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What Tony Johnson is hearing about the vacant All Blacks assistant role
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Scotland opt for continuity with just one change to starting XV
By Jon Newcombe
Rory Darge has been promoted from the bench and handed his first start of the Quilter Nations Series against Argentina at Murrayfield this Sunday.
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The Glasgow forward was out of action for the whole of October after damaging his MCL in the opening URC game of the season.
He returned to fitness in time to take his place on the bench against the All Blacks last week and now starts at openside in a straight swap with Matt Fagerson.
Darcy Graham is set to step out in a Scotland jersey for the 50th time this weekend, and will be hoping to mark the occasion with a repeat of his hat-trick heroics when the sides last met at Murrayfield in 2022.
Duhan van der Merwe returns to the bench after being dropped last week and will resume his rivalry with Graham in the race to become Scotland’s outright record try scorer if he comes on.
Graham and van der Merwe each have 34 tries from 49 and 50 caps, respectively. Van der Merwe joins Jamie Dobie and Tom Jordan as backline cover, with Gregor Townsend going for a 5-3 split.
Scotland team to face Argentina at Murrayfield on Sunday 16 November, kick-off 3.10pm:
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15. Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (61)
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (49)
13. Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (10)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (31) – Captain
11. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (26)
10. Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (88) – Vice-Captain
9. Ben White – Toulon (30)
1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (43)
2. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (30)
3. D’arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
4. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (44)
5. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (83)
6. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (11)
7. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (33) Vice-Captain
8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (28)
Replacements:
16. George Turner – Harlequins (48)
17. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (4)
18. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (10)
19. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (12)
20. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (58)
21. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (16)
22. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (10)
23. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (50)