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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
Yep NZ national u85 team is touring there atm I think (or just has).
Go to commentsWhat are they gonna do with the 500k and what does that achieve? They could dump the whole side and pick amateurs and save 10million, but what is that going to achieve?
The problem it feels like to me is I didn't hear what Gatland is going to do in order to win the 6N next year. How is he helping the problem. It just sounds like they're expecting miracles and for Gatland to turn around the national teams results, but what good is that when you're not fixing any of the problems and you'll just be back where you were when Gatland and the old players leave?
I think you are totally wrong in your stance. Wales abosolutely need to spend that 500k by investing in their future, it just doesn't sound like theyre giving Gatland any more resources to do it with. They're not using that 500k very well.
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