Duhan van der Merwe to reach 50 against USA

EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND - FEBRUARY 09: Scotland's Duhan van der Merwe scores a first half try during a Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and Ireland at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, on February 09, 2025, in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Craig Williamson / SNS Group)

Stafford McDowall will captain his country, having assumed the role during the summer match against New Zealand Mãori and also against Portugal last November.

In selecting his first matchday 23 of the season, head coach Gregor Townsend has given a debut to Edinburgh Rugby back-row forward Liam McConnell, with hooker and clubmate Harri Morris also primed for a first Scotland outing from the bench.

Van der Merwe, who has notched some 32 international tries to date and is currently the country’s record men’s try scorer, is joined in the back three by fellow wing Darcy Graham and full-back, Kyle Rowe, with captain McDowall linking up in the centres with Ollie Smith.

Jamie Dobie, named as a vice-captain, starts at scrum-half alongside half-back partner Adam Hastings.

In the pack, McConnell starts at blindside flanker with Dylan Richardson on the openside and Jack Dempsey, who features for the first time since the Guinness Six Nations, at No 8.

Scott Cummings is also named a vice-captain and is joined by Marshall Sykes in the second row, with loosehead prop Rory Sutherland, Patrick Harrison (hooker) and tighthead D’Arcy Rae, who wins a first Scotland start, selected in the front row.

On the bench, Morris is listed alongside fellow front rows Nathan McBeth and Murphy Walker, along with Alex Samuel and Max Williamson. Edinburgh captain Magnus Bradbury, in line for a first Scotland outing since 2022, makes a return to an international 23.

The squad is completed by scrum-half George Horne and Ross Thompson, who will cover stand-off.

Tickets are still available for the match HERE.

Scotland team to face USA in the Quilter Nations Series at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday 1 November, kick-off 5:40pm – live on TNT Sports (caps in brackets):

15. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (14)
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (47)
13. Ollie Smith – Glasgow Warriors (10)
12. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (14) – Captain
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (49)
10. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (34)
9. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (14) – Vice-captain

1. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (43)
2. Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
3. D’Arcy Rae – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
4. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (42) – Vice-captain
5. Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (4)
6. Liam McConnell – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)
7. Dylan Richardson – Edinburgh Rugby (6)
8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (26)

Replacements

16. Harri Morris – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)
17. Nathan McBeth – Glasgow Warriors (3)
18. Murphy Walker – Glasgow Warriors (5)
19. Alex Samuel – Glasgow Warriors (1)
20. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (7)
21. Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby (19)
22. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (38)
23. Ross Thompson – Edinburgh Rugby (5)