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Scotland change all 15 from Canada win with big guns returning for USA

Scotland's wing Duhan van der Merwe celebrates after scoring his third try during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Scotland and England at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland on February 24, 2024. (Photo by Andy Buchanan / AFP) (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has changed the entire starting XV that triumphed over Canada last week for their clash with the United States this Friday in Washington DC.

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A Scottish team containing ten debutants in the squad beat Canada 73-12 last Saturday in the first of their four-match tour of the Americas.

Townsend has reverted back to a much more experienced team which will run out at Audi Field, with Sione Tuipulotu and Rory Darge co-captaining the side, with Jamie Ritchie and Kyle Steyn serving as vice-captains.

Video Spacer

Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus on the criticism levelled at his Bomb Squad

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks were once again asked to respond to criticism levelled at the use of their bench.

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Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus on the criticism levelled at his Bomb Squad

SPOTLIGHT: The Springboks were once again asked to respond to criticism levelled at the use of their bench.

All eight replacements featured last week in some capacity against Canada, with hooker Robbie Smith, lock Max Williamson and centre Matt Currie all making their debuts.

The match will see flanker Jamie Ritchie earn his 50th cap for Scotland.

Fixture
Internationals
USA
7 - 42
Full-time
Scotland
All Stats and Data

Scotland XV
15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (4)
14. Kyle Steyn – Vice-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (20)
13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (48)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Co-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (25)
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (39)
10. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (27)
9. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (30)
1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (31)
2. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (17)
3. Murphy Walker – Glasgow Warriors (3)
4. Alex Craig ­– Scarlets (2)
5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (38)
6. Jamie Ritchie – Vice-Captain – Edinburgh Rugby (49)
7. Rory Darge – Co-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (19)
8. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (45)

Replacements
16. Robbie Smith – Northampton Saints (1)
17. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (31)
18. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (4)
19. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (1)
20. Luke Crosbie – Edinburgh Rugby (9)
21. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (3)
22. Ross Thompson – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
23. Matt Currie – Edinburgh Rugby (1)

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c
cw 1 hour ago
The coaching conundrum part one: Is there a crisis Down Under?

Thanks JW for clarifying your point and totally agree. The ABs are still trying to find their mojo” - that spark of power that binds and defines them. Man the Boks certainly found theirs in Wellington! But I think it cannot be far off for ABs - my comment about two coaches was a bit glib. The key point for me is that they need first a coach or coaches that can unlock that power and for me that starts at getting the set piece right and especially the scrum and second a coach that can simplify the game plans. I am fortified in this view by NBs comment that most of the ABs tries come from the scrum or lineout - this is the structured power game we have been seeing all year. But it cannot work while the scrum is backpeddling. That has to be fixed ASAP if Robertson is going to stick to this formula. I also think it is too late in the cycle to reverse course and revert to a game based on speed and continuity. The second is just as important - keep it simple! Complex movements that require 196 cm 144 kg props to run around like 95kg flankers is never going to work over a sustained period. The 2024 Blues showed what a powerful yet simple formula can do. The 2025 Blues, with Beauden at 10 tried to be more expansive / complicated - and struggled for most of the season.

I also think that the split bench needs to reflect the game they “want” to play not follow some rote formula. For example the ABs impact bench has the biggest front row in the World with two props 195cm / 140 kg plus. But that bulk cannot succeed without the right power based second row (7, 4, 5, 6). That bulk becomes a disadvantage if they don’t have a rock solid base behind them - as both Boks showed at Eden Park and the English in London. Fresh powerful legs need to come on with them - thats why we need a 6-2 bench. And teams with this split can have players focused only on 40 minutes max of super high intensity play. Hence Robertson needs to design his team to accord with these basic physics.



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