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Scotland make 6 changes for final World Cup warm-up against Georgia
By Josh Raisey
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made six changes from the side that narrowly lost to France two weeks ago for their final World Cup warm-up match against Georgia on Saturday at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
The centres and the back-row are the only departments that have remained untouched as Townsend has stuck with the trio of captain Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey at the back of the scrum, and Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones in the midfield.
Winger Duhan van der Merwe and vice-captain flyhalf Finn Russell are the other two backs to remain in the starting XV from the side that fell short to France 30-27 in Saint Etienne, while prop WP Nel and fellow vice-captain Grant Gilchrist are the other two forwards.
Prior to the loss on French soil, Townsend's side had recorded a victory over Les Bleus in Edinburgh as well as a win over Italy at the end of July. A win on Saturday would cap off a promising quartet of warm-ups before they begin their World Cup campaign against reigning champions South Africa in Marseille on September 10.
Scotland XV
15. Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps
14. Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 35 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 38 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 18 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 30 caps
10. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby) – Vice-Captain – 71 caps
9. Ben White (Toulon) 15 caps
1. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
2. Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) 9 caps
3. WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 55 caps
4. Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby) 27 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) - Vice-captain - 64 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) - Captain - 42 caps
7. Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) 10 caps
8. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 11 caps
Replacements
16. Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
17. Rory Sutherland (unattached) 25 caps
18. Javan Sebastian (Edinburgh Rugby) 5 caps
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 28 caps
20. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 35 caps
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 22 caps
22. Ben Healy (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 43 caps
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Latest Comments
James O'Connor comments are correct. Having been to the trainings at CHCH 's Malvern Park, there trainings have been fast and furious . They have stepped up a gear on previous seasons. James looks sharp. As do all the new guys. Ethan Blackadder is in great nick. I believe he is going to have great 2025. Off the field a good guy. Same goes for guys like Dominic Gardiner, Cullen Grace, George Bower. As has been the case for the last few years, great seeing Ethan and Dominic following in the footsteps of there Dads Todd Blackadder and Angus Gardiner, who were big parts of the first title winning Crusader teams, Todd the captain.
Go to commentsIt’s very clearly not intentional.
Certainly makes eye contact, and it’s certainly reckless which means he’s facing anything between an 8 - 208 week ban. Which is quite a range!
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