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Today

12:05

Six Nations

Townsend makes shock decision as Scotland make 4 changes for England

By Josh Raisey

45 days ago

Pierre Schoeman arriving at Murrayfield ahead of kick off the Quilter Nations Series 2025 rugby international match between Scotland and Tonga at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on November 23, 2025 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by WM Sport Media/Getty Images)

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has not selected any Edinburgh players in his starting XV to take on England on Saturday in the Calcutta Cup.

Following their 18-15 loss to Italy in round one of the Guinness Six Nations in Rome, Townsend has made four changes to his starting team at Murrayfield, all of which are in the pack.

It will be the first time this century that an Edinburgh player has not featured in a Scottish starting XV, as an under-fire Townsend desperately looks for a response.

VIDEO

An unaltered backline, and choice of backline substitutes on the bench, means there is still no place in the squad for British & Irish Lions duo Blair Kinghorn and Duhan van der Merwe. The latter is still scratching for form, but has long been a thorn in English sides in the Calcutta Cup.

After a difficult time at the lineout in Rome, Ewan Ashman has been ruled out of the match with a neck injury. He has been replaced by Harlequins’ George Turner at hooker.

Fixture

Six Nations

Scotland

31 - 20

Full-time

England

All Stats and Data

Ashman’s Edinburgh team-mates Pierre Schoeman and Grant Gilchrist are also out of the team, with Glasgow Warriors’ Nathan McBeth starting at loosehead and his club-mate Gregor Brown packing down in the second-row. While Schoeman will still feature from the bench, Gilchrist is out of the squad entirely.

The final change in the pack will see former captain Jamie Ritchie start at blindside flanker, with Matt Fagerson taking the bench spot held by Brown at the Stadio Olimpico.

With Ashman out and Turner promoted to the starting XV, Dave Cherry, who has been plying his trade with Vannes in France’s second division, will join the subsitutes.

Scotland XV
15. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (13)
14. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (29)
13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (59)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (34) – Captain
11. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (18)
10. Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (90) Vice-captain
9. Ben White – Toulon (32)
1. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (6)
2. George Turner – Harlequins (51)
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (77)
4. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (13)
5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (46)
6. Jamie Ritchie – Perpignan (61)
7. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (35) Vice-captain
8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (30)

Replacements
16. Dave Cherry – Vannes (16)
17. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (45)
18. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (12)
19. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (10)
20. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (60)
21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (41)
22. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (35)
23. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (51)

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Comments

20 Comments

CF 44 days ago

This is mostly a Glasgow Warriors outfit, 10 in the starting and 4 on the bench…

SB 44 days ago

SCHOOOOOOOOO dropped to the bench.

Ed the Duck 45 days ago

This could get ugly for Townsend, very ugly indeed. An underpowered pack with only a 5/3 bench likely to be overrun, and that’s before England roll their 6 replacements. Tom Jordan is a 10, who can cover 12 and do a job at 15 at club level. Hastings didn’t even get on the pitch last week and Kinghorn is a rolls Royce of a Swiss Army knife that can easily facilitate 6/2. This has all the hallmarks of a real statement victory for England…

Hammer Head 44 days ago

A 5/3 just doesn’t make sense when you’re up against a team like England.

I see a trend emerging, 6/2s in games between the top sides. 5/3 for the rest.

It just doesn’t make sense not to stock up on forwards in the big games. It’s like not taking a Jerry can into the bush.

CM 44 days ago

Not sure if you have seen them play much, Scotland are always underpowered relative to Ire, Fra and Eng. They dont rely on power, so no need for a 6/2. Pretty sure Jordan knows where to stand, Ford would catch a lot of fullbacks out of pos with his kicking game. Scotland need to go for it, take risks and play on the idea that England are not only expected to win this game but also the tournament.

England have improved since last year but they are still hanging their hat on that All Blacks victory in Nov. Really they are still unproven, especially away from home. We’ll see how they go, they are a good team, but Scotland arent as bad as people make them out to be. People bang on about their loss to Arg in Nov, but dont forget that they were good enough to go out to a 21-0 lead in that game. Dry conditions for Sat. Love ya!

unknown 45 days ago

From an English perspective that’s not a 23 that fills me with worry!

Tom 45 days ago

Much more confident facing Scotland without Duhan and Graham at 11 and 14

LE 45 days ago

or Kinghorn at 15, Expect Ford to be constantly scanning the backfield for positioning errors with an out of position Wing and FB

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