Scotland winger Duhan van der Merwe will win his 50th Scotland cap on Saturday, in the Quilter Nations Series opener against USA at Murrayfield, (kick-off 5:40pm).
Stafford McDowall takes the armband for his side once again, having been Scotland’s skipper in their Summer tour opener against the Maori All Blacks. Head coach Gregor Townsend has given a debut to Edinburgh back-row forward Liam McConnell, with hooker and clubmate Harri Morris also primed for a first Scotland outing from the bench.
Duhan van der Merwe, who has 32 international tries to date and is currently the country’s record men’s try scorer, is joined in the back three by Darcy Graham and full-back, Kyle Rowe. Captain McDowall links up in the centres with Ollie Smith.
Jamie Dobie, named as a vice-captain, starts at scrum-half alongside half-back partner Adam Hastings. In the pack, McConnell starts at blindside flanker with Dylan Richardson on the openside and Jack Dempsey, who features for the first time since the Guinness Six Nations, at No 8.
Scott Cummings is named as vice-captain and is joined by Marshall Sykes in the second row, with loose-head prop Rory Sutherland, Patrick Harrison (hooker) and tighthead D’Arcy Rae, who wins a first Scotland start, selected in the front row.
On the bench, Morris is listed alongside fellow front rows Nathan McBeth and Murphy Walker, along with Alex Samuel and Max Williamson. Edinburgh captain Magnus Bradbury, in line for a first Scotland outing since 2022, makes a return to an international 23.
The squad is completed by scrum-half George Horne and Ross Thompson, who will cover stand-off.
Scotland team to face United States – Autumn Nations Series
15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (14)
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (47)
13. Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (10)
12. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (14) – Captain
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (49)
10. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (34)
9. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (14) – Vice-captain
1. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (43)
2. Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
3. D’Arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
4. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (42) – Vice-captain
5. Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
6. Liam McConnell – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)
7. Dylan Richardson – Edinburgh Rugby (6)
8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (26)
Replacements
16. Harri Morris – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)
17. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (3)
18. Murphy Walker – Glasgow Warriors (5)
19. Alex Samuel – Glasgow Warriors (1)
20. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (7)
21. Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby (19)
22. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (38)
23. Ross Thompson – Edinburgh Rugby (5)
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