Scotland team v Australia: Gregor Townsend makes sweeping changes as fully-loaded side named for Wallabies showdown

Gregor Townsend has reverted to largely the same team that faced the Springboks for Scotland’s final Autumn Nations Series fixture against Australia at Murrayfield.

Loose forward Matt Fagerson will pack down in the number eight jersey as he earns his 50th Test cap for his country and is joined in the back-row by Jamie Ritchie and Rory Darge.

Scotland at full-tilt for Wallabies

Australia are chasing an historic Grand Slam November after beating England and Wales and Townsend is taking no chances, naming a near full-strength team after giving several players an opportunity to shine against Portugal.

Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson are once again Scotland’s starting props with Ewan Ashman packing down at hooker while Scott Cummings returns from suspension to partner Grant Gilchrist after his red card against South Africa.

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Darcy Graham was a notable absentee against the Springboks but he returns to start in the back-three along with Duhan van der Merwe as Townsend fields the joint leading try scorers in Scottish Rugby history on the wings. Meanwhile, Blair Kinghorn completes the back-three.

Sione Tuipulotu captains the team from the centres where he is joined by Huw Jones with Finn Russell and Ben White the starting fly-half and scrum-half respectively.

Hooker Dylan Richardson and props Rory Sutherland and Will Hurd provide front-row cover on the bench with the versatile Alex Craig and Josh Bayliss also named as forward replacements. George Horne, Tom Jordan and Kyle Rowe complete the bench.

READ MORE: Australia team: Joseph Suaalii starts as Joe Schmidt hands out an 18th debut in one of six changes for Scotland

Scotland team

Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Alex Craig, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 ⁠George Horne, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Kyle Rowe

Date: Sunday, November 24
Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kick-off: 13:40 GMT
Referee: Chris Busby
Assistant Referees: Andrew Brace, Eoghan Cross
TMO: Ben Whitehouse