Eight Uncapped Players Included In Scotland's Team To Face Tonga

October 27, 2021
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Ultimate Rugby

Scotland’s opening match of the 2021 Autumn Nations Series will be marked with a number of notable firsts as Gregor Townsend names the team to face Tonga at BT Murrayfield on Saturday 30 October – kick-off 2:30 pm.

Scotland will be represented by Co-Captains for the first time as Glasgow Warriors and British & Irish Lion Ali Price and Edinburgh Rugby’s Jamie Ritchie both lead the team.

Scotland field four uncapped players in the starting XV, two in the backs and two in the forwards. A further four debutants are in line for caps off the bench, which has a 6-2 forwards split.

Loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman, lock Jamie Hodgson, winger Rufus McLean and centre Sione Tuipulotu all debut in the starting line up while Marshall Sykes, Luke Crosbie, Jamie Dobie and Ross Thompson could make their debuts off the bench.

Edinburgh flyer Darcy Graham starts at full-back and is joined in the back three by Glasgow duo Kyle Steyn, who will add to his single cap won against France in the last match at BT Murrayfield played in front of crowds in March 2020, and Rufus McLean who will make his first Scotland start. Joining McLean on Scotland debut will be clubmate Sione Tuipulotu who lines up with fellow Glasgow Warrior Sam Johnson as the centre partnership.

Co-Captain and Lions scrum-half Ali Price teams up with Edinburgh’s Blair Kinghorn at fly-half to form a brand new half-back pairing. In the pack fellow, British & Irish Lions Zander Fagerson starts at tighthead prop with Hamish Watson at openside flanker, as they feature for Scotland for the first time since the South Africa tour this summer.

Edinburgh Rugby’s Jamie Ritchie, also named as Co-Captain, packs down on the blindside of the scrum which is anchored by Glasgow Warriors’ Matt Fagerson at number eight. Youth and experience combine in the second row which sees Rob Harley earn his 23rd cap for Scotland and joined by Edinburgh lock Jamie Hodgson, who will win his first cap. Up front George Turner starts at hooker with Fagerson and with a debutant on the loose-head side in Edinburgh Rugby’s Pierre Schoeman.

Scotland team to face Tonga – Saturday 30 October – kick-off 2:30pm - live on Amazon Prime

15. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby – 19 caps

14. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors – 1 cap

13. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors – Uncapped

12. Sam Johnson – Glasgow Warriors – 18 caps

11. Rufus McLean – Glasgow Warriors – Uncapped

10. Blair Kinghorn – Edinburgh Rugby – 25 caps

9. Ali Price (cc) – Glasgow Warriors – 42 caps

1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby – Uncapped

2. George Turner – Glasgow Warriors – 17 caps

3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 38 caps

4. Jamie Hodgson – Edinburgh Rugby – Uncapped