Duhan returns as Townsend names new Scotland captain for Fiji clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Stafford McDowall will captain a Scotland side consisting of 14 changes as they round off the first block of 2026 Nations Championship games with a match against Fiji this Saturday at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.
The centre is joined in the midfield by Ollie Smith, who will wear a unique jersey commemorating the passing of Scott Hastings, for a fixture that, for competition purposes, is a Fiji ‘home’ game.
The two leading male try scorers in the country’s history come into Scotland’s starting XV, with Darcy Graham (38 tries) and Duhan van der Merwe (35) set for their first involvement of the series.
Fergus Burke, who came off the bench two weeks ago in Argentina, lines up at flyhalf with George Horne, another replacement in their seven-try win in Cordoba, starting at scrumhalf.
In the pack, Rory Sutherland, who won a 50th cap for his country against South Africa last weekend, is selected at loosehead prop with Gregor Hiddleston primed for a first international start at hooker, and D’arcy Rae named at tighthead.
Jonny Gray will win an 83rd Scotland cap and is joined in the second row by Max Williamson.
Josh Bayliss, a try scorer against the Springboks last time out and vice-captain for Saturday, is named at blindside flanker, with Freddy Douglas picked for a first Scotland start on the openside. Gregor Brown, listed at No.8, switches from the second row and is the sole surviving starting player from last weekend’s game in Pretoria.
A 6/2 split on the bench in favour of the forwards sees Seb Stephen poised to become Scotland cap No.1240, should the hooker be called upon.
There is experience aplenty in props Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson, with Scott Cummings and Magnus Bradbury offering ballast to cover the back five.
Liam McConnell, who debuted against USA in November, makes up the pack substitutes, with Jamie Dobie and Sione Tuipulotu completing the matchday 23.
Scotland: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Ollie Smith (vice-captain), 12 Stafford McDowall (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Fergus Burke, 9 George Horne (vice-captain), 8 Gregor Brown, 7 Freddy Douglas, 6 Josh Bayliss, 5 Max Williamson, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Gregor Hiddleston, 1 Rory Sutherland
Replacements: 16 Seb Stephen, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 Liam McConnell, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Sione Tuipulotu
Date: Saturday, July 18
Venue: Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 14.10 BST (13.10 GMT; 01.10 FJT Sunday, July 19)
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant referees: Eoghan Cross (Ireland), Anthony Woodthorpe (England)
TMO: Tual Trainini (France)
