Scotland bring out the big guns for Georgia
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Jamie Ritchie will lead Scotland in their final match before the upcoming World Cup.
Coach Gregor Townsend named his squad for their Nations Series fixture against Georgia this Saturday, August 26.
The last of three home Tests at Murrayfield will see a Scotland 23 with six changes from the team selected for the narrow 27-30 loss to World Cup hosts France in St Etienne two weeks ago.
Blindside flank Ritchie will feature in an unchanged back row, with Rory Darge on the openside and Jack Dempsey at No.8.
Vice-captain Grant Gilchrist is joined in the second row by Sam Skinner, behind a new-look front row containing Jamie Bhatti and WP Nel at loosehead and tighthead prop respectively, and Dave Cherry at hooker.
In the back division, Ben White returns at scrumhalf alongside Finn Russell – also a vice-captain – at flyhalf.
Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones once more resume their partnership at centre, and Darcy Graham returns to action to complete a back three alongside fellow wing Duhan van der Merwe and Ollie Smith, who starts at fullback.
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Among the replacement forwards, Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland and Javan Sebastian offer front row ballast, with Scott Cummings and Matt Fagerson also listed.
George Horne, Ben Healy and Chris Harris also get the nod as back replacements to complete Townsend’s final squad ahead of next month’s tournament in France.
Scotland will compete in Pool B of World Cup 2023, where they will face South Africa, Tonga, Romania and Ireland.
Scotland: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Jamie Ritchie (captain), 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Sam Skinner, 3 WP Nel, 2 Dave Cherry, 1 Jamie Bhatti.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 George Horne, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Chris Harris.
Date: Saturday, August 26
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 17.30 (20:30 Georgia standard time; 16.30 GMT)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (France)
Assistant referees: Tual Trainini (France), Ludovic Cayre (France)
TMO: Thomas Charabas (France)
