Scotland boss Gregor Townsend wields the axe for Tonga Test

George Turner will win a 50th Scotland cap this Saturday 23 November, as Tonga visit Scottish Gas Murrayfield for the Quilter Nations Series finale.

Sione Tuipulotu is the sole starting XV survivor from last week’s loss to Argentina as head coach Gregor Townsend makes a raft of changes to his squad.

For Scotland’s final Test match of 2025, centre Tuipulotu will link up with Glasgow teammate Ollie Smith, with fellow Warrior Kyle Rowe selected on the right wing.

Duhan van der Merwe, a replacement last time out, is given the nod on the opposing wing, with Tom Jordan selected at full-back in a first start of the series.

Scotland will have a new-look half-back pairing, with stand-off Fergus Burke primed for a first home cap and scrum-half Ben White making a welcome return after missing out through illness last week.

Zander Fagerson is another returnee, with the tighthead prop having recovered from an injury that curtailed his involvement in the British & Irish Lions tour earlier in the year.

Rory Sutherland will pack down at loosehead prop, joining half-centurion Turner to complete the front row.

It’s all change in the second row, as Max Williamson and Alex Samuel join forces in the engine room to start together, having both assumed the role as substitutes in the series opener against USA.

In the back row, Jamie Ritchie and Andy Onyeama-Christie earn first appearances of the autumn at blindside and openside flanker respectively, with Magnus Bradbury coming in at No.8.

Head-to-Head

Last 3 Meetings

Wins

3

Draws

0

Wins

0

Average Points scored

46

10

First try wins

100%

Home team wins

100%

On the bench, hooker Ewan Ashman, who last weekend became Scotland men’s all-time top try-scoring forward, with 12, is joined by props Nathan McBeth and Will Hurd, the latter of whom was a late call-up to the wider squad.

Second row Marshall Sykes and Josh Bayliss, who will cover the back row positions, are the remaining forwards.

And Scotland’s final squad of the calendar year is completed by back replacements, scrum-half George Horne, centre Stafford McDowall and Kyle Steyn, who has five tries in two appearances against Sunday’s opponents.

Scotland (caps in brackets):

15. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (11)
14. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (15)
13. Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (11)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (32) – Captain
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (51)
10. Fergus Burke – Saracens (2)
9. Ben White – Toulon (30) – Vice-captain

1. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (44)
2. George Turner – Harlequins (49)
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (75)
4. Alex Samuel – Glasgow Warriors (2)
5. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (8)
6. Andy Onyeama-Christie (Saracens) (9)
7. Jamie Ritchie – Perpignan (60) – Vice-captain
8. Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby (20)

Replacements
16. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (31)
17. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (4)
18. Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (9)
19. Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (6)
20. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (13)
21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (39)
22. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (15)
23. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (27)