Gray returns for Scotland in Argentina

By Mark Stevens
14/7/22

Exeter Chiefs forward Jonny Gray returns to the Scotland starting line-up for this Saturday's series decider against Argentina in Santiago del Estero, live on Sky Sports, kick-off 8.10pm (BST).

The towering lock missed last week's 29-6 victory over Los Pumas, but head coach Gregor Townsend has recalled the 28-year-old as one of seven changes.

He returns in a new-look Scotland second-row, where he will pack down alongside former Glasgow Warriors team-mate Scott Cummings. Other changes see Ewan Ashman come into the front-row, while behind Ali Price, Sione Tuipulotu, Rufus McLean and Ollie Smith are also included from the outset.,

Glasgow Warriors and British and Irish Lion prop Zander Fagerson will make his 50th appearance for his country. Fagerson broke into the Glasgow Warriors team back in 2014 before making his Scotland debut against England in 2016. He was then selected for the 2019 Rugby World Cup and has been a mainstay in the squad since his first appearance.

Hamish Watson will captain the team for the first time, rounding off a memorable week for the Edinburgh back-rower after joining the 50-cap club in the victory over Argentina last weekend. He lines-up in an unchanged back-row alongside Glasgow Warriors’ duo Rory Darge and Matt Fagerson.

Edinburgh forward pack duo Pierre Schoeman and Dave Cherry are options off the bench after starting the game last week and Glen Young is in line for making his first cap. The Edinburgh second-row featured in the Scotland A game against Chile last month. Javan Sebastian and Saracens’ Andy Christie are also named on the bench.

George Horne will be aiming for his first involvement in the Test Series and also listed as a replacement is Glasgow Warriors pairing Ross Thompson and Sam Johnson.

SCOTLAND TEAM TO FACE ARGENTINA

15. Ollie Smith - Glasgow Warriors - uncapped
14. Rufus McLean - Glasgow Warriors - 2 caps
13. Mark Bennett - Edinburgh Rugby - 26 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu - Glasgow Warriors - 6 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe - Worcester Warriors – 18 caps
10. Blair Kinghorn - Edinburgh Rugby - 33 caps
9. Ali Price - Glasgow Warriors (Vice-Captain) - 53 caps
1. Rory Sutherland - Worcester Warriors – 19 caps
2. Ewan Ashman - Sale Sharks – 3 caps
3. Zander Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 49 caps
4. Scott Cummings - Glasgow Warriors - 22 caps
5. Jonny Gray - Exeter Chiefs (Vice-Captain) - 68 caps
6. Rory Darge - Glasgow Warriors - 6 caps
7. Hamish Watson - Edinburgh Rugby (Captain) - 50 caps
8. Matt Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 23 caps

Replacements

16. Dave Cherry - Edinburgh Rugby - 6 caps
17. Pierre Schoeman - Edinburgh Rugby - 11 caps
18. Javan Sebastian - Scarlets - 3 caps
19. Glen Young - Edinburgh Rugby - uncapped
20. Andy Christie - Saracens - 2 caps
21. George Horne - Glasgow Warriors - 17 caps
22. Ross Thompson - Glasgow Warriors - 2 caps
23. Sam Johnson - Glasgow Warriors - 26 caps