Scotland to give Springboks a World Cup preview
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland will be out to field their strongest side against France over the next two weeks as they gear up for the World Cup.
Scotland are in a challenging pool with World Rugby top-ranked side Ireland and defending champions South Africa.
They open their World Cup campaign against reigning World Champs South Africa on September 10, before games against Tonga, Romania and Six Nations Grand Slam winners Ireland.
Regarded as the most difficult pool of the tournament, Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend believes the warm-up match against France will provide much-needed unity for the daunting task.
Scotland will take on France this Saturday at home, before heading to Saint-Étienne for the away fixture.
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"There is a lot around World Cup squad selection," Townsend said.
"But the important thing is for us to get the team out there and play these big games, so we go into that South Africa game with a team that has gelled together.
“There is no bigger challenge right now in world rugby than playing France, they are the number three team in the world, they are hosting the World Cup and are full of confidence, [so] we will be putting out as strong a team as possible over the next two weeks.”
New era for Scotts
Finn Russell will lead Scotland as one of 13 changes to Townsend’s starting line-up for this Saturday’s Nations Series encounter with France at Murrayfield Stadium.
Darcy Graham, whose brace of tries helped Scotland to a 25-13 win over Italy at the weekend, retains his place in the back three, where he is joined by fellow wing Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn at fullback.
Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones, who were named in the 2023 Six Nations Team of the Championship, resume their impressive centre partnership with the former named as one of two vice-captains.
There is a fresh halfback pairing as captain Russell links up with scrumhalf Ben White.
In the pack, Matt Fagerson switches to blindside flank, as part of a back row also containing openside Hamish Watson and No.8 Jack Dempsey.
The experienced heads of Richie Gray and vice-captain Grant Gilchrist – 135 caps between them – line up in the second row.
Ewan Ashman gets the nod to start at hooker, alongside Pierre Schoeman (loosehead prop) and Zander Fagerson (tighthead) in the front row.
Rory Darge, who led Scotland to that Italy win, is one of five forwards named as replacements, with Dave Cherry, Jamie Bhatti, WP Nel and Scott Cummings listed as forward options, with backs George Horne, Cameron Redpath and Ollie Smith completing the matchday 23.
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (captain), 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 WP Nel, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Rory Darge, 21 George Horne, 22 Cameron Redpath, 23 Ollie Smith.
Date: Saturday, August 5
Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 15.15 (16.15 France time; 14.15 GMT)
Referee: Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Frank Murphy (Ireland) & Federico Vedovelli (Italy)
TMO: Ben Whitehouse (Wales)