Matt Fagerson will play his 50th match for Scotland in the Autumn test against Australia at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Sunday.
The Glasgow Warrior, who made his international debut in 2018, is named at No.8 and will anchor a back row containing openside flanker Rory Darge and Jamie Ritchie, who has been named on the blindside. Former Wallaby Jack Dempsey misses out on the chance to face his old country through injury.
The rest of Scotland’s starting pack who faced South Africa two weeks ago is reinstated, with Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings once more forming the second row.
Ewan Ashman returns at hooker alongside loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman and tighthead Zander Fagerson.
Captain Sione Tuipulotu links up with in-form Huw Jones to resume their familiar centre partnership, while half-backs Ben White and Finn Russell also return to the starting XV to pull the strings.
In the back three, Darcy Graham – the sole starting survivor from last weekend’s 59-21 win against Portugal – lines up with fellow winger Duhan van der Merwe, as Blair Kinghorn is selected at full-back.
Hooker Dylan Richardson and props Rory Sutherland and Will Hurd provide front row cover, with Hurd rewarded for a fine showing last weekend. Alex Craig and Josh Bayliss also named as forward replacements on a 5-3 bench. The replacement backs have some real zip about them with George Horne, Tom Jordan, and Kyle Rowe all capable of serious power and what the Aussies would call “footy skills”.
Scotland: Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (captain), Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: Dylan Richardson, Rory Sutherland, Will Hurd, Alex Craig, Josh Bayliss, George Horne, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe.
Australia: Wright, Kellaway, Suaalii, Ikitau, Potter, Lolesio, Gordon; Bell, Faessler, Alaalatoa, Williams, Skelton, Valetini, Tizzano, Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Paenga-Amosa, Kailea, Nonggorr, Salakaia-Loto, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Jorgensen.
Scotland A vs Chile
Meanwhile Stafford McDowall will captain the full national side and the A side in the space of a week in Saturday’s fixture at the Hive against Chile. A number of players who featured against Portugal also appear here but the emphasis is even more on development, with a smattering of experience. Along with a chance for players like Mosese Tuipulotu and bench of untested Academy players, there are also some lesser-seen faces like Edinurgh’s Ben Healy squeezed in for good measure. It would be great to see him really make a case for more game-time.
Scotland A team to face Chile at Hive Stadium on Saturday (kick off 6pm) (TV coverage tbc)
Scotland A: Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Matt Currie (Edinburgh Rugby), Mosese Tuipulotu (Edinburgh Rugby), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors, captain), Ross McCann (Edinburgh Rugby), Ross Thompson (Edinburgh Rugby); Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors); Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Gregor Hiddleston (Glasgow Warriors), D’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh Rugby), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh Rugby), Ewan Johnson (Oyannax), Tom Dodd (Edinburgh Rugby), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby), Ben Muncaster (Edinburgh Rugby).
Replacements: Harri Morris (Edinburgh Rugby), Mikey Jones (Edinburgh Rugby), Fin Richardson (Glasgow Warriors), Jare Oguntibeju (Glasgow Warriors), Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby), Ben Afshar (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Healy (Edinburgh Rugby), Jack Brown (Edinburgh Rugby).
12 responses
I always feel Townsend never picks the strongest 23 for a match. Bhatti has had a great season so far but Sutherland is on the bench. Bayliss on current form deserved to start before Ritchie & Jordan has been outstanding in defence & under the high ball, two areas that are not Kinghorn’s strength. Current form never seems to be rewarded.
Completely agree with your statement Ronald. Jordan should be in before Kinghorn and Ritchie is not the player he was a couple of seasons ago. Anyway, come on Scotland
Good win today despite not being at our best. Sione relishing the captaincy. If Ireland beat Australia as expected next weekend then we will be confirmed as six seed in the world rankings and a top seed at the RWC draw next year. We could then have Georgia or Wales as second seed in our group. Things are looking up.
Can someone explain to me why Kinghorn got MoM? Was it for his dropped pass and his usual multiple non passing to a winger when on a 2:1 overlap?
yards made I believe.
What is not to like about that then! Kinghorn was the man of the match ! What a hard decision to chose anyone, so many excellent perfromances. It does not seem to matter anymore whom Toonie picks, they play like a team. Shout out for that Bayliss handoff, I enjoyed to see them being shunted away like ninepins.
a fairly tentative 1st half with lots of drops and lineout issues (other than the lovely Sione try). Not sure anyone else is the same, but whenever we go to the corner, i have an uneasy feel that we will mess it up. happened too often throughout the game. 2nd half was so much better against a perhaps tiring Australia.
Most encouraging thing was Australia never really looked like breaking down the defence. other than a hopeful kick through (and fantastic finish). Sure they would have loved to have kept them to just the 6 points.
Decent enough autumn with some newer faces (Tom Jordon, Josh Baylisss, Will Hurd) showing up well but still worries ahead of the next 6Ns. bench options, and lineout still a worry for me.
Possibly our best 80 minute performance since the Calcutta Cup at Twickenham in 2023. Wallabies just couldn’t get up to or very far beyond the gain line before being nullified by our defence or beaten at the breakdown. You could sense their frustration on the field.
Our domination of the last 20 of the first half should have yielded more points, but there you go.
Second half was exceptional. By no means error-free, yet constant pressure applied to a good Aussie team delivered three more tries and a thumping win. Great to have been there yesterday, having been in the crowd a number of times when we’ve lost to the Wallabies – including the heartbreak of the 2015 RWC quarter final.
Unusually, I never felt at any point in that game that Scotland were going to lose. The defence was magnificent and the whole back row was outstanding, with Ritchie playing the best I’ve seen him in a while. It felt like we really are able now to compete with and beat the top tier nations if we have a full strength squad. Plenty of errors, but how good to win when not playing our best.
I’ve heard this before..having to bum about how good you are on the training pitch because its not happening in the game…then get laughed at..I did when our captain said as much and i bet the coach gave a wee nod of the heed.These guys are being coached-off looking for high-speed perfection…the enemy of good..never mind the opposition( bye-bye accuracy)
Wipe ‘showboat’ off the dial altogether.
It was when he tried to Hollywood the yanks off the park no long ago.He must have looked like Stan Laurel within the first minute realising speed doesnt kill…but seemingly hasnt realised.
kick-on Stan
Huh?
and that was just the first half.