Scotland change one for England
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Magnus Bradbury is the only change Scotland’s starting line-up for this Saturday’s Six Nations Test against England at Murrayfield.
The 24-year-old Edinburgh back-row has recovered from the thigh strain that kept him from starting last weekend’s loss to Ireland, with clubmate and debutant that day, Nick Haining, moving to the bench.
The remaining change to the match 23 occurs on the bench, where Edinburgh tighthead Simon Berghan returns to the position in which he was selected last weekend, only to be ruled out through illness on the day of the game.
Head Coach Gregor Townsend said: “We were proud of parts of our performance in Dublin at a very difficult venue. The challenge for the squad is to replicate that level and take our chances when they come, in order to win tight games.
“We were disappointed not to beat Ireland but the opportunity to face England, against whom we are bidding to retain the Calcutta Cup, is one that excites players, coaches and supporters alike,” said Townsend.
Bradbury – scorer of try number three of six in last year’s remarkable 11-try Calcutta Cup match at Twickenham – will feature in an all-Edinburgh back-row with Jamie Ritchie on the blindside and Hamish Watson at openside.
They’ll start behind an unchanged tight-five of Glasgow Warriors second-rows Scott Cummings and Jonny Gray, and clubmates Fraser Brown (hooker) and Zander Fagerson (tighthead prop), with Edinburgh’s Rory Sutherland reselected at loosehead.
No change to the backs means Ali Price and Adam Hastings will rekindle their club partnership at Test level, with fellow Warriors Huw Jones and Sam Johnson – try scorers against England in 2018 and 2019 respectively – in midfield.
Captain and fullback Stuart Hogg anchors a back-three with Sean Maitland (Saracens) and Blair Kinghorn (wing).
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg (captain), 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Blair Kinghorn; 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Ali Price; 8 Magnus Bradbury, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie; 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Scott Cummings; 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Fraser Brown, 1 Rory Sutherland
Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Ben Toolis, 20 Nick Haining, 21 George Horne, 22 Rory Hutchinson, 23 Chris Harris