Gray returns to Scotland starting line-up

By Mark Stevens
17/11/22

Exeter Chiefs forward Jonny Gray returns to the Scotland starting line-up as Gregor Townsend makes two changes for the visit of Argentina to BT Murrayfield this Saturday (3:15pm).

The experienced lock has been on the bench for the past two fixtures against Fiji and New Zealand, but he comes in for brother Richie, who has been ruled out through suspension.

The other change for the Scots sees Jack Dempsey make his first-ever start at No.8, lining up alongside skipper Jamie Ritchie and Matt Fagerson in the back-row.

Gray’s Exeter club-mate Stuart Hogg will win his 96th Test cap from full-back and there is another start at fly-half for Finn Russell.

Argentina are familiar foes for Scotland, having faced them three times already this year in the summer. Scotland lost the first test before recording a memorable victory in Salta. In the final match of the series in Santiago Del Estero, Scotland were edged out by a dramatic last-minute try.

SCOTLAND SIDE TO FACE ARGENTINA

15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs) 95 caps
14. Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 32 caps
13. Chris Harris – (Gloucester Rugby) 38 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 10 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 22 caps
10. Finn Russell (Racing 92) 64 caps
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) 57 caps
1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 15 caps
2. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) 56 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 53 caps
4. Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) 71 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist – (Edinburgh Rugby) 58 caps
6. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 27 caps
7. Jamie Ritchie – (Edinburgh Rugby, capt) 35 caps
8. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 3 caps

16. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) 29 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 23 caps
18. Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors) 1 cap
19. Glen Young (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
20. Andy Christie (Saracens) 3 caps
21. Ben White (London Irish) 8 caps
22. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 37 caps
23. Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) 3 caps