Scotland coach Gregor Townsend has made 10 changes to the team that lost to Japan in the Rugby World Cup for their Six Nations opener against Ireland.
Edinburgh’s Nick Haining will make his Test debut while Ali Price and Sean Maitland replace the recently retired Greig Laidlaw and Tommy Seymour.
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Scotland team named to face Ireland in the opening round of the 2020 #GuinnessSixNations in Dublin.
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Scotland will travel to Dublin for the first-round fixture on Saturday. Their last win on Irish soil was 10 years ago.
“Our goal is always to play to our potential. The challenge to do this starts on Saturday against Ireland,” Townsend said in a statement.
“Playing to our potential starts with our collective mindset. That means being alert, focussed and resilient right from the beginning, to be ready for the physical battle that lies ahead and able to stay in the fight throughout the 80 minutes.”
New Ireland coach Andy Farrell announced his team earlier this week. Johnny Sexton has recovered from injury in time to be named on the starting team.
Stuart Hogg was named Scotland captain when Townsend announced his 38-man squad earlier this month.
Scotland haven’t had the smoothest start to their Six Nations campaign with Finn Russell axed from the team last week for disciplinary reasons.
Scotland team to face Ireland:
Stuart Hogg, Sean Maitland, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Blair Kinghorn, Adam Hastings, Ali Price, Rory Sutherland, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson, Scott Cummings, Jonny Gray, Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Nick Haining
Replacements: Stuart McInally, Allan Dell, Simon Berghan, Ben Toolis, Cornell du Preez, George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Chris Harris