SA prop gets his jersey back for Twickenham clash

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes to his team to face England in a Six Nations Round Three clash at Twickenham Stadium in London on Saturday.

Kyle Rowe starts on the wing in place of Darcy Graham who has not been selected following the concussion he sustained in the Ireland game.

Rowe, capped 10 times for Scotland, made his debut in 2022 against Argentina and played in four out of five of last year’s Six Nations matches.

South African-born prop Pierre Schoeman has been restored to the starting XV with Rory Sutherland selected as a replacement.

Jamie Ritchie, who captained Scotland to victory on their last outing at Twickenham Stadium in 2023, has been picked to start with Matt Fagerson on the bench.

In the back three, accompanying Rowe, is the familiar sight of Blair Kinghorn at fullback and Duhan van der Merwe on the wing.

Glasgow Warriors Huw Jones and Tom Jordan retain their berths in the centre with Finn Russell in the starting line-up at flyhalf having successfully progressed through the World Rugby protocols following his concussion against Ireland.

Ben White is named as scrumhalf.

In the forwards, Zander Fagerson will accompany Schoeman in the front row along with Dave Cherry who makes his third start in a row.

Cherry, who will make his 14th appearance for Scotland, debuted against England in the 2021 victory at Twickenham Stadium.

Elsewhere in the forwards is unchanged with Grant Gilchrist and Jonny Gray in the second row, with the latter set to make an 80th appearance for Scotland.

Blindside flank Ritchie is joined by co-captain Rory Darge at openside and No.8 Jack Dempsey in the back row.

On the bench alongside Sutherland, Ewan Ashman, Will Hurd, Sam Skinner, Gregor Brown, Jamie Dobie and Stafford McDowall all earn selection for the second week in a row.

Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Rowe, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Tom Jordan, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (co-captain), 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge (co-captain), 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Gregor Brown, 21 Matt Fagerson, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Stafford McDowall.

Date: Saturday, February 22
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 16.45 (16.45 GMT)
Referee: Pierre Brousset (France)
Assistant referees: Andrew Brace (Ireland), Luc Ramos (France)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)