Scotland forced into midfield change for Samoa after Tom Jordan blow

British and Irish Lions duo, Rory Sutherland and Ewan Ashman, have been handed Scotland starts for Friday’s match in Auckland against Samoa, before heading off to join Andy Farrell’s squad in Australia on Sunday.

Elliot Millar-Mills completes an unchanged front row as Scotland look to recover some of the rankings points they lost in last week’s defeat to Fiji.

Scotland slipped down to eighth in the rankings and now face an uphill task to make it into the first pot of teams (ranked 1-6) when the RWC 2027 draw takes place after the Autumn Nations Series.

Gregor Brown replaces Marshall Sykes in the second row and pairs up with Grant Gilchrist, while Andy Onyeama-Christie returns to the starting line-up alongside tour captain Rory Darge and Matt Fagerson, who completed his return from injury last weekend against Fiji.

Head-to-Head

Last 3 Meetings

Wins

0

Draws

0

Wins

3

Average Points scored

17

40

First try wins

100%

Home team wins

67%

In the backs, Kyle Rowe, Kyle Steyn, Fergus Burke and Jamie Dobie all retain their places.

However, there is a new-look combination in midfield. Tom Jordan has been ruled out of the match due to a fractured hand, with Rory Hutchinson and Stafford McDowall taking his and Cameron Redpath’s place in the centre.

Arron Reed starts on the wing in place of Darcy Graham, who has already hooked up with the Lions, after scoring a try in the win against the Maori All Blacks a fortnight ago.

In a 6-2 split on the bench, prop Fin Richardson is in line for his first cap, having previously donned the blue jersey against the Maori All Blacks. Nathan McBeth and George Turner offer front row options, with Cameron Henderson and Marshall Sykes able to offer support in the second row.

Ben Muncaster has recovered from his leg injury sustained in the first game of tour, with George Horne and Adam Hastings also named on the bench.

SCOTLAND team v Samoa, Friday, 18 July, KO 08:35 (BST)

15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (13)
14. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors – vice-captain (24)
13. Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (10)
12. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (13)
11. Arron Reed – Sale Sharks (3)
10. Fergus Burke – Saracens (1)
9. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (13)

1. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (42)
2. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (28)
3. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (8)
4. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (9)
5. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby – vice-captain (81)
6. Andy Onyeama-Christie – Saracens (8)
7. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors – captain (31)
8. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (56)

Replacements

16. George Turner – Harlequins (46)
17. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (2)
18. Fin Richardson – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
19. Cameron Henderson – Leicester Tigers (1)
20. Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
21. Ben Muncaster – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
22. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (37)
23. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (33)

(caps in brackets)