Scotland team to face Tonga: 14 changes to starting XV from Argentina loss as Turner braced for 50th cap
Gregor Townsend has named his team to face the Sea Eagles at Murrayfield in their final 2025 Quilter Nations Series test match
Scotland have made a whopping 14 changes to the starting XV that lost 24-33 to Argentina last weekend for this Sunday’s fourth and final Autumn Nations Series test against Tonga.
Vice captains Jamie Ritchie and Ben White (back from illness) return to the line-up with centre Sione Tuipulotu the sole survivor from last weekend’s crushing defeat. He will link up with Glasgow teammate Ollie Smith, with fellow Warrior Kyle Rowe selected on the right wing.
Winger Duhan van der Merwe, a second half replacement against Los Pumas, is given the nod to start, with Tom Jordan selected at full-back in what will be his first start of the series. It’s a new-look half-back pairing with Fergus Burke primed for a first home cap, while tighthead prop Zander Fagerson has recovered from injury that curtailed his involvement in the British & Irish Lions tour earlier this year. He will line up alongside half-centurion George Turner in the front row.
Scotland starting XV and replacements to play Tonga at Murrayfield
- Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (44)
- George Turner – Harlequins (49)
- Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (75)
- Alex Samuel – Glasgow Warriors (2)
- Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (8)
- Andy Onyeama-Christie – Saracens (9)
- Jamie Ritchie – Perpignan (60) - Vice-Captain
- Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby (20)
- Ben White – Toulon (30) – Vice-Captain
- Fergus Burke – Saracens (2)
- Duhan Van Der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (51)
- Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors (32) – Captain
- Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (11)
- Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (15)
- Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (11)
Replacements: Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (31), Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (4), Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (9), Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (6), Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (13), George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (39), Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (15) Kyle Steyn– Glasgow Warriors (27).
Harlequins hooker George Turner to earn 50th Scotland captain against Tonga
George Turner will earn his 50th cap for Scotland when he takes to the field against the Sea Eagles this weekend. The 33-year old Harlequins hooker made his debut in a 44-38 Autumn international win against Samoa back in November 2017.
He commented: “I never really thought I’ll get anywhere near something like this. Really looking forward to doing it. The last couple of weeks, a couple other boys had 50 caps. They’re huge, big players. I think it’s just really cool that I’ve also made that achievement.
“Initially, I never thought I’d get there but then the last couple of years it’s definitely been a goal and a target to hit. Seeing the other boys getting those special games and days have been really cool.
“Obviously, I missed a few games last season with being away but then was getting back on the tour and then watching the first game back here at Murrayfield, watching that with my son was really special. I had missed that feeling of it’s really cool to come out and play and even just watch at Murrayfield. So I’m really excited to be able to do that.”