Home Rugby Nations Championship: Darcy Graham one of 14 Scotland changes for Fiji

Nations Championship: Darcy Graham one of 14 Scotland changes for Fiji

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Scotland have named an almost entirely changed team for Saturday’s Nations Championship game against Fiji at Murrayfield.

The only player retained from last weekend’s exhilarating defeat by South Africa is Gregor Brown, who shifts from lock to number eight.

Stafford McDowall captains the side and is partnered in the centres by Glasgow Warriors teammate Ollie Smith.

George Horne and Fergus Burke start as the half-backs, while Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham and Tom Jordan form a high-calibre back three.

In the forwards, Gregor Hiddleston makes his first Scotland start at hooker after impressing off the bench against Argentina and South Africa – he is joined in the front row by experienced duo Rory Sutherland and D’Arcy Rae.

Jonny Gray and Max Williamson are the second row partnership, with Josh Bayliss and Freddy Douglas – who also makes his first Scotland start – flanking Brown at the base of the scrum.

Head coach Gregor Townsend goes with a six-two split on the bench, with 20-year-old Glasgow hooker Seb Stephen set for his first cap.

The Scots beat Argentina in Cordoba then lost to South Africa in Pretoria and are listed as the away side for Saturday’s final summer Nations Championship match, even though it is being played at Murrayfield.

Fiji also ‘hosted’ Wales in Cardiff earlier this month, a match which they lost 24-39 before England inflicted a bruising 73-8 defeat last weekend.

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