Knee injury forces Scotland to reshuffle bench before Springboks showdown

Alex Samuel will miss Scotland’s Nations Championship Test against world champions South Africa after the Glasgow Warriors lock was ruled out with a knee injury, forcing head coach Gregor Townsend into a late bench reshuffle.

Samuel had been named among the replacements for Saturday’s clash with the Springboks but will now play no part. Max Williamson, his Glasgow Warriors teammate, has been drafted onto the bench as Scotland’s sole change to the matchday 23.

The second-row swap keeps Scotland’s starting XV intact, with Townsend otherwise sticking with the side he named earlier in the week. Williamson’s call-up comes on the back of a strong run of form for both club and country over the past year, earning him a place in the squad as cover in the engine room.

Scotland go into the fixture looking to close out their summer campaign on a positive note against the reigning world champions. Captain Rory Darge leads the side from openside flanker, with Finn Russell at fly-half and the experienced Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson anchoring the front row.

Updated Scotland team to face South Africa:

15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Jamie Dobie, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 Ewan Ashman, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Gregor Brown, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge (captain), 8 Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: 16 Gregor Hiddleston, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Will Hurd, 19 Max Williamson, 20 Josh Bayliss, 21 Magnus Bradbury, 22 Tom Jordan, 23 Stafford McDowall.