Scotland make two changes to their starting XV for Sunday’s Nations Championship meeting with Australia at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, with Blair Kinghorn and Darcy Graham restored into a more familiar looking back three. There is also the prospect of a first cap for promising Newcastle back-row Ollie Leatherbarrow, who is named among the replacements.
Kinghorn starts at full-back, with Scotland’s record try-scorer Graham on the left wing and vice-captain Kyle Steyn on the right. The rest of the back division is unchanged, with Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones continuing their centre partnership, while Finn Russell and Ben White link up at half-back for the 28th time in a Test.
Gregor Townsend has also kept faith with the same starting pack that faced New Zealand and who were very much in touch at half time last Saturday. Ewan Ashman, fresh from his historic hat-trick against the All Blacks, starts at hooker between Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson. Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings remain in the second row, with Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey completing an unchanged back row.
Leatherbarrow, who qualifies through a Perth-born granny and has represented Scotland at Under-16 and Under-20 level, is one of six forward replacements with a different ratio than last week. He is joined by Josh Bayliss and Max Williamson, while Gregor Hiddleston, Pierre Schoeman and Will Hurd provide front-row cover. Jamie Dobie and Tom Jordan complete the bench, Dobie having had a rough go of it against Will (no relation) Jordan last time out.
Scotland record at home against Australia
Scotland head into the Australia game looking to respond after a 43-21 defeat to New Zealand. Ewan Ashman’s first-half hat-trick had the hosts within three points at the break, but the All Blacks scored three unanswered tries in the second half to pull clear. Scotland were unable to add to their tally after the interval, with the result extending their wait for a first win over New Zealand – despite promising recent performances suggesting that streak might be overturned sooner rather than later. For now, attention turns to the Wallabies.
Scotland: Blair Kinghorn, Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (capt), Darcy Graham, Finn Russell, Ben White; Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Pierre Schoeman, Will Hurd, Max Williamson, Josh Bayliss, Ollie Leatherbarrow, Jamie Dobie, Tom Jordan.
Australia: Tom Wright, Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Len Ikitau, Harry Potter, Carter Gordon, Ryan Lonergan; Angus Bell, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Isaac Kailea, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Filipo Daugunu.