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Scotland make no less than 14 changes for Portugal

By PA
Scotland players line up for the national anthems last Sunday in Edinburgh (Photo by Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)

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.

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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.

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Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend on that red card and other missed opportunities

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    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend on that red card and other missed opportunities

    Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend believes his team had some “bad luck” in their 15-32 defeat to the Springboks at Murrayfield on Sunday.

    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.

    Fixture
    Internationals
    Scotland
    59 - 21
    Full-time
    Portugal
    All Stats and Data

    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

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    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

    Team Form

    Last 5 Games

    2
    Wins
    2
    1
    Streak
    3
    15
    Tries Scored
    18
    -25
    Points Difference
    -54
    2/5
    First Try
    2/5
    1/5
    First Points
    2/5
    3/5
    Race To 10 Points
    2/5
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    S
    Soliloquin 1 hour ago
    Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

    For Fischer, many people in France are still doubting him - it’s the first time he has a full season (31 games). Before, he was always injured at some point. He’s 27, so not the youngest, and you have a younger Boudehent or Jégou behind.

    His physicality is incredible, but he didn’t prove he’s got hands. He just proved he was able to defend like a beast.

    But you know, even Cros has improved his handling skills lately, so it’s never too late!

    And he will play the Champions Cup with a solid Bayonne side, so let’s see!


    I don’t agree with ‘only Fischer’: Brennan proved he’s a great 4/7 utility player, and Galthié likes those very much (Woki or Flament). He’s 23, playing for Toulouse with high concurrence, so the prospect is good. I rate him higher than Auradou, who had a few games in the 6 Nations.

    For Depoortère, he had a more silent season than the previous one - injured at the worst moment during the Autumn Tests series - but came back strong with a Champions Cup and a solid partnership with Moefana. What could save him would be to start playing as a 12 when Moefana isn’t there, bulking up and become the new Jauzion.

    But he’s 22 and an incredible talent at 13. His height makes me think he had more potential than your fan favorite Costes or the utility player that is Gailleton.


    As for Montagne or Mallez, with the lack of quality in props, they could find a spot!

    Especially Mallez who’s got a good spot to get behind Baille at Toulouse. Neti isn’t the youngest and hasn’t an international level.


    And again, as Ugo Mola said, you never play with your best team.

    So 30-32 player is more of a 38-40, so you need back-ups.

    France knows very well how useful they can be during RWCs.

    236 Go to comments
    S
    Soliloquin 1 hour ago
    Why New Zealand learned more from their July series than France

    Hastoy was a good prospect before the 2023 RWC, he was the fly-half who led La Rochelle to the victory in the Champions Cup final in Dublin against Leinster.

    But he made it to the squad only because Ntamack got his ACL.

    He played against Uruguay, which a terribly poor game by the French side, and since then he declined a bit, alongside his club.

    Under the pressure of Reus and West at 10, he regained some credit at the end of the season (among all a drop at the 81st minute of a game).

    He’s quite good everywhere, but not outstanding.

    He doesn’t have the nerves, the defense and the tactical brain of Ntamack, the leadership and the creativity of Ramos or the exceptional attacking skills of Jalibert.


    I really hope that:

    -Ntamack will get his knee back. The surgery went well. He wasn’t the most elusive player in the world, but he was capable of amazing rushes like the one against NZ in 2021 or the Brennus-winning try in 2023.

    -Jalibert will continue to improve his defense. He started working hard since March (after his defensive disaster against England) with a XIII specialist, and I’ve seen great moments, especially against Ntamack in the SF of the Champions Cup. It’s never too late. And it would be a great signal for Galthié.

    -Hastoy will build up his partnership with Le Garrec, that La Rochelle will start a new phase with them and Niniashvili, Alldritt, Atonio, Boudehent, Jegou, Bosmorin, Bourgarit, Nowell, Wardi, Daunivucu, Kaddouri, Pacôme…

    236 Go to comments
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