Sutherland and Graham to face Georgia

Recent skipper Stuart Hogg, formerly of Hawick and having just celebrated a European championship win with Exeter Chiefs, is not named in the starting line-up, with the captaincy going for the first time to hooker Fraser Brown.

Edinburgh’s Darcy Graham, another former Hawick star, begins on the wing at number 14, while his team mate, and former Gala and Hawick player, Rory Sutherland, is in his regular role as loose head prop.

Scotland head coach and ex-Gala star, Gregor Townsend said: “It’s been great to have the players back in camp and, as coaches, we’ve really enjoyed working with them again after the enforced break due to Covid-19.

“As we start our autumn series, the game against Georgia provides a real test as a first up match and we have taken the opportunity to select a side that reflects where our players are in terms of their game time this season, their current form, as well as the contributions they made during the Six Nations at the start of the year.”

“It is a testament to the professionalism and hard work Fraser (Brown) has given to Scotland in recent years that we have selected him as the captain and he will be well supported by (vice-captains) Jamie (Ritchie) and Ali (Price), who have grown as leaders over the past couple of seasons.”

“Georgia have a new coaching group in place and will want to put down a marker for their own campaign, so we have picked as strong a squad as possible to go up against what will be a very physical and motivated opponent.”

Scotland team: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Chris Harris, 12 James Lang, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Ali Price, 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Fraser Brown, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Ben Toolis, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Matt Fagerson. Substitutes:

16 Stuart McInally, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 Simon Berghan, 19 Rob Harley, 20 Nick Haining, 21 Cornell du Preez , 22 George Horne, 23 Finn Russell.