Kinghorn and Graham recalled as Scotland drop Rowe for Wallabies clash

Scotland have recalled Blair Kinghorn and Darcy Graham to their starting XV for Sunday’s Nations Championship fixture against Australia at Scottish Gas Murrayfield, with wing Kyle Rowe the casualty as Gregor Townsend reshuffles his back three following last weekend’s 43-21 defeat to New Zealand.

Kinghorn returns at full-back and Graham is restored on the left wing, while vice-captain Kyle Steyn retains his place on the right flank. Rowe drops out of the matchday 23 altogether, with Jamie Dobie coming onto the bench as one of two back replacements in a 6-2 forward-back split.

The most eye-catching selection among the replacements is 22-year-old Ollie Leatherbarrow, who is in line for a potential Test debut. The Newcastle Red Bulls back-row forward qualifies for Scotland through his Perth-born grandmother and has previously represented the country at Under-16 and Under-20 level.

Townsend has otherwise resisted the temptation to alter the pack that faced the All Blacks, naming an unchanged starting eight. Hat-trick hero Ewan Ashman continues at hooker between Rory Sutherland and Zander Fagerson, with Gregor Brown and Scott Cummings paired again in the second row. The back-row combination of Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey is also retained.

Behind the scrum, captain Sione Tuipulotu partners Huw Jones in midfield, while Ben White and Finn Russell reunite at half-back for what will be their 28th Test start together — matching the tally achieved by Townsend himself and former scrum-half Bryan Redpath during their international careers.

Leatherbarrow joins Josh Bayliss as the loose-forward options off the bench, with Max Williamson providing second-row cover. Gregor Hiddleston, Pierre Schoeman and Will Hurd complete the front-row contingent.

Scotland team: 15. Blair Kinghorn, 14. Kyle Steyn, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11. Darcy Graham; 10. Finn Russell, 9. Ben White, 1. Rory Sutherland, 2. Ewan Ashman, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Gregor Brown, 5. Scott Cummings, 6. Matt Fagerson, 7. Rory Darge, 8. Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: 16. Gregor Hiddleston, 17. Pierre Schoeman, 18. Will Hurd, 19. Max Williamson, 20. Josh Bayliss, 21. Ollie Leatherbarrow, 22. Jamie Dobie, 23. Tom Jordan.