Edinburgh’s contribution to the Scotland starting line-up for the Calcutta Cup match against England will be zero after Pierre Schoeman and Grant Gilchrist were dropped and Ewan Ashman was ruled out owing to a neck injury.
The capital club’s representation had already been dwindling with Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham having been usurped in the wing berths by Kyle Steyn and Jamie Dobie of Glasgow.
Now, the British & Irish Lions loose-head Schoeman and the 85-times capped lock Gilchrist have paid the price for a poor pack performance in the 18-15 defeat by Italy. Gilchrist will be replaced by Gregor Brown in the second row, while it is expected that Nathan McBeth will get the nod in the No1 jersey. The Warriors prop has made only one Test start for his country, against Chile on the 2024 summer tour. There is a further change in the back row, where Jamie Ritchie replaces Matt Fagerson, with the Scotstoun man dropping to the bench.
Ritchie was not involved in the game in Rome and comes in in the back row
JAMIE JOHNSTON/FOCUS IMAGES LTD/SHUTTERSTOCK
Ritchie’s aerial game and ability as a third lineout jumper have prompted Gregor Townsend to go back to his former skipper, who was not involved in the Rome calamity. Even with the younger Fagerson brother no longer starting, Glasgow will still have ten players in the run-on XV.
Ashman, who endured a terrible day at the lineout in the Stadio Olimpico, has failed a fitness test and so his spot goes to the Harlequins hooker George Turner.
The back line remains unchanged, meaning there is still no place for Blair Kinghorn, Graham or Van der Merwe, a standout figure in this fixture in recent years.
England’s 16-15 win at Twickenham last March ended a run of four consecutive Scottish successes in the Calcutta Cup, while Steve Borthwick’s side last won at Murrayfield six years ago. Townsend will officially name his team at lunchtime.
Scotland team to play England T Jordan; K Steyn, H Jones, S Tuipulotu (Capt), J Dobie; F Russell, B White; N McBeth, G Turner, Z Fagerson; G Brown, S Cummings; J Ritchie, R Darge, J Dempsey. Subs D Cherry, P Schoeman, E Millar Mills, M Williamson, M Fagerson, G Horne, A Hastings, D Graham.