Scotland name four debutants in team to face Samoa
Thursday 9 November 2017 15:05, UK
Darryl Marfo is one of four players who will make Scotland debuts against Samoa at Murrayfield on Saturday.
The Edinburgh prop has been named in the starting XV for the first time as Gregor Townsend prepares for his first Test on home soil after taking charge of the summer tour.
George Turner, Jamie Bhatti and Chris Harris have been named on the bench for the first time, while Stuart Hogg and Jonny Gray are notable inclusions following long-term injuries suffered in the summer.
John Barclay will lead the side despite only just returning from a head injury for Scarlets last weekend, where he got 60 minutes of action.
Huw Jones, another who missed the summer tour through injury, starts at outside centre having completed his move to Glasgow from the Stormers.
He lines up in an all-Warriors backline with Finn Russell directing play at fly-half and Ali Price alongside him following the injury to Greg Laidlaw.
A pectoral injury keeps Ross Ford out of the match, giving Stuart McInally the opportunity to impress at hooker in his first appearance for over a year.
Townsend said: "It's great that four players could make their international debuts this weekend.
"They have earned this call through their performances for their clubs and the energy they have trained with over the past couple of weeks.
"All of our squad is excited by the prospect of representing their country in front of a packed Murrayfield this Saturday."
He added: "Scotland-Samoa games have been tight affairs over recent years and the recent Rugby World Cup game, which went right to the wire, is also still fresh in the memory.
"We have approached this game - like we will for all our games this season - knowing that to achieve success we will have to play close to our very best.
"Samoa are a very dangerous team with a number of top-quality players."
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Lee Jones, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price; 1 Darryl Marfo, 2 Stuart McInally, 3 Willem Nel, 4 Ben Toolis, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 John Barclay (c), 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Ryan Wilson.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Jamie Bhati, 18 Zander Fargerson, 19 Tim Swinson, 20 Cornell du Preez, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Pete Horne, 23 Chris Harris.
