Lions duo return to start for Scotland in crucial Tonga clash

British and Irish Lions pair Rory Sutherland and Chris Harris have been restored to the Scotland XV for Sunday’s World Cup pool B match against Tonga.

Head coach Gregor Townsend has made four changes in total to his starting line-up for the must-win encounter in Nice, with Scott Cummings and Kyle Steyn also added.

Prop Sutherland will make only his second start for the national team in 19 months after slipping down the pecking order since his involvement with the Lions two years ago. The 31-year-old takes the place of Pierre Schoeman, who drops to the bench.

Similarly, centre Harris, who also toured South Africa with the Lions in 2021, will make only his second international start of 2023 after losing his place to Huw Jones at the start of the year. Jones drops to the bench.

Wing Steyn is back in the team in place of Darcy Graham after declaring he was “absolutely gutted” to be left out of the 23 for the South Africa match.

The other change to the starting line-up sees lock Scott Cummings step in for Grant Gilchrist, who drops out of the matchday squad. Scrum-half George Horne and hooker Ewan Ashman are both on the bench after missing the 18-3 defeat against the Springboks with concussion.

1 Rory Sutherland

2 George Turner

3 Zander Fagerson

4 Richie Gray

5 Scott Cummings

6 Jamie Ritchie (c)

7 Rory Darge

8 Jack Dempsey

9 Ben White

10 Finn Russell

11 Duhan van der Merwe

12 Sione Tuipulotu

13 Chris Harris

14 Kyle Steyn

15 Blair Kinghorn

Replacements:

16 Ewan Ashman

17 Pierre Schoeman

18 WP Nel

19 Sam Skinner

20 Matt Fagerson

21 George Horne

22 Huw Jones

23 Darcy Graham