Matt Fagerson will play his 50th match for Scotland in the Autumn test against Australia at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Sunday.
The Glasgow Warrior, who made his international debut in 2018, is named at No.8 and will anchor a back row containing openside flanker Rory Darge and Jamie Ritchie, who has been named on the blindside. Former Wallaby Jack Dempsey misses out on the chance to face his old country through injury.
The rest of Scotland’s starting pack who faced South Africa two weeks ago is reinstated, with Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings once more forming the second row.
Ewan Ashman returns at hooker alongside loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman and tighthead Zander Fagerson.
Captain Sione Tuipulotu links up with in-form Huw Jones to resume their familiar centre partnership, while half-backs Ben White and Finn Russell also return to the starting XV to pull the strings.
In the back three, Darcy Graham – the sole starting survivor from last weekend’s 59-21 win against Portugal – lines up with fellow winger Duhan van der Merwe, as Blair Kinghorn is selected at full-back.
Hooker Dylan Richardson and props Rory Sutherland and Will Hurd provide front row cover, with Hurd rewarded for a fine showing last weekend. Alex Craig and Josh Bayliss also named as forward replacements on a 5-3 bench. The replacement backs have some real zip about them with George Horne, Tom Jordan, and Kyle Rowe all capable of serious power and what the Aussies would call “footy skills”.
Scotland: Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu (captain), Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell, Ben White; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: Dylan Richardson, Rory Sutherland, Will Hurd, Alex Craig, Josh Bayliss, George Horne, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe.
Australia: Wright, Kellaway, Suaalii, Ikitau, Potter, Lolesio, Gordon; Bell, Faessler, Alaalatoa, Williams, Skelton, Valetini, Tizzano, Wilson (capt).
Replacements: Paenga-Amosa, Kailea, Nonggorr, Salakaia-Loto, Gleeson, McDermott, Donaldson, Jorgensen.
Meanwhile Stafford McDowall will captain the full national side and the A side in the space of a week in Saturday’s fixture at the Hive against Chile. A number of players who featured against Portugal also appear here but the emphasis is even more on development, with a smattering of experience. Along with a chance for players like Mosese Tuipulotu and bench of untested Academy players, there are also some lesser-seen faces like Edinurgh’s Ben Healy squeezed in for good measure. It would be great to see him really make a case for more game-time.
Scotland A team to face Chile at Hive Stadium on Saturday (kick off 6pm) (TV coverage tbc)
Scotland A: Arron Reed (Sale Sharks), Matt Currie (Edinburgh Rugby), Mosese Tuipulotu (Edinburgh Rugby), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors, captain), Ross McCann (Edinburgh Rugby), Ross Thompson (Edinburgh Rugby); Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors); Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors), Gregor Hiddleston (Glasgow Warriors), D’Arcy Rae (Edinburgh Rugby), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh Rugby), Ewan Johnson (Oyannax), Tom Dodd (Edinburgh Rugby), Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby), Ben Muncaster (Edinburgh Rugby).
Replacements: Harri Morris (Edinburgh Rugby), Mikey Jones (Edinburgh Rugby), Fin Richardson (Glasgow Warriors), Jare Oguntibeju (Glasgow Warriors), Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby), Ben Afshar (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Healy (Edinburgh Rugby), Jack Brown (Edinburgh Rugby).
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