Only one player remains as Scotland overhaul XV for Fiji

Scotland have rung the changes for their third Nations Championship fixture against Fiji on Saturday, with Gregor Townsend making 14 changes and one positional switch from the XV that pushed South Africa in Pretoria, losing 42-28, leaving Gregor Brown as the only player to retain his place in the starting XV.

Brown keeps his spot but moves from the second-row to No.8 for what will be his first Test start in the position. He is joined in a new-look back row by Josh Bayliss and 21-year-old Freddy Douglas for the match at Scottish Gas Murrayfield.

Stafford McDowall captains the side from inside centre, where he partners Ollie Smith, while Scotland’s two leading men’s try scorers, Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe, make their first starts of the series on the wings. Fergus Burke will start at fly-half alongside George Horne at scrum-half.

There are further changes throughout the pack, with Rory Sutherland winning his 51st cap after reaching the half-century mark against the Springboks last weekend. Gregor Hiddleston is handed his first international start at hooker, while Jonny Gray returns to the engine room alongside Max Williamson.

Townsend has again opted for a 6-2 bench split, with Glasgow Warriors hooker Seb Stephen in line to make his Scotland debut if called upon. Experienced internationals Pierre Schoeman, Zander Fagerson and Scott Cummings also provide forward cover, while Sione Tuipulotu is among the backs on the bench.

Scotland XV: 15. Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears), 14. Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), 13. Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), 12. Stafford McDowall (captain, Glasgow Warriors), 11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby); 10. Fergus Burke (Saracens), 9. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors); 1. Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), 2. Gregor Hiddleston (Glasgow Warriors), 3. D’arcy Rae (Edinburgh Rugby), 4. Jonny Gray (USA Perpignan), 5. Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors), 6. Josh Bayliss (Bath Rugby), 7. Freddy Douglas (Edinburgh Rugby), 8. Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors)
Replacements: 16. Seb Stephen (Glasgow Warriors), 17. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), 18. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), 19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), 20. Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby), 21. Liam McConnell (Edinburgh Rugby), 22. Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors), 23. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors)