What they said

Head Coach Gregor Townsend said: “With a few players getting their first starts for Scotland, and some off the bench at some point to win their first cap, it’ll be a tremendous day for them and their families. As a coaching group, we feel really excited about these new players getting a chance to wear the Scotland jersey.

“Canada is always a physical game. The fact that they’re playing here at home, they’re going to have a big crowd behind them, conditions that may suit them better. We’re playing on a 3G pitch, so there’s a few things that we have to adapt to.

“But this week is about our game, about seeing our players playing together for the first time for a number of them, but also seeing our game in place that we want to see for the next four weeks.”

🏡 At home with Harry and Ben.

The teammates and housemates joined Caroline to chat debuts, National Team ambitions and cooking skills.

Full episode 📺 https://t.co/ap6Y1EVJyu pic.twitter.com/Nhlj5VwQLM

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) July 5, 2024

The teams

Canada 

1. Liam Murray – Dallas Jackals
2. Andrew Quattrin – Aurora Barbarians / New England Free Jacks
3. Conor Young – Southern Districts Rugby Club / RFC LA
4. Conor Keys – New England Free Jacks
5. Kyle Baillie – Halifax Tars / New England Free Jacks
6. Mason Flesch – Cobourg Saxons RFC / Chicago Hounds
7. Lucas Rumball – Balmy Beach RFC / Chicago Hounds
8. Siaki Vikilani – Burnaby Lake RFC / Clifton Rugby Club
9. Jason Higgins – Chicago Hounds
10. Peter Nelson – Dungannon RFC
11. Nic Benn – Dallas Jackals
12. Ben LeSage – Calgary Canucks / New England Free Jacks
13. Mitch Richardson – McMaster University / Dallas Jackals
14. Andrew Coe – RFC LA
15. Cooper Coats – Halifax Tars

Replacements

16. Jesse Mackail – UBCOB Ravens / Pacific Pride
17. Djustice Sears-Duru – Oakville Crusaders / San Diego Legion
18. Cole Keith – Belleisle Rovers RFC / New England Free Jacks
19. James Stockwood – Vikings RFC / Pacific Pride
20. Siôn Parry– Rhiwbina RFC / Ebbw Vale RFC
21. Brock Gallagher – Strathcona Druids RFC / Dallas Jackals
22. Talon McMullin – University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders
23. Takoda McMullin – University of British Columbia / Vancouver Highlanders

Scotland (caps in brackets)

15. Harry Paterson – Edinburgh Rugby (1)
14. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (2)
13. Matt Currie – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)
12. Stafford McDowall – Co-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (2)
11. Arron Reed – Sale Sharks (uncapped)
10. Ross Thompson – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
9. Gus Warr – Sale Sharks (uncapped)
1. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (30)
2. Dylan Richardson – The Sharks (1)
3. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (3)
4. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
5. Glen Young – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
6. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
7. Luke Crosbie – Co-Captain – Edinburgh Rugby (8)
8. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (5)

Replacements

16. Robbie Smith – Northampton Saints (uncapped)
17. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
18. Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (uncapped)
19. Ewan Johnson – Oyonnax (uncapped)
20. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (44)
21. Ben Healy – Edinburgh Rugby (5)
22. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (19)
23. Ross McCann – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)

The previous meetings

• Canada 10-48 Scotland – Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, 9 June 2018
• Canada 17-19 Scotland – BMO Field, Toronto, 14 June 2014
• Scotland 41-0 Canada – Pittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen, 21 November 2008
• Canada 26-23 Scotland – Thunderbird Stadium, Vancouver, 15 June 2002
• Scotland 22-6 Canada – Scottish Gas Murrayfield, 21 January 1995

The stats

• Should all five of the uncapped players on the bench come on to make their debuts, it will be the most debuts earned in a single game (10) under Gregor Townsend, surpassing the eight debuts against Tonga in November 2021.
• Scotland have won four of their previous five men’s Test matches against Canada (L1), including each of their last three by an average margin of 27 points.
• Scotland made the most carries (152), gained the most metres (650) and beat the most defenders (42.3) per game of any side in the 2023 Rugby World Cup and were one of just two sides to gain 400+ metres per game in this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations (407, also Ireland).
• Scotland had the highest tackle success rate of any team in both the 2023 Rugby World Cup (89.6%) and the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations (89.3%).