Finn Russell returns to the Scotland side as one of three changes to the starting XV for Saturday’s Nations Championship clash with South Africa in Pretoria.
The talismanic stand-off sat out last weekend’s campaign-opening victory in Argentina as he completed his recovery from a calf injury that caused him to miss the last three games of Bath’s season.
Russell takes the place of Tom Jordan, who drops to the bench in the only change to the backline.
There are two alterations to the pack. Zander Fagerson replaces tighthead Elliot Millar Mills, who suffered a campaign-ending injury against Argentina.
Gregor Brown, who came off the bench to score in Cordoba, starts in the second row in place of Jonny Gray, who drops out altogether.
Will Hurd, Josh Bayliss, Magnus Bradbury and Stafford McDowall are all added to the bench in a 6-2 split, with last weekend’s replacements George Horne, Fergus Burke and Darcy Graham out of the 23.
Scotland are eyeing their first-ever win in South Africa.
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) July 9, 2026
Scotland team to play South Africa in Nations Championship
Forwards: 1 Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), 2 Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby), 3 Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), 4 Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors), 5 Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), 6 Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), 7 Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), 8 Jack Dempsey (Toshiba Brave Lupus)
Backs: 9 Ben White (Toulon), 10 Finn Russell (Bath), 11 Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors), 12 Sione Tuipulotu (CAPTAIN, Glasgow Warriors), 13 Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints), 14 Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors), 15 Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors)
Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston (Glasgow Warriors), 17 Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), 18 Will Hurd (Leicester Tigers), 19 Alex Samuel (Glasgow Warriors), 20 Josh Bayliss (Bath), 21 Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby), 22 Tom Jordan (Bristol Bears), 23 Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors)