Duhan reaches milestone as Scotland bring in uncapped duo

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Duhan van der Merwe will have something to celebrate when he runs out for Scotland against the USA on Saturday.

The South African-born star will win his 50th Scotland cap at Murrayfield.

Stafford McDowall will captain his country, having assumed the role earlier this year against New Zealand Mãori and also against Portugal last November.

In selecting his first matchday 23 of the season, head coach Gregor Townsend has given a debut to Edinburgh loose forward Liam McConnell, with hooker and clubmate Harri Morris also primed for a first Scotland outing from the bench.

Van der Merwe, who has notched some 32 international tries to date and is currently the country’s record men’s try-scorer, is joined in the back three by fellow wing Darcy Graham and fullback, Kyle Rowe, with captain McDowall linking up in the centres with Ollie Smith.

Jamie Dobie, named as a vice-captain, starts at scrumhalf alongside halfback partner Adam Hastings.

In the pack, McConnell starts at blindside flank with Dylan Richardson on the openside and Jack Dempsey, who features for the first time since the Guinness Six Nations, at No.8.

Scott Cummings is also named a vice-captain and is joined by Marshall Sykes in the second row, with loosehead prop Rory Sutherland, Patrick Harrison (hooker) and tighthead D’Arcy Rae, who wins a first Scotland start, selected in the front row.

On the bench, Morris is listed alongside fellow front rows Nathan McBeth and Murphy Walker, along with Alex Samuel and Max Williamson.

Edinburgh captain Magnus Bradbury, in line for a first Scotland outing since 2022, makes a return to an international 23.

The squad is completed by scrum-half George Horne and Ross Thompson, who will cover flyhalf.

Scotland: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Ollie Smith, 12 Stafford McDowall (captain), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Jamie Dobie, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Dylan Richardson, 6 Liam McConnell, 5 Marshall Sykes, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 D’Arcy Rae, 2 Patrick Harrison, 1 Rory Sutherland.
Replacements: 16 Harri Morris, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Murphy Walker, 19 Alex Samuel, 20 Max Williamson, 21 Magnus Bradbury, 22 George Horne, 23 Ross Thompson.

Date: Saturday, November 1
Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 17.40 (17.40 GMT; 12.40 EDT)
Referee: Damián Schneider (Argentina)
Assistant referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy), Katsuki Furuse (Japan)
TMO: Leo Colgan (Ireland)