Following his debut against Fiji last weekend, Tom Jordan has been named at full-back for Scotland’s clash against reigning world champions South Africa this Sunday, making his first start in a Scotland shirt. Injuries to Kyle Rowe and 4-try hero Darcy Graham mean that Top 14 and European Champions Cup winner Blair Kinghorn also comes into the team and will start on the right wing.
Finn Russell and Ben White are chosen at half-back but the rest of the backline remains unchanged from the victory over Fiji, with Huw Jones and captain Sione Tuipulotu once again forming the centre partnership.
In the forwards, the lineup remains consistent with the team that triumphed over Fiji. Rory Darge continues as vice-captain and completes an all-Glasgow Warriors back row alongside Matt Fagerson and Jack Dempsey.
Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings anchor the second-row for a second consecutive week, while Zander Fagerson, fresh off the joy of becoming a father to twins (presumably hence the personal reasons that almost kept him out last week) joins Pierre Schoeman and Ewan Ashman in the front row. Congratulations Zander!
The bench sees Dylan Richardson and Rory Sutherland named as front-row replacements, with Elliot Millar Mills returning after missing last weekend. Max Williamson is also among the substitutes, joined by Josh Bayliss and Jamie Ritchie to facilitate a 6-2 forward split. Jamie Dobie and Stafford McDowall round out the matchday 23.
Scotland have beaten South Africa only five times in 29 games, and in in the lifetime of the site only two wins, the most recent in 2018. The competitive nature of Glasgow Warriors performances in South African both this season and last should at least give them confidence that a lot of these players are not the big green bogeymen of yore, even with “Edinburgh reject” Kwagga Smith set for his 50th cap.
They are beatable, but they’re also a tricky proposition in the Springbok colours. And by tricky I mean very very hard to beat.
Scotland: Tom Jordan, Blair Kinghorn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell; Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Dylan Richardson, Rory Sutherland, Elliot Millar Mills, Max Williamson, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Ritchie, Jamie Dobie, Stafford McDowall.
South Africa: Le Roux, Moodie, Am, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi, Handre Pollard, Hendrikse; Ox Nche, Mbonambi, T du Toit, Eben Etzebeth, Franco Mostert, Van Staden, Louw, Kwagga Smith.
Replacements: Marx, Steenekamp, Koch, RG Snyman, Siya Kolisi, PS du Toit, Wiese, Grant Williams.
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