Coach Gregor Townsend has explained his decision to start Ali Price and Adam Hastings, as Sione Tuipulotu is set to lead out Scotland for the first time against Fiji this Saturday, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
With foreign-based players, aside from Sharks’ Dylan Richardson, unavailable for the Autumn Nations Series opener at Murrayfield, Hastings has the chance to impress in the absence of Finn Russell.
Centre Tuipulotu has already taken over captaincy duties from the Bath fly-half, and Price’s superb domestic form for Edinburgh sees him preferred to Glasgow Warriors duo Jamie Dobie and George Horne.“I think Adam [Hastings] has really settled in being back at Glasgow, playing with real pace, and his experience now as a club 10, as an international 10 has been evident,” Townsend told Scottish Rugby.
“And Ali [Price] has just got into some excellent form. The nine position was very competitive with George [Horne] and Jamie [Dobie]. Obviously, Ben [White] is not available.
“But Ali is the man in form right now and we’ve seen that in training. He’s just got to make sure that he’s focused on getting his basics right and making sure that the ball gets to 10 and others at a quick pace this weekend.”
Elsewhere, a recovered Darcy Graham returns on the wing, with his latest appearance for Scotland coming in a defeat to Ireland over 12 months ago.
The opposite flank will be occupied by Scotland’s recently-crowned all-time record try-scorer Duhan van der Merwe, who crossed for the 28th time against Uruguay in July.
On the bench, Auckland-born Tom Jordan offers back-up at fly-half and centre, and could make his Scotland bow having completed his five-year residency period.
Back rows Matt Fagerson and Rory Darge retain their places from the win in Montevideo, and they are joined by Warriors team-mate Jack Dempsey at blindside.
Ewan Ashman continues at hooker, with familiar faces Zander Fagerson and Pierre Schoeman either side of the Edinburgh front-rower.
TNT Sports and discovery+ will show all 21 Autumn Nations Series fixtures, including Scotland’s opener against Fiji on Saturday at 17:40 GMT, and England’s encounter with New Zealand at 15:10.
For Fiji, Saracens’ Eroni Mawi is missing, as well as Lyon stars Sam Matavesi and Semi Radradra, but Townsend is expecting their opponents’ physicality to cause problems.
“I love the way the Fijians play the game,” said Townsend. “They’re a very physical team as well. They do move the ball. They’ve got great handling skills and can score a try from anywhere.
“But they are physical, physical in the set-piece, physical in contact and that’s probably our first challenge, is to bring our physicality to them whenever we get the opportunity.”
Scotland Starting XV: Rowe; Graham, Jones, S Tuipulotu (captain), Van der Merwe; Hastings, Price; Schoeman, Ashman, Z Fagerson, Gilchrist, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.
Replacements: Richardson, Sutherland, Rae, Williamson, Brown, Dobie, Jordan, McDowall.
Fiji Starting XV: Ravula; Karawalevu, Vota, Tabuavou, Loganimasi; Muntz, Lomani; Hetet, Ikanivere (captain), Tawake, Nasilasila, Rotuisolia, Derenalagi, Salawa, Canakaivata.
Replacements: Dolokoto, Natave, Koroiduadua, Vocevoce, Miramira, Kuruvoli, Valetini, Nalaga.
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