Get ready for a historic moment in Scottish rugby! Darcy Graham is set to earn his 50th cap for Scotland, a milestone that underscores his incredible journey since his debut in 2018. But here’s where it gets even more exciting: Graham will lead the team onto the pitch at Scottish Gas Murrayfield this Sunday, as Scotland takes on Argentina in the Autumn Nations Series. And this is the part most people miss—Graham has a special connection to this fixture, having scored a hat-trick in Scotland’s 52-29 victory over Argentina in 2022. Will history repeat itself? Only time will tell.
In a strategic move by head coach Gregor Townsend, there’s just one change to the starting lineup. Vice-captain Rory Darge steps into the back-row as openside flanker, with Matt Fagerson taking a spot on the bench. But here’s where it gets controversial: is this the right call, or could it disrupt the team’s rhythm? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
The rest of the pack sees Jack Dempsey and Gregor Brown holding their positions in the back-row, with Dempsey set for his third consecutive Test start. Up front, Scott Cummings and Grant Gilchrist form a familiar and reliable second-row partnership. The front-row remains unchanged, featuring an all-Edinburgh trio of Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, and D’arcy Rae.
In the backs, Kyle Steyn joins Graham on the wing, fresh off his try-scoring heroics against New Zealand. Blair Kinghorn completes the back three at full-back. Rory Hutchinson and captain Sione Tuipulotu reunite in the centers, while Finn Russell—despite recent injury concerns—returns to partner Ben White in the half-backs. Is Russell’s inclusion a risk worth taking, or a masterstroke? Share your opinions below!
On the bench, Scotland opts for a 5-3 split, preparing for a tough battle against an Argentina side riding high after their 52-28 win over Wales. Notable bench inclusions are George Turner, who edges closer to his 50th cap, and Glasgow Warriors prop Nathan McBeth. Elliot Millar Mills, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Dobie, and Tom Jordan retain their spots, while Duhan van der Merwe returns to the squad following Scotland’s opening weekend victory over the USA.
Here’s the full Scotland lineup for Sunday’s clash:
Scotland XV: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (c), 11 Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Gregor Brown, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 D’arcy Rae, 2 Ewan Ashman, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 George Turner, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Josh Bayliss, 20 Matt Fagerson, 21 Jamie Dobie, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Duhan van der Merwe.
Match Details:
- Date: Sunday, November 16
- Venue: Scottish Gas Murrayfield
- Kick-off: 15:10 GMT
- Referee: Andrew Brace (IRFU)
- Assistant Referees: Angus Gardner (RA), Luke Pearce (RFU)
- TMO: Olly Hodges (IRFU)
- FPRO: Leo Colgan (IRFU)
This match promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams looking to make a statement. Will Scotland celebrate Graham’s milestone with a win, or will Argentina spoil the party? Let the debate begin—share your predictions and thoughts in the comments below!
