Chile v Scotland A: Why new boys must impress to avoid Love Island-style eviction

Supporters planning to attend Saturday’s match in Santiago have been warned to wrap up warm as the Scotland A team comes out of cold storage after eight years.

It’s a little chilly in Chile and that should suit the visitors as they begin their South American tour at Estadio Santa Laura, home to football team Unión Española.

The sides have never met before but this match stops short of being a full Test on the grounds that Gregor Townsend will be without his English-based players.

The tourists should have more than enough in the tank to deal with opponents who are ranked 23rd in the world, 16 places below Scotland. Townsend’s team has a youthful feel to it and the match is a huge opportunity for the three uncapped starters, flanker Ben Muncaster, full-back Ollie Smith and centre Matt Currie; and the three on the bench, hooker Johnny Matthews, prop Murphy Walker and lock Glen Young.

The Scotland coach has already said that “five or six” players will fly home next week as he reduces his squad for the three-Test series against Argentina. Those new to the national team know they need to impress in Santiago to avoid a Love Island-style early eviction.

The inclusion of Damien Hoyland and Rufus McLean on the wings and Sione Tuipulotu at inside centre ensures there is plenty of pace in the back division but Townsend said he would look to vary the attack.

“We want to see the players’ strengths out on the field and we want to move the opposition around. But we also want to break up the game too – that’s not necessarily passing the ball, it could be using a kicking game to move the Chileans around and also bring our defence into play.

“The next level we are looking for from our defence is getting more ball back that we can run off