Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made 10 changes to his side from the one that faced France last weekend for this weekend’s clash with Georgia.
Centre Sam Johnson returns to the line-up for the first time in these warm-up games and is joined by Rory Hutchinson who is making his first start for the Scots.
Townsend is delighted to welcome Johnson
back and is expecting a tough test in Tbilisi on Saturday.
“We’re pleased to welcome Sam back into the side having performed so well for us in the spring, while a number of other players also get the opportunity to build on Saturday’s performance. There were improvements in our back-to-back games against France, in particular in defence, game management and at scrum, as well some elements of our attack. All of these will be put to the test against a very good Georgian side who we expect to be extremely motivated by their passionate home support. We’re expecting a very physical and confrontational encounter, which will be a great test for our squad. In order to rise to this challenge, we must take the game to our hosts right from the start, playing with relentless effort and accuracy,” he said.
In the front-row Stuart McInally captains
the side from hooker and will have WP Nel and Allen Dell either side of him,
while Ben Toolis and Grant Gilchrist begin in the engine room.
There is a powerful back-row in place as
John Barclay and Hamish Watson start on the flanks either side of Matt Fagerson
who opens at No 8.
Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell are the
half-back partnership, with Johnson and Hutchinson outside them in the centre.
Sean Maitland continues on the left-wing,
while Darcy Graham comes in on the right for the injured Tommy Seymour and Blair
Kinghorn finishes the XV from full-back in what is a first start of the season for
the Edinburgh man.
Scotland’s trip to Tbilisi is the first
ever visit to Georgia by a tier one country and will be the final chance for
many players to try and earn a place on the plane to Japan for the Rugby World
Cup with Townsend set to name his squad on September 3rd.
Scotland open up their World Cup campaign
with a clash against Ireland on September 22nd where they will hope
to make a good start in a bid to progress to the quarter finals of the
competition.
Check Out the Full 23-Man Squad Below.
Starting XV:
15. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh) – 13 caps
14. Darcy Graham (Edinburgh) – 5 caps
13. Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints) –
2 caps
12. Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors) – 4 caps
11. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 41 caps
10. Finn Russell (Racing 92) – 44 caps
9. Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne) 72
caps
1. Allan Dell (London Irish) – 23 caps
2. Stuart McInally (captain – Edinburgh) –
28 caps
3. Willem Nel (Edinburgh) – 30 caps
4. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh) – 19 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh) – 35 caps
6. John Barclay (Edinburgh) – 73 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh) – 26 caps
8. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 4
caps
Replacements:
16. Grant Stewart (Glasgow Warriors) – 1
cap
17. Jamie Bhatti (Edinburgh) – 14 caps
18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 20
caps
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) – 2
caps
20. Josh Strauss (Blue Bulls) – 23 caps
21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 25 caps
22. Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors) – 12
caps
23. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 22 caps
