Stafford McDowall will captain a much-changed Scotland side for Saturday’s Nations Championship meeting with Fiji at Scottish Gas Murrayfield. Although played in Edinburgh, the fixture counts as a Fiji home game under the competition’s scheduling arrangements. Having slipped back to 6th after a hard-fought defeat in Pretoria, not sure how this one will affect the rankings if at all.
Centre McDowall returns to lead the side from inside centre and is partnered by Ollie Smith, who will wear a special 13 jersey in memory of former Scotland international Scott Hastings who passed away recently.
Gregor Townsend has freshened things up significantly after the bruising defeat in South Africa, with only Gregor Brown retained from the starting XV that ran out in Pretoria. Brown shifts from the second row to Number 8, where he is joined in the back row by vice-captain Josh Bayliss and Freddy Douglas, who earns his first Scotland start after impressing at age-grade level and with Edinburgh.
The backline sees the return of Scotland’s two most prolific men’s try scorers. Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe make their first appearances of this year’s championship and will be looking to add to their combined tally of 73 international tries. Fergus Burke gets the nod at fly-half after his cameo against Argentina, while George Horne starts at scrum-half following his lively contribution off the bench in Córdoba. Finn Russell resumes his wedding planning.
Up front, Rory Sutherland starts just a week after reaching his 50-cap milestone, packing down alongside Gregor Hiddleston, handed his first Scotland start, and tighthead D’Arcy Rae.
The unsinkable Jonny Gray wins his 83rd cap in the second row alongside Max Williamson, giving Scotland plenty of experience despite the extensive changes elsewhere.
Townsend has again opted for a 6-2 split on the bench, having arguably shot himself in the foot against the Boks when pace was needed late on by not selecting George Horne. Hooker Seb Stephen could become Scotland cap number 1240 if introduced, while Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson provide experienced front-row cover in case of emergency. Scott Cummings, Magnus Bradbury and Liam McConnell complete the forward replacements, with Jamie Dobie and previous captain Sione Tuipulotu covering the backs.
With a decent haul of points already banked from the opening two rounds and Scotland third in the table, this feels like a logical opportunity to rotate against a side that haven’t been at their best so far this summer (so far also from actual home). It also offers several fringe players the chance to strengthen their Six Nations and World Cup credentials, although the selection of Jamie Dobie on the bench is another reminder that Townsend continues to view him as more than just a scrum-half.
Scotland: Tom Jordan, Darcy Graham, Ollie Smith, Stafford McDowall (capt), Duhan van der Merwe, Fergus Burke, George Horne; Rory Sutherland, Gregor Hiddleston, D’arcy Rae, Jonny Gray, Max Williamson, Josh Bayliss, Freddy Douglas, Gregor Brown.
Replacements: Seb Stephen, Pierre Schoeman, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Magnus Bradbury, Liam McConnell, Jamie Dobie, Sione Tuipulotu.