Three changes as Scotland also follow Bok trend

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes for their Six Nations Round Two fixture against Ireland on Sunday.

Tom Jordan has been named in the Scotland side, pairing with hat-trick hero and Player of the Match against Italy, Huw Jones.

Jordan is one of the three changes to head coach Gregor Townsend’s starting XV, with Rory Sutherland coming in at loosehead prop and Jack Dempsey at No.8.

Aside from Jordan’s inclusion, the backs remain unchanged for Scotland – with Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe making up the back three. Co-captain Finn Russell and Ben White continue their halfback partnership.

Sutherland joins hooker Dave Cherry and tighthead Zander Fagerson in the front row, with the experienced duo of Jonny Gray and Grant Gilchrist once more selected in the second row.

The Ireland team to face Scotland on Sunday.
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Matt Fagerson switches to the blindside flank to accommodate Dempsey’s return, with co-captain Rory Darge on the openside.

Scotland will utilise six forwards and two backs on the bench this week – a trend made famous by the Springboks.

Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman and Will Hurd named as front-row reinforcements.

Recent call-up Sam Skinner is also added to the 23 with his last appearance coming in the 2024 Six Nations. Gregor Brown and Jamie Ritchie round off the forward replacements.

The squad is completed by the addition of Jamie Dobie and Stafford McDowall as backs replacements.

Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 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 Matt Fagerson, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Jonny Gray, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Rory Sutherland.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Gregor Brown, 20 Gregow Brown, 21 Jamie Ritchie, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Staddorf McDowall

Date: Sunday, February 9
Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 15.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: James Doleman (NZR)
Assistant Referees: Ben O’Keeffe (NZR) & Luc Ramos (FFR)
TMO: Richard Kelly (NZR)