Josh Strauss will start for Scotland for the first time since June 2017 as Gregor Townsend shuffles his pack ahead of his side’s autumn curtain call against Argentina this weekend.
Townsend’s troops lock horns with Los Pumas at BT Murrayfield on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm) and the Scotland head coach has made eight changes to the team that were beaten 26-20 by South Africa last time out.
No. 8 Strauss, recalled to the Scottish fold after last featuring in a Test defeat to Fiji last summer, is given the nod from the off, with Townsend seeing squad rotation as a necessity.
“With four Test matches in succession, we’ve been conscious of rotating the squad to enable as many players as possible to be in the best physical condition for each contest,” he said.
“It will be another huge challenge – not only for our forward pack, but also for our defence, as Argentina play ambitious, skilful and effective attacking rugby.
“While it was a great effort from the players to win in Argentina last summer, we are under no illusions as how different a prospect their team will be on Saturday.
“Under Mario Ledesma, Argentina delivered some outstanding performances and they were hugely impressive in their victories over South Africa and Australia in the recent Rugby Championship.
“I’m sure that they will throw everything at us to end their international season on a high note.”
Finn Russell moves from fly-half to inside centre, Adam Hastings coming in to take the No. 10 shirt, while there are six changes to the pack, with prop Allan Dell, hooker Fraser Brown and prop Simon Berghan making up the front row while Jamie Ritchie is named at blindside flanker.
Grant Gilchrist replaces Ben Toolis in the second row, as Blair Kinghorn starts on the wing in place of Tommy Seymour.
Scotland team to face Argentina on Saturday, November 24: 15. Stuart Hogg, 14. Sean Maitland, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Finn Russell, 11. Blair Kinghorn, 10. Adam Hastings, 9. Greig Laidlaw (captain); 1. Allan Dell, 2. Fraser Brown, 3. Simon Berghan, 4. Grant Gilchrist, 5. Jonny Gray, 6. Jamie Ritchie, 7. Hamish Watson, 8. Josh Strauss
Replacements: 16. Stuart McInally, 17. Alex Allan, 18. WP Nel, 19. Sam Skinner, 20. Ryan Wilson, 21. George Horne, 22. Alex Dunbar, 23. Byron McGuigan
