Scotland make wholesale changes for Chile clash as Kyle Steyn handed new role
Kyle Steyn at Scotland training session.
Scotland have made 10 changes to their starting line-up for the penultimate match of their Americas tour that sees them face Chile at Estadio Nacional in Santiago.
Jamie Ritchie and Sione Tuipulotu will co-captain a much-changed side from the one that saw off the USA last weekend as the Scots look to continue their winning run.
They keep their places in the line-up from Washington DC along with Kyle Rowe, Kyle Steyn and Alex Craig, who are at full-back, wing and second-row this Saturday.
Ritchie at openside
Ritchie will this week start on the openside flank with Gregor Brown, who debuted in the tour opener against Canada, on the blindside and Josh Bayliss at number eight.
Craig is joined in the second-row by the recently capped Ewan Johnson while props Nathan McBeth and Will Hurd receive a first Test start alongside Dylan Richardson.
Moving into the backline and Gus Warr returns to the squad as a starter after he impressed against Canada and is joined by Ben Healy in a strong half-back combination.
There is a positional shift for regular wing Steyn as he is set to start at outside centre alongside Scotland‘s co-captain Tuipulotu in what is a dangerous midfield pairing.
Out wide, Jamie Dobie and Arron Reed are on the wings with Rowe at full-back. Reed was another to stand out against Canada and will be hoping to add to his try tally.
There is one potential debutant on the bench as hooker Patrick Harrison is named in jersey 16, with Pierre Schoeman and Javan Sebastian (both props), Max Williamson (second-row) and Rory Darge (flanker) the forward options available to head coach Gregor Townsend on the penultimate match of the team’s tour.
Fly-half Adam Hastings, Stafford McDowall and Matt Currie (both centres) are named as the backline replacements at Estadio Nacional for Saturday’s intriguing match.
Scotland team to face Chile
Scotland: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Jamie Dobie, 13 Kyle Steyn, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (cc), 11 Arron Reed, 10 Ben Healy, 9 Gus Warr, 8 Josh Bayliss, 7 Jamie Ritchie (cc) 6 Gregor Brown, 5 Ewan Johnson, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Will Hurd, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Nathan McBeth
Replacements: 16 Patrick Harrison, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Rory Darge, 21 Adam Hastings, 22 Stafford McDowall, 23 Matt Currie
Date: Saturday, July 20
Venue: Estadio Nacional, Santiago
Kick-off: (20:00 BST)
Referee: Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace (IRFU), Gonzalo De Achaval (UAR)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (SARU)
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