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Scotland make no less than 14 changes for Portugal
By PA
Glasgow centre Stafford McDowall will captain a heavily rotated Scotland side, featuring 14 changes to the starting XV, for Saturday’s Autumn Test against Portugal at Murrayfield.
Tom Jordan is the sole player to retain his position from the team that faced a 32-15 defeat against South Africa. Meanwhile, key winger Darcy Graham returns to the lineup after missing the match against the Springboks due to a head injury.
Glasgow lock Alex Samuel and Edinburgh back-rower Ben Muncaster are set to earn their first caps as part of the starting forward pack.
Johnny Matthews, capped once during Scotland’s 2023 Rugby World Cup win over Romania, has been named among the replacements. Elliot Millar Mills and Rory Sutherland retain their spots on the bench, while Ewan Johnson, the Oyonnax lock who debuted in the summer, joins as a second-row replacement.
Nineteen-year-old Freddy Douglas - who is part of Edinburgh's academy set-up - could make his Scotland debut from the bench, potentially becoming the youngest Scotland men’s debutant since 1963. Douglas, a standout for Scotland U20 in 2024, led in tackles and breakdown steals in the U20 Six Nations.
Jamie Dobie is also included among the replacements after appearing in the first two autumn matches. Kyle Rowe returns after an injury kept him out of the South Africa game, and Matt Currie is set to make his first Scotland appearance at Murrayfield.
Scotland team:
15. Tom Jordan
14. Darcy Graham
13. Rory Hutchinson
12. Stafford McDowall
11. Arron Reed
10. Adam Hastings
9. George Horne
1. Jamie Bhatti
2. Patrick Harrison
3. Will Hurd
4. Alex Craig
5. Alex Samuel
6. Luke Crosbie
7. Ben Muncaster
8. Josh Bayliss
Replacements:
16. Johnny Matthews
17. Rory Sutherland
18. Elliot Millar Mills
19. Ewan Johnson
20. Freddy Douglas
21. Jamie Dobie
22. Matt Currie
23. Kyle Rowe
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Latest Comments
Nice one John. I agree that defence (along with backfield kick receipt/positioning) remains their biggest issue, but that I did see some small improvements in it despite the scoreline like the additional jackal attempts from guys like tupou and the better linespeed in tight. But, I still see two issues - 1) yes they are jackaling, but as you point out they aren't slowing the ball down. I think some dark arts around committing an extra tackler, choke tackles, or a slower roll away etc could help at times as at the moment its too easy for oppo teams to get quick ball (they miss L wright). Do you have average ruck speed? I feel like teams are pretty happy these days to cop a tackle behind the ad line if they still get quick ball... and 2) I still think the defence wide of the 3-4th forward man out looks leaky and disconnected and if sua'ali'i is going to stay at 13 I think we could see some real pressure through that channel from other teams. The wallabies discipline has improved and so they are giving away less 3 pt opportunities and kicks into their 22 via penalty. Now, they need to be able to force teams to turnover the ball and hold them out. They scramble quite well once a break is made, but they seem to need the break to happen first... Hunter, marika and daugunu were other handy players to put ruck pressure on. Under rennie, they used to counter ruck quite effectively to put pressure on at the b/down as well.
Go to commentsYes, probably why he still annoys me even now
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