Skinner to face the Springboks

By Mark Stevens
14/11/18

Exeter Chiefs forward Sam Skinner is set to win his second Test cap after being named in Scotland's starting line-up for Saturday's clash with South Africa at BT Murrayfield (5:20pm).

The 23-year-old produced a man of the match display on his international debut last weekend as the Scots powered past Fiji 54-17 - and he keeps his place in a line-up that Head Coach Gregor Townsend has made six changes to.

The return of Glasgow Warriors centre Huw Jones is the only change to the back division, with Scotland’s pack featuring the remaining five.

London Irish prop Gordon Reid is set for his first involvement in the autumn campaign as the starting loosehead, while vice-captain Stuart McInally (hooker) and lock Jonny Gray return from the bench to start once more, as do second-row Ben Toolis and back-row Hamish Watson.

The inclusion of both Gray and Toolis mean that Skinner switches from lock to that of blind-side flanker in the first meeting of the two counties since the Pool rounds of Rugby World Cup 2015, when Scotland lostt 36-14 at St James’ Park in Newcastle.

Talking ahead of the game, Townsend - whose brother Craig played for the Chiefs between 1999 and 2001 - said: “South Africa have made a lot of improvements over the last three or four months, beating the All Blacks in New Zealand and putting in an 80-minute performance to defeat France in Paris, which underlines their quality.

“Their traditional strength has always been their physicality and this remains a key point of difference for them. We expect them to be confrontational and powerful in their ball carrying, their defence and also at set-piece time. It will be a great challenge for our forward pack in particular.

“South Africa have always had a smart kicking game with an excellent chase but what we’ve seen over the past few months is an ambition to move the ball from counter attack and a push to get their forwards passing the ball more.

“Our defence will have to be strong to nullify this ambitious attacking game plan. We’re looking forward to playing one of the best teams in the world and playing once more in front of a sell-out crowd at BT Murrayfield.”

Tighthead prop Willem Nel, back-row Ryan Wilson and wing Tommy Seymour – who scored a hat-trick against Fiji – are the only three players named to start at third consecutive Test match this autumn.

Seymour joins fellow wing Sean Maitland and full-back Stuart Hogg, who on Tuesday confirmed he will be joining the Chiefs next season on a two-year deal, in the back-three.

Scotland team to play South Africa at BT Murrayfield

15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors) – 63 caps
14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 45 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) – 17 caps
12. Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 37 caps
11. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 35 caps
10. Finn Russell (Racing 92) – 38 caps
9. Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne, Capt) – 64 caps
1. Gordon Reid (London Irish) – 32 caps
2. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh) – 20 caps
3. Willem Nel (Edinburgh) – 24 caps
4. Ben Toolis (Edinburgh) – 13 caps
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors) – 45 caps
6. Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs) – 1 cap
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh) – 21 caps
8. Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors) – 39 caps

16. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors) – 36 caps
17. Allan Dell (Edinburgh) – 15 caps
18. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh) – 12 caps
19. Josh Strauss (Sales Sharks) – 15 caps
20. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh) – 4 caps
21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 18 caps
22. Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors) – 5 caps
23. Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons) – 5 caps