Half-century for Scotland loose forward

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Matt Fagerson will play his 50th match for Scotland in the Nations Series against Australia at Murrayfield on Sunday.

The Glasgow Warrior, who made his Test debut in 2018, is named at No.8 and will anchor a loose forward trio containing openside flank Rory Darge and Jamie Ritchie, who has been named on the blindside.

The rest of Scotland’s starting pack who faced South Africa two weeks ago is reinstated, with Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings once more forming the lock combination.

And up front, Ewan Ashman returns at hooker, either side of loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson at tighthead.

Captain Sione Tuipulotu links up with Huw Jones to resume their familiar centre partnership, with halfbacks Ben White and Finn Russell – who needs three points to reach 400 for his country – also returning to the starting XV.

In the back three, Darcy Graham – the sole starting survivor from last weekend’s 59-21 success against Portugal – lines up with fellow winge Duhan van der Merwe, as Blair Kinghorn is selected at fullback.

Hooker Dylan Richardson and props Rory Sutherland and Will Hurd provide front row cover, with the versatile Alex Craig and Josh Bayliss also named as forward replacements.

Scotland’s final 23 of the Nations Series is completed by backs George Horne, Tom Jordan and Kyle Rowe.

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Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 George Horne, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Kyle Rowe.

Date: Sunday, November 24
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 13.40 GMT (00.40 AEDT)
Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)