Scotland team explained: Darcy Graham decision, Ollie Leatherbarrow debut and the unlucky non-starter

It’s likely to be cold and wet at Murrayfield on Sunday and those paying top dollar to watch Scotland take on Australia in the Nations Championship will be hoping for something special to brighten the mood after a disappointing start to the national side’s autumn campaign against the All Blacks.

The Scots failed to score a point in the second half last week and the sold-out stadium was noticeably quiet as New Zealand ran away to win 43-21.

Tickets are still available for the Australia match and while the Wallabies may lack the lustre of their Trans-Tasman rivals it should be a far closer contest as sixth in the world (Scotland) take on seventh (Australia).

Darcy Graham during a Scotland training session at the Oriam this week. | SNS Group / SRU

Gregor Townsend has called up Darcy Graham and promoted Blair Kinghorn from the bench, the only two changes made by the head coach to his starting team as he looks to continue his fine record against opponents he has beaten four times out of five.

Scotland’s record try-scorer is unleashed

The presence of Graham is always liable to illuminate proceedings and the Hawick man, who replaces the benched Jamie Dobie on the left wing, has the speed and trickery to shine in even the most difficult conditions.

A bicep injury picked up in pre-season followed by a calf issue have limited Graham to just one outing for Edinburgh this season and Townsend felt he wasn’t ready for the All Blacks game. But with another week’s training under his belt, the coach has decided to unleash Scotland’s record try-scorer against the Wallabies.

“When we had the camp week he had a calf injury so he didn't train with us,” said Townsend. “He was due to go and play [for Edinburgh] in that Benetton game but he stayed with us.

“Then you're into New Zealand week and obviously we felt while he was passed fit we didn't really consider him. He had full training and then in the New Zealand week he trained really well. We've done a lot of work with the back three on the aerial contest. He's done really well there.”

But it’s Graham’s prolificness that marks him out as such a threat. He has scored 38 tries in 57 Scotland appearances, a tally that is unsurpassed for the men’s national team. Curiously, he has yet to score against Australia and Sunday would be a good time to break his duck.

Six-two split and a call-up for Ollie Leatherbarrow

Kinghorn, the other change in the starting XV, got a try against the Wallabies in 2022 but Scotland lost 16-15, their one loss to the Aussies during Townsend’s tenure. The Toulouse full-back was used off the bench against New Zealand and replaces Kyle Rowe this weekend, with the Glasgow Warriors player dropping out of the 23.

While Townsend has retained 13 of the players who started against New Zealand, there is a significant change on the bench with the inclusion of Ollie Leatherbarrow as Scotland go with a six-two split of forwards and backs. The uncapped forward has impressed with his performances for Newcastle Red Bulls this season and has the ability to cover all three back-row roles.

Ollie Leatherbarrow playing for Scotland Under-20s against France in Edinburgh during the U20 Six Nations in 2022. | SNS Group / SRU

Born in Macclesfield, he qualifies through his Perth grandmother and has long been in the Scottish system, playing up to under-20 level. He should win his first full cap on Sunday.

“He's fitted in really well,” said Townsend. “What you look for in a player coming in is to do their homework, get up to speed with language, system and then when you see them training are they not only aligned with what we want to do but are they contributing positively? We've seen that with Ollie.”

Josh Bayliss could have emergency winger role

Having an extra forward on the bench means George Horne drops out and it will be up to Dobie and Tom Jordan to cover the backline. Should the worst happen, and Scotland are required to find a third back replacement, then Josh Bayliss has been earmarked as an emergency winger.

The Bath flanker impressed off the bench against New Zealand and is unlucky not to be starting this weekend. He scored a try the last time Scotland met Australia, a 27-13 victory in 2024, and Townsend said he was “very close” to winning a place in the run-on XV. As it is, the coach has stuck with Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey.

“Josh's role off the bench is really important for us,” said Townsend. “He scored a great try in this fixture a couple of years ago. He came off the bench in Wales this year and was excellent. South Africa, excellent. The weekend, excellent. It's not necessarily you play well and you're suddenly starting.

“What you're doing is probably earning more minutes off the bench, but you can really help us in that second half, third, fourth quarter of the game.”

Townsend was reluctant to be drawn on the possibility of Bayliss emulating England flanker Henry Pollock who came off the bench and played on the wing against Australia last weekend, scoring two tries.

Weather should suit the hosts

“I'd say we've got two options before [playing Bayliss on the wing]. Tom [Jordan] can play full-back and Blair can go on the wing. That would be a probably more straightforward selection. But if we did have to go into a third choice back, then Josh is clearly the guy that can go there.”

When the sides met in 2024 it snowed and Australia were unable to train on the eve of the game. The forecast this time around is for heavy rain and the conditions should once more suit the hosts more than the visitors. Nevertheless, Townsend would prefer a dry ball.

“Look, if it's going to be wet, then I think both teams who like to move the ball will realise that defence is going to be very important, your decision-making around the use of possession is going to be important. But you've got to play physical rugby, you've got to be very good in the transitions if there's more kicking, so we'll adapt. We've actually been fortunate, we've not played in wet weather for a long time, but we're used to wet rugby.”

Scotland v Australia teams for Murrayfield Nations Championship clash

Scotland v Australia, Nations Championship, Murrayfield, Sunday, 3.10pm

Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn; 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (capt),11 Darcy Graham; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White; 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Gregor Brown, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey. Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Ollie Leatherbarrow, 22 Jamie Dobie, 23 Tom Jordan.

Australia: 15 Tom Wright; 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Harry Potter; 10 Carter Gordon, 9 Ryan Lonergan; 1 Angus Bell, 2 Billy Pollard, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 4 Josh Canham, 5 Jeremy Williams, 6 Rob Valetini, 7 Fraser McReight, 8 Harry Wilson (capt). Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Isaac Kailea, 18 Taniela Tupou, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Tom Hooper, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Ben Donaldson, 23 Filipo Daugunu.

Referee: James Doleman (NZ).