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Nine changes for Scotland versus Fiji 14 weeks after successful tour
By Liam Heagney
Gregor Townsend has named a Scotland team to host Fiji on Saturday that has nine changes from the XV that started in the final summer tour win over Uruguay. The Scots were 31-19 winners in Montevideo on July 27, an historic day when Duhan van der Merwe became his country’s all-time record try scorer.
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Fourteen weeks on from that successful completion of an unbeaten four-match tour of the Americas, the Scots have now confirmed their side for their Autumn Nations Series opener, a selection with four changes to the backs and five in the forwards.
Kyle Rowe, Huw Jones and van der Merwe are the three retained backs who will line out in the back line with Darcy Graham, new skipper Sione Tuipulotu, Adam Hastings and Ali Price.
The three retentions in the pack are Ewan Ashman, Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge, who will be supported on this occasion by Pierre Schoeman, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings and Jack Dempsey.
A Scottish Rugby Union statement read: “After being named as Scotland captain last week, Sione Tuipulotu will lead the team out at Scottish Gas Murrayfield for the first time this weekend against Fiji. With mostly just home-based players available due to the match taking place outside the international window, Sione will partner Huw Jones in the centre.
“On the wings, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe are named. In van der Merwe’s last match for Scotland he became the country’s top try scorer after touching down against Uruguay. After an impressive Guinness Six Nations earlier this year and scoring two tries against Chile on summer tour, Kyle Rowe is named at full-back.
“Ali Price makes his first start for Scotland since the 2023 Rugby World Cup final group game against Ireland, pairing up with former Glasgow Warriors teammate Adam Hastings.
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“In the forwards, the familiar sight of Zander Fagerson and Pierre Schoeman combine at prop, with Ewan Ashman starting at hooker. Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings link up in the second row. A URC-winning back row will start the match with Glasgow Warriors’ Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey all named.
“Dylan Richardson is eligible to play the fixture following approval from his club side and he has been named on the bench, aiming to make his second appearance at Scottish Gas Murrayfield following his debut in 2021. D’arcy Rae is back in the squad after impressing for Edinburgh and will look to add to his first cap that was gained in 2019 against Ireland.
“Max Williamson played in all four Skyscanner summer tour matches and will be looking to add to his tally from the bench. Gregor Brown and Jamie Dobie were also heavily involved on tour and they are selected in the match day 23 along with Glasgow Warriors 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 and making his 50th appearance in the final.”
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Scotland (vs Fiji, Saturday)
15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (7 caps)
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (39)
13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (50)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (27) (captain)
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (41)
10. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (30)
9. Ali Price – Edinburgh Rugby (67)
1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (34)
2. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (19)
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (67)
4. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (72)
5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (39)
6. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (47)
7. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (22) (vice-captain)
8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (20)
Replacements:
16. Dylan Richardson – The Sharks (3)
17. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (33)
18. D’Arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (1)
19. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (4)
20. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (3)
21. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (6)
22. Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
23. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (5)
