Scotland name team to face Wales in first autumn international

Edinburgh hooker Stuart McInally will lead out Scotland for the second time after being named captain for Saturday's autumn international against Wales in Cardiff.

The 28-year-old was due to skipper the Dark Blues through their summer tour of the Americas but injury meant he was only available for the final Test against Argentina in Resistencia.

And with Clermont Auvergne’s Greig Laidlaw unavailable as this weekend’s showdown is being played outside of the World Rugby international window and club-mate John Barclay still out injured, McInally has again been given the honour by head coach Gregor Townsend.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

With both sides unable to call-up players based outside of their domestic club scene, the Scotland XV is effectively a Glasgow-Edinburgh select side.

Just four players who featured in June’s 44-15 triumph over the Pumas feature this time, with McInally joined by fellow Edinburgh front-row Allan Dell, while Glasgow stand-off Adam Hastings and full-back Blair Kinghorn also keep their places.

Scotland’s reserves of experience are boosted by the return of five Warriors players - wingers Tommy Seymour and Lee Jones, centres Huw Jones and Alex Dunbar, and scrum-half Ali Price.

In the pack, lock Jonny Gray, prop Willem Nel and back-rowers Hamish Watson and Ryan Wilson - who were all rested during the summer - reclaim their slots alongside lock Ben Toolis and back-row Jamie Ritchie.

Edinburgh back Darcy Graham earns his first appearance in a Scotland matchday 23 and could make his debut if called upon from the bench.