 2017 – Pyrgos / Horne v Vularika / Volavola
- 2018 – Laidlaw / Russell v Lomani / Volavola
- 2022 – Price / Hastings v Lomani / Botitu
Forwards – advantage Scotland
There is plenty of experience throughout the front row and back row for the home side and the visitors but a massive contrast between the respective lock pairings. 33-year-old Richie Gray and 32-year-old Grant Gilchrist have played a combined 518 top-level matches. 25-year-old Temo Mayanavanua and 24-year-old Ratu Leone Rotuisolia have played 34. Wily veterans v a younger, more athletic pairing – who comes out on top?
Subs – advantage Scotland
Peni Matawalu’s previous biggest moment in Scotland was playing for Glasgow Hawks in the Melrose 7s. On Saturday he will get the chance to do something that big brother Niko never did and run out at Murrayfield in a Test match. Fiji can also spring 2021 Olympic gold medallist, Sireli Maqala, from the bench – a player who has been tearing it up for Bayonne since joining them last season.
Miscellany
– Split of selection by league:
- Scotland: URC – 16, Premiership – 7.
- Fiji: Super Rugby – 8, Top 14 – 8, Premiership – 5, Pro D2 – 1, Other – 1.
– There are a combined 587 caps in the starting lineup. Gregor Townsend has only once named a more experienced XV during his time in charge.
– Cameron Redpath will make his first-ever Test appearance at Murrayfield.
– While Richie Gray will make his first international start since March 2017, his wee brother, Jonny Gray, will be on the bench for Scotland for the first time since March 2019.
– The Fagerson brothers have both started the last 8 Tests in a row for Scotland, the longest current streaks of starts for the national side.
– There are 7 Test-capped Lions in the Scotland 23, matching the professional era record for the national side that was set during the Six Nations against England (and matched a week later versus Wales).
– Darcy Graham has gone 4 games without a try for Scotland, the longest drought of his international career.
8 responses
Think if Scotland’s aggression, discipline and game management isn’t spot on this could become a very uncomfortable test. I hope Hastings and Redpath bring the best out of the backs. If he gets ball Graham will create tries.
Is there a better way to demotivate a try-scoring debutant full-back to drop them for a Autumn test against less than Tier 1 opposition. Why not keep Hogg’s return for the All Blacks game.
Ditto for the two (ageing) 2nd row berths – are there really not 2 mid-20’s decent locks that could stake their claim against Fiji.
This could really be the game that makes or breaks the Townsend era, unless there’s a disciplined performance that produces a barrow load of tries and set pieces working like clockwork – what else can the coach come up in post-match interviews that could be positive.
The All Blacks are at an all time low and there for the taking – despite having some phenomenal players in Savea, Smith, Ione, Papalii, Barrett, Clarke. Wales & England must really fancy their chances, France must be gnashing their teeth at missing out on having a crack at the ABs.
Some may too unkind to say that Scotland have some pretty decent players but like NZ, have a coach that cannot seem to bring out the best in them and performances have been fraught with indiscipline and imprecision.
Agreed re. Smith. Does someone of Hogg’s experience (and familiarity with the players around him) really need a tune-up game before facing the All Blacks?
As I previously posted, Ross Thompson should also have been given the opportunity to add to his limited Test match experience against Fiji, particularly as Toony has gone for a 5-3 split among the replacements.
No grumbles about White being in the 23 but surely it should have been George Horne at 9 rather than Price?
Of the other absentees, Mark Bennett is the one we’ll miss the most. A Redpath-Bennett midfield axis has the potential, at least on paper, to be quite something to behold, particularly with Graham and VdM on the wings.
Should be a very easy win for Scotland. Other than Finn it is a dream back division for most fans.
it’s a good team on paper. happy to see Gray back in a scotland jersey. i don’t think i’ve seen him and Gilco play together before. Should stabalise the lineout but they need to keep their workrate high. hit plenty of tackles and rucks and get up and back onside to hit the next one. Johnny off the bench should be a help for Murphy Walker in the scrum. I really hope Walker gets at least 20 minutes. There’s a big opportunity for him to become our third choice (maybe even 2nd) tight-head, but he needs game time, being an unused sub has no value to him or Scotland.
Like all of us I have an opinion on FInn and I have mentioned it elsewhere. However that’s not Hastings issue. I really like Hastings and hope he plays well
Disappointed Hutchison not in squad as well actually. But looking forward to redpath playing
Really coming to the business end for toonie , although it appears he has less chance of the boot then a crooked met officer He is running out ways to spin the truth we can all see.
We need to win this one. Anything else and his threadbare credibility will be completely eroded
We cannot lose tomorrow. It is impossible. The SRU will not boot him and no one will offer him a job.
Like all of us I have an opinion on FInn and I have mentioned it elsewhere. However that’s not Hastings issue. I really like Hastings and hope he plays well
Disappointed Hutchison not in squad as well actually. But looking forward to redpath playing
Really coming to the business end for toonie , although it appears he has less chance of the boot then a crooked met officer He is running out of excuses and ways to spin these performances
Anything but a win really stretches his credibility and must put his position under intense scrutiny