Sharks flank on Scotland bench for Japan clash

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has revealed his team to face Japan at Murrayfield on Saturday.

Sharks flank Dylan Richardson has been called into Scotland's matchday 23 for the first time.

He is one of two uncapped players on Scotland's bench for Saturday's clash with the other being Scarlets’ prop Javan Sebastian.

Meanwhile, Townsend has made seven changes to his starting XV, with five of those in the forward pack, for Saturday's clash.

Scotland are looking to return to winning ways after last week's 15-30 defeat by world champions South Africa.

This will be Scotland's first match against 2019 World Cup hosts Japan since the Brave Blossoms knocked them out of the global showpiece with a 28-21 pool win in Yokohama.

In a new-look back-row, Josh Bayliss makes his first start for Scotland at No.8 after his debut off the bench in a victory against Australia two weeks ago.

Edinburgh flanks Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson resume their blindside and openside positions from the Wallabies win, with Ritchie also named as vice-captain to skipper Stuart Hogg.

Glasgow prop Jamie Bhatti earns his first Scotland start since August 2019 when he lined up against France in a World Cup warm-up match.

He is joined in the front row by club-mate George Turner who has recovered from an injury sustained against Australia to pack down at hooker.

An all-Glasgow front row is completed by Zander Fagerson at tighthead.

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg (captain), 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Josh Bayliss, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Jamie Bhatti.

Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Matt Fagerson, 22 George Horne, 23 Blair Kinghorn.

Date: Saturday, November 20

Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Kick-off: 13.00 (13.00 GMT; 22.00 JST)

Referee: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Paul Williams (New Zealand), Andrea Piardi (Italy)

TMO: Stuart Berry (South Africa)

Additional source: AFP