Scotland v Australia - teams and prediction
PREVIEW: Former Scotland captain Jamie Richie will make his first start of the November internationals against Australia this Sunday at Murrayfield.
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The loose forward, deposed both as captain and regular starter this year, returns after Jack Dempsey was ruled out with an injury sustained in a defeat by world champions South Africa a fortnight ago.
"Jamie was involved in both our wins this year in the Six Nations [against England and Wales]," said Scotland coach Gregor Townsend.
"He's had to deal with no longer being captain and also deal with the increased competition in the back row. But I believe he's playing some of his best rugby at the end of the season with Edinburgh.
"He was showing his super strengths - he was in the top two of winning jackal turnovers in the URC [United Rugby Championship]."
Townsend has selected what appears to be his strongest available outfit as the hosts go in search of a major scalp in their final Test of the year after pushing the Springboks hard before losing 15-32 at Murrayfield.
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Scott Cummings returns at lock after a one-match ban, while Townsend can field his preferred back three of Blair Kinghorn at fullback with Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe on the wings for the first time since the 2023 World Cup.
Tom Jordan who has impressed at fullback drops to the bench in a 5-3 split in favour of the forwards.
Meanwhile, Australia will field another debutant in this Nations series as Western Force wing Harry Potter has been named on the wing against Scotland.
Potter didn't need to have people asking whether he put his name into Test's Rugby Goblet of Fire as coach Joe Schmidt sang his praises after calling him into the squad for the Spring Tour.
With no expectations around his playing time, the 26-year-old was sorted in House Wallaby for Monday's clash with Scotland, starting on the wing.
"It was nice to get in the squad, but getting in the team's another thing, really," admitted Western Force flyer Potter, who's the 18th different player to be handed a debut for the Wallabies in 2024.
"But I was pretty keen to get my go. I'm really excited to have the opportunity and grateful the coaches have given me that chance.
"I was pretty shocked to be honest. The team's obviously been going really well, and there's been some good continuity, so it's a huge honour to get that [selection announcement] in the team meeting. Yeah, a bit of a shock, and I'm excited for it."
As you'd expect, puns such as the above have followed the London-born flyer all his life, born months after the book was first published.
Down the years, the London-born player, who moved to Melbourne as a child and then returned to England to really launch his professional career, has met all the jokes with patience and good grace.
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"It's a good challenge for journalists to see if they can think of a unique or original Harry Potter pun," he noted after originally being selected for the squad.
"It's been 26 years of it, so it's pretty funny, I reckon. And yeah, tip my hat if you think of something original."
Potter originally levitated to prominence with English club Leicester, marking up against the likes of Scottish opposition Darcy Graham throughout his stint with the Tigers.
He helped them claim a Premiership title under now England boss Steve Borthwick and admits the stint has given me a great perspective on the different styles of game and how he can mould his own style.
"My views of rugby have probably changed quite a lot. I learned so much in Europe about how it differs up here. Arguably, it's more of a Test match style, lots of set piece, lots of territory and kicking focus," he said.
"Then, going back to Australia, Super Rugby is exciting, lots of attacking focus, backs getting their hands on the ball. So I've enjoyed that, and doing a little bit more of that at club level, and hopefully the Wallabies can put a bit of that out there at Murrayfield.
"I'm very grateful to have got the opportunity I did in the UK, and it worked out well for me but I wanted to come back to Australia, partly because I wanted to play for the Western Force, but largely because you can't play for the Wallabies unless you're playing in Australia.
"I'm so grateful to have been able to make that debut happen - fingers crossed, in two more days."
Players to watch
For Scotland: Captain Sione Tuipulotu's leadership and his strong ball carrying and runs will open gaps for his electric outside backs in Graham, Van der Merwe and Kinghorn, Finn Russel will be the key to his side's success to dictate play while in the forwards Jamie Richie's ball-carrying ability should give Scotland front-foot ball.
For Australia: There will be eyes on debutant Harry Potter as well as new Aussie superstar Joseph-Akuso Suaalii who partners with Len Ikitau in the centres. The return of scrumhalf Jake Gordon will provide a great spark. In the forwards tackling machine Carlo Tizzano makes his return along with captain Harry Wilson who's a great ball carrier and runner.
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Prediction
@rugby365com: Australia by three points
Teams:
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 George Horne, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Kyle Rowe.
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Andrew Kellaway, 13 Joseph-Akuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter, 10 Noah Lolesio, 9 Jake Gordon, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Carlo Tizzano, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Will Skelton, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Matt Faessler, 1 Angus Bell
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Zane Nonggorr, 19 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 20 Langi Gleeson, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Max Jorgensen
Date: Sunday, November 24
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 13.40 GMT (00.40 AEDT)
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
With additional reporting by AFP