Scotland have named an almost entirely changed team for Saturday’s Nations Championship game against Fiji at Murrayfield.
- Only player retained is Gregor Brown, who shifts from lock to number eight.
- Stafford McDowall captains, partnered in the centres by Ollie Smith; back three: Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham, Tom Jordan.
- Head coach Gregor Townsend says the focus is on the future; youngsters earn opportunities: Gregor Hiddleston, Freddy Douglas, Seb Stephen.
The only player retained from last weekend’s exhilarating defeat by South Africa is Gregor Brown, who shifts from lock to number eight.
Stafford McDowall captains the side and is partnered in the centres by Glasgow Warriors teammate Ollie Smith.
George Horne and Fergus Burke start as the half-backs, while Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham and Tom Jordan form a high-calibre back three.
In the forwards, Gregor Hiddleston makes his first Scotland start at hooker after impressing off the bench against Argentina and South Africa – he is joined in the front row by experienced duo Rory Sutherland and D’Arcy Rae.
Jonny Gray and Max Williamson are the second row partnership, with Josh Bayliss and Freddy Douglas – who also makes his first Scotland start – flanking Brown at the base of the scrum.
Head coach Gregor Townsend goes with a six-two split on the bench, with 20-year-old Glasgow hooker Seb Stephen set for his first cap.
“The goal was that everybody was going to play in this tour,” Townsend said.
“We’ve got to have an eye on the future, so the depth that we’ve created and still creating, that only comes if you give people opportunities.”
The Scots beat Argentina in Cordoba then lost to South Africa in Pretoria and are listed as the away side for Saturday’s final summer Nations Championship match, even though it is being played at Murrayfield.
Fiji also ‘hosted’ Wales in Cardiff earlier this month, a match which they lost 24-39 before England inflicted a bruising 73-8 defeat last weekend.
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Scotland squad to face Fiji
Scotland XV: Tom Jordan, Darcy Graham, Ollie Smith, Stafford McDowall, 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.
