Hawick’s Stuart Hogg the only Borderer in Scotland team hoping for sixth win in row

That will be the first time the region has only had a single representative in the national team for over a year, the last such occasion being Scotland’s 61-0 demolition of Russia last October in the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Darcy Graham was the only Borderer in that team and, alongside Hogg and Rory Sutherland, he’s also been one of three ex-Hawick players featured in Scotland’s last two games, their 28-17 Autumn Nations Cup defeat of Italy last Saturday, November 14, and their 14-10 Six Nations finale victory over Wales at the end of October.

That latter game was the first time Borderers had made up a fifth of a Scotland XV since Hogg and Graham lined up alongside Jedburgh’s Greig Laidlaw for Scotland’s 28-21 world cup defeat by Japan last October.

It was also the first time three Teries had turned out for Scotland since Tony Stanger, Derek Turnbull and Greig Oliver were in the side, also featuring Blainslie’s Doddie Weir, that beat Zimbabwe 51-12 at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stadium at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.

Graham, 23, makes way for Edinburgh team-mate Blair Kinghorn in the side named today, November 20, by head coach Gregor Townsend to face France at Murrayfield.

That’s one of five changes to Scotland’s starting line-up for that game, kicking off at 3.15pm and being streamed live on Amazon Prime Video.

Another is the omission of fellow Edinburgh player Sutherland, 26, due to an ankle injury picked up in last weekend’s game in Florence.

That campaign-opening victory was the fifth in a row for the national team, a sequence of successes which began with a 28-17 Six Nations defeat of France back in March.

If they beat France again this weekend, it will be the first time they have won six tests in a row since 1990.

Galashiels-born Townsend said: “France are full of confidence and have played really well this year.

“We know we’re playing one of the best teams in the world right now, so to rise to this challenge we’re going to have to play close to our best throughout the contest on Sunday.”

Kinghorn is the only change to the starting back division, linking up with Hogg, 28, claiming his 79th cap, and Duhan van der Merwe in the back three, with centres Sam Johnson and Chris Harris and half-backs Ali Price and Duncan Weir retaining their places.

The return of fit-again Matt Fagerson and a new front row of Oli Kebble, Fraser Brown and Simon Berghan complete the changes made to the forward pack.

Scott Cummings and Jonny Gray partner at second-row again, with Hamish Watson and Jamie Ritchie returning to complete the back row .

Jamie Bhatti takes the bench place vacated by Kebble and could feature for his country for the first time since last summer.

Sean Maitland and Duncan Taylor also join the bench.

Townsend, 47, said: “It’s great to have Fraser, Jamie and Matt recover from their recent injuries, and we are delighted to also involve Jamie, Duncan and Sean in a matchday squad for the first time this season.

“The Autumn Nations Cup is all about opportunity – the opportunity to play in a new competition and the opportunity for us as coaches to see how a large number of our squad perform when given the chance to play.

“The support from the BT Murrayfield crowd was incredible last time we played France in March in the last game before the lockdown and, while they unfortunately won’t be with us in person this weekend, we’re grateful for all the messages of support letting us know that the nation is behind us once more as we take to the field this Sunday.”

Scotland’s scheduled Autumn Nations Cup fixture against Fiji at Murrayfield on Saturday, November 28, has been cancelled due to a coronavirus outbreak among the Pacific Islanders’ squad.

Fiji have already had their opening two matches against France and Italy called off after covid-19 tests yielded 29 positive results.

A spokesperson for the tournament said: “The extent of infection in the Fiji camp, combined with a minimum 10-day isolation period, plus the obvious need for suitable preparation for any international test match meant that, whilst difficult, the decision was unavoidable.

“The tournament organisers remain in constant contact with the Fijian squad regarding their wellbeing and recovery, which continue to be the No 1 priority.”