After being named as squad captain last week, Sione Tuipulotu will lead Scotland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield for the first time this weekend against Fiji.
Despite only having home-based players available, there’s an impressive backline available with Adam Hastings managing Huwipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe (top try scorer) and Darcy Graham (not far behind).
Normally you wouldn’t see this lineup for an out of window test, but some of the big names in this team perhaps need to find some form ahead of South Africa?
Kyle Rowe of course has bags of form for Glasgow and he’s the chosen fullback. Meanwhile Ali Price starts for Scotland for the first time since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final group game against Ireland.
In the forwards again there are a lot of names bigger than would usually grace this sort of Autumn match. Zander Fagerson and Pierre Schoeman combine at prop, with presumably first-choice Ewan Ashman starting at hooker.
Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings link up in the second row, while Glasgow’s URC-winning back-row of Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey round out the pack.
Dylan Richardson is eligible to play following approval from the Sharks and has been named on the bench, aiming to make just his second appearance at Murrayfield since his debut in 2021.
Max Williamson, Gregor Brown and Jamie Dobie were all involved in the summer tour and are on the bench alongside Glasgow centre Stafford McDowall.
Now eligible for Scotland on residency grounds, Tom Jordan will be eying his Scotland debut having been on form for Glasgow Warriors, featuring in every game of Warriors’ URC-winning 2023/24 campaign, making his 50th appearance in the final.
Scotland: Kyle Rowe, Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Adam Hastings, Ali Price; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Dylan Richardson, Rory Sutherland, D’Arcy Rae, Max Williamson, Gregor Brown, Jamie Dobie, Tom Jordan, Stafford McDowall.
Fiji: Ravula; Karawalevu, Vota, Tabuavou, Loganimasi; Muntz, Lomani; Hetet, Ikanivere (capt), Tawake, Nasilasila, Rotuisolia, Derenalagi, Salawa, Canakaivata.
Replacements: Dolokoto, Natave, Koroiduadua, Vocevoce, Miramira, Kuruvoli, Valetini, Nalaga.
12 responses
Strong team but I’d rather have seen Dobie start at SH rather than Price, and the absence of Matthews is, well, unfathomable. Nice to see Adam Hastings back in the fold, though.
Dobie over Horne is a choice for sure!
Strong team although I would have liked one of the other second rows to start in place of Gilchrist, he won’t be around for the next World Cup so let’s start looking to the future. I hope Richardson gets a start during this series as he was impressive during the summer tour.
You play the best you’ve got . The future can wait.
If you think Gilchrist is the best we’ve got then fair enough but he showed his leadership qualities in that Edinburgh game away to Stormers, it was embarrassing & he was one of the worst culprits, he looked as if he would rather be anywhere else, but it’s all about opinions.
And if that’s the best we have Ronald then let it be.
Perhaps the strong team is a nod to the fact that Fiji are not a bad side? I expect this will be quite a cagey affair to start with and hopefully Scotland can build phases and pressure to get the score board ticking over so the last 20 isn’t a nervous watch from behind the sofa (if I had TNT sports 😒)
Just signed up for the month, only £30 . Cheaper than going to the pub to watch the games!
Same here, just signed up to Discovery+ to watch the games
Signed up for sky to watch a game,…sorry we’ve changed to amazon prime,OK signed up for that..sorry you’ll have to sign up for tnt sports this time…
Bugger that I give up..don’t have unlimited funds
I agree! And the powers that be say they want to grow the game! Something in a brewery springs to mind
I object strongly to the matches being shown on tnt tv. Not every fan van afford £30 to watch a few matches. What regard is given to regular followers? SO disappointing .