Six Warriors selected for Autumn Nations Cup opener

A Scotland squad containing six Glasgow Warriors will take to the field in Florence this Saturday, after Head Coach Gregor Townsend revealed his matchday 23 for the opening match in the inaugural Autumn Nations Cup.

The new tournament sees Scotland open their campaign against Italy on Saturday lunchtime, before facing Fiji and France at BT Murrayfield over the coming fortnight.

One of the Warriors contingent will be Sam Johnson, after the centre was selected at inside centre to make his first Scotland appearance since March.

Ali Price is named at scrum-half, having played the full 80 minutes in last month’s historic victory over Wales in Llanelli.

Up front, Zander Fagerson continues at tight-head for his third consecutive start in the Scotland front-row.

Scott Cummings’ run of Test matches will be extended once again this weekend, as the second-rower makes it 15 successive appearances for his country since his debut in August 2019.

The bench once again sees the inclusion of Oli Kebble amongst the front row replacements, the Glasgow loose head having impressed in his appearances against Georgia and Wales.

George Turner completes the Warriors cohort in the matchday 23, with the hooker in line to make his first Scotland appearance since the 2019 Rugby World Cup win over Russia in Shizuoka.

Scotland team to play Italy at Stadio Artemio Franchi, Florence.
Saturday 14 November (kick-off 12:45pm) – live on Amazon Prime

15. Stuart Hogg CAPTAIN (Exeter Chiefs) – 76 caps
14. Darcy Graham (Edinburgh) – 13 caps
13. Chris Harris (Gloucester) - 20 caps
12. Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors) – 13 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh) – 2 caps

10. Duncan Weir (Worcester Warriors) – 28 caps
9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) – 34 caps

1. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh) – 9 caps
2. Stuart McInally VICE CAPTAIN (Edinburgh) – 39 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) – 31 caps
4. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) – 14 caps
5. Jonny Gray (Exeter Chiefs) – 58 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie VICE CAPTAIN (Edinburgh) – 20 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh) – 34 caps
8. Blade Thomson (Scarlets) – 6 caps

Substitutes
16. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) – 9 caps
17. Oli Kebble (Glasgow Warriors) – 2 caps
18. WP Nel (Edinburgh) – 38 caps
19. Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs) – 7 caps
20. Nick Haining (Edinburgh) – 4 caps
21. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Exeter Chiefs) – 12 caps
22. James Lang (Harlequins) - 4 caps
23. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh) – 23 caps