Pierre Schoeman loses Scotland spot to another South African
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has revealed his matchday squad for Saturday’s Six Nations Round Two clash against England in Edinburgh.
There are four changes to the starting line-up that lost to Italy last weekend, with Nathan McBeth, George Turner, Gregor Brown, and Jamie Ritchie all selected.
Dave Cherry, who earns a spot on the bench as replacement hooker, is the fifth change to Scotland’s matchday 23 from week one.
Glasgow Warriors prop McBeth, who was born in Welkom in South Africa, gets a first championship start as he takes over the No.1 jersey from Pierre Schoeman.
McBeth will pack down alongside Turner at hooker and Zander Fagerson at tighthead.
In the second row, Brown joins forces with Scott Cummings, having been a substitute against Italy on the opening weekend.
Elsewhere, blindside flanker Ritchie gets the nod to join openside Rory Darge and No.8 Jack Dempsey to complete a pack showing those four changes from week one.
The back division remains as was for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup encounter, with Tom Jordan retaining his place at fullback and Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie lining up on the wings.
Captain Sione Tuipulotu will again lead the team from inside centre, with Huw Jones on his outside, as Ben White and Finn Russell once more resume their partnership at scrumhalf and flyhalf respectively.
Cherry is joined on the replacements’ bench by loosehead prop Schoeman and tighthead Elliot Millar Mills, with Max Williamson and Matt Fagerson covering the second and back rows.
Scrumhalf George Horne, flyhalf Adam Hastings and winger Darcy Graham complete Scotland’s Calcutta Cup squad.
Scotland: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Gregor Brown, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Nathan McBeth.
Replacements: 16 Dave Cherry, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Adam Hastings, 23 Darcy Graham.
Date: Saturday, February 14
Venue: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 16.40 (16.40 GMT)
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy), Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen South Africa)
