Scotland at full strength for World Cup opener against Springboks

MARSEILLE : Scotland have strengthened their scrum and made one backline change for their opening Rugby World Cup clash as coach Gregor Townsend on Friday named the team to take on holders South Africa in Marseille on Sunday.

It is a full-strength line-up with Zander Fagerson and Pierre Schoeman taking over at prop from WP Nel and Jamie Bhatti respectively, and George Turner in at hooker in place of Dave Cherry.

Veteran Richie Gray, who competed at the 2011 and 2015 World Cups but missed out on Japan four years ago, returns in the second row in place of Sam Skinner.

Blair Kinghorn at fullback in place of Ollie Smith is the only other change from the 33-6 win over Georgia at Murrayfield on Aug. 26 when Scotland played the last of their four pre-tournament warm-up tests.

The centre combination of Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu continues and could be key to Scotland’s hopes, along with their pacy wings Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe.

Former Australia international Jack Dempsey is picked ahead of Matt Fagerson at the base of the scrum while there is no place in the match day squad for three players who toured South Africa with the British & Irish Lions two years ago – centre Chris Harris, prop Rory Sutherland and flanker Hamish Watson.

Two of the Scottish starting XV are South African born with both Schoeman and Van der Merwe winning caps with the Junior Springboks before moving to Scotland to play club rugby and qualifying for their test side after three years of residency. Both have since become cult heroes with Scottish fans.

Scotland team:

15-Blair Kinghorn, 14-Darcy Graham, 13-Sione Tuipulotu, 12-Huw Jones, 11-Duhan van der Merwe, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Ben White, 8-Jack Dempsey, 7-Rory Darge, 6-Jamie Ritchie (capt.), 5-Grant