Steyn and Harris among four changes - Scotland name team to play Tonga

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made four changes to his starting side for their second Pool B match against Tonga at Stade de Nice on Sunday, 24 September. Prop Rory Sutherland and second-row Scott Cummings come into the pack for Pierre Schoeman and Grant Gilchrist respectively, while centre Chris Harris and wing Kyle Steyn start in the backline, with Huw Jones and Darcy Graham dropping to the bench. Ewan Ashman, Sam Skinner and George Horne also come into the match-day 23.

1 Rory Sutherland
2 George Turner
3 Zander Fagerson
4 Richie Gray
5 Scott Cummings
6 Jamie Ritchie (c)
7 Rory Darge
8 Jack Dempsey
9 Ben White
10 Finn Russell
11 Duhan van der Merwe
12 Sione Tuipulotu
13 Chris Harris
14 Kyle Steyn
15 Blair Kinghorn

Replacements:
16 Ewan Ashman
17 Pierre Schoeman
18 WP Nel
19 Sam Skinner
20 Matt Fagerson
21 George Horne
22 Huw Jones
23 Darcy Graham

• Prop Rory Sutherland will make his Rugby World Cup debut at the age of 31, as will Kyle Steyn, who comes onto the right wing.
• Ewan Ashman and Sam Skinner are also in line to make their Rugby World Cup debuts after being named on the bench.
• In the second-row, Scott Cummings starts in place of Grant Gilchrist, who drops out of the match-day 23 altogether.
• There is one change to the midfield with Chris Harris replacing Huw Jones, who is among the replacements, in the 13 jersey.
• Harris played in all four Scotland matches at RWC 2019 but was not involved against the Springboks and his only start this year came against Italy in a RWC 2023 warm-up test.
• Steyn scored four tries in his first test start against Tonga in the last meeting between the sides in 2021. He has nine tries from 13 Scotland caps.
• The 29-year-old is the only Scotland player ever to score four tries at Murrayfield and the first to score four since Gavin Hastings against Ivory Coast at RWC 1995.