Gilchrist to captain Scotland against Argentina
FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - Autumn International - Scotland v Japan - BT Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain - November 20, 2021\ Scotland's Grant Gilchrist in action Action Images via Reuters/Ed Sykes
Grant Gilchrist will captain Scotland for the first time in four years while Luke Crosbie will make his first start for the country in the first test against Argentina at San Salvador de Jujuy on Saturday.
Centre Mark Bennett will make his first start since 2016 having forced his way back into the Scotland setup after last month being named as Edinburgh's Player of the Season.
British & Irish Lion Duhan van der Merwe returns on the wing after being suspended for the last two games of the Six Nations, where Scotland beat Italy away but then lost in Ireland.
Scotland did not take Stuart Hogg or Finn Russell on tour - electing to rest their two key backs - and Adam Hastings withdrew because of injury before their departure for South America, so Blair Kinghorn will be employed at stand off, partnering with Ali Price.
Rory Hutchinson starts at fullback, with his last appearance coming in 2020 when he came off the bench against Italy.
After missing the majority of the Six Nations, having picked up an injury against England, Lions prop Rory Sutherland is named on the bench.
Team:
15. Rory Hutchinson - Northampton Saints - 5 caps
14. Darcy Graham - Edinburgh Rugby - 27 caps
13. Mark Bennett - Edinburgh Rugby - 24 caps
12. Sam Johnson - Glasgow Warriors - 24 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe - Worcester Warriors - 16 caps
10. Blair Kinghorn - Edinburgh Rugby - 31 caps
9. Ali Price - Glasgow Warriors - 51 caps
1. Pierre Schoeman - Edinburgh Rugby - 9 caps
2. George Turner - Glasgow Warriors - 25 caps
3. Zander Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 47 caps
4. Grant Gilchrist - Edinburgh Rugby 53 caps
5. Jonny Gray - Exeter Chiefs - 67 caps
6. Magnus Bradbury - Edinburgh Rugby - 18 caps
7. Luke Crosbie - Edinburgh Rugby - 1 cap
8. Matt Fagerson - Glasgow Warriors - 21 caps
Replacements
16. Ewan Ashman - Sale Sharks - 2 caps
17. Rory Sutherland - Worcester Warriors - 18 caps
18. Javan Sebastian - Scarlets - 1 cap
19. Sam Skinner - Exeter Chiefs - 20 caps
20. Rory Darge - Glasgow Warriors - 4 caps
21. Ben White - London Irish - 4 caps
22. Ross Thompson - Glasgow Warriors - 1 cap
23. Sione Tuipulotu - Glasgow Warriors - 5 caps
(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Toby Davis)
