Scotland team to play Tonga named as Gregor Townsend rings the changes with sole survivor from Argentina loss

The likes of Finn Russell, Darcy Graham, Blair Kinghorn, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey, Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings have all dropped out of the match-day 23 following the 33-24 defeat by the South Americans at Murrayfield.

Scotland had led 21-0 against Argentina before collapsing in the final 24 minutes, conceding five tries. The loss followed a 25-17 defeat by New Zealand the week before, with pressure now building on Townsend who signed a new contract as head coach in September.

He has selected 14 new starters for the Tonga game. The versatile Tom Jordan has been picked at full-back and the wings are Kyle Rowe and Duhan van der Merwe, the latter returning to the team after being dropped for the New Zealand game then being named on the bench against Argentina.

Tuipulotu will be partnered at centre by his Glasgow Warriors team-mate Ollie Smith and the half-backs are Saracens fly-half Fergus Burke and Toulon scrum-half Ben White. White had been due to start against the Pumas but withdrew before kick-off due to illness.

The match will see hooker George Turner win his 50th Scotland cap and he will be joined in the front row by Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson, the latter returning for his first match in seven months after calf and knee injuries.

The all-new second row sees Glasgow’s Alex Samuel and Max Williamson selected. In the back row, there are first appearances of the campaign for Andy Onyeama-Christie and Jamie Ritchie, who are selected at six and seven, with Magnus Bradbury returning to the team at No 8. Bradbury has not played since the opening game of the autumn against the USA, a match Scotland won 85-0.

Townsend has opted for a five-three split of forwards and backs on the bench, with Ewan Ashman, Nathan McBeth and Will Hurd covering the front row, Marshall Sykes the second row and Josh Bayliss the back row. The backs replacements are George Horne, Stafford McDowall and Kyle Steyn.

Scotland team to play Tonga in the Quilter Nations Series at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, Sunday 23 November, kick-off 1:40pm – live on TNT Sports:

15. Tom Jordan, 14. Kyle Rowe, 13. Ollie Smith, 12. Sione Tuipulotu, 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 10. Fergus Burke, 9. Ben White; 1. Rory Sutherland, 2. George Turner, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Alex Samuel, 5. Max Williamson, 6. Andy Onyeama-Christie, 7. Jamie Ritchie, 8. Magnus Bradbury.

Replacements: 16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Nathan McBeth, 18. Will Hurd, 19. Marshall Sykes, 20. Josh Bayliss, 21. George Horne, 22. Stafford McDowall, 23. Kyle Steyn.