EDINBURGH - Scotland handed South African-born winger Duhan van der Merwe a first cap when coach Gregor Townsend on Wednesday named his team for the test against Georgia at Murrayfield on Friday.
Front row forward Oli Kebble, another uncapped South African-born player, is listed among the replacements for the warm-up international ahead of the October 31 Six Nations clash with Wales at Llanelli.
Both had qualified through residency in recent weeks and been quickly incorporated into the team.
Fraser Brown will captain the side for the first time with James Lang lining up at inside centre, having last featured in mid-2018.
Townsend said he had picked his strongest possible side, including a return for Finn Russell, who will start on the bench after playing for his French club Racing 92 in their European Champions Cup final loss to Exeter last weekend.
"He has integrated well back into the squad and shown an improvement in his skills set," said Townsend about the mercurial halfback, who was kicked out of the Scottish team for disciplinary reasons at the start of the year.
I feel truly humbled to be selected for this Friday’s game against Georgia. Excited is an understatement! #AsOne https://t.co/i7ufTumMXh
— Duhan van der Merwe (@duhanvdmerwe) October 21, 2020
Scotland play for the first time in seven months with Townsend looking for indicators for the rest of their international programme over the next two months.
"It's a game that will probably lead to what work we will have to do in training next week ahead of the Wales. We are expecting a tough physical battle with Georgia," he added.
Team:
15-Blair Kinghorn, 14-Darcy Graham, 13-Chris Harris, 12-James Lang, 11-Duhan van der Merwe, 10-Adam Hastings, 9-Ali Price, 8-Matt Fagerson, 7-Hamish Watson, 6-Jamie Ritchie, 5-Scott Cummings, 4-Ben Toolis, 3-Zander Fagerson, 2-Fraser Brown (capt), 1-Rory Sutherland
Replacements: 16-Stuart McInally, 17-Oli Kebble, 18-Simon Berghan, 19-Rob Harley, 20-Nick Haining, 21-Cornell du Preez, 22-George Horne, 23-Finn Russell
Reuters