When everyone is fit the dark blues can put out a full backline of Lions but with around 25 Tests to play before the next World Cup, they will need more talent available than just the first choice options.
Scotland backs depth chart (Image: Kevin Millar)
Scrum-half
Test starts during this RWC cycle
Ben White 11
George Horne 4
Jamie Dobie 2
Gus Warr 2
Ali Price 1
Across the last decade, Scotland have played 116 Test matches. There are only two occasions when an Edinburgh Rugby player has started at scrum half during that time – Ali Price v Fiji 2024 and Sam Hidalgo-Clyne v Canada 2018.
In almost a mirror image of the hooker situation, in this case it’s Glasgow Warriors, plus Exiles, who are filling slots even ahead of the capital club’s putative first choice Ben Vellacott – who hasn’t made a Scotland squad since 2022.
Edinburgh have been stockpiling scrum halves though, with recent Scotland under 20s’ Hamish MacArthur, Conor McAlpine and Hector Patterson on their books.
Allied to a revitalised Charlie Shiel (called up to join the national side’s squad in both 2018 and 2021 but never capped) and it’s possible that any big movements in the depth chart could come from the east.
Charlie Shiel is not in this squad but has started the season well (Image: Edinburgh Rugby)
If one of that quartet can make themselves the clear top choice at club level they will have more minutes to impress than a player like Ben Afshar who has to scrap for game time behind Jamie Dobie and George Horne at Glasgow.
Fly-half
Test starts during this RWC cycle
Finn Russell 12
Adam Hastings 3
Fergus Burke 2
Ben Healy 2
Ross Thompson 1
During the early stages of the current season, no fewer than nine Scottish fly-halves have featured in URC, Top 14 or PREM fixtures.
Adam Hastings and Dan Lancaster have both had time at 10 for Glasgow. Ben Healy and Cammy Scott have been the starters for Edinburgh, with Ross Thompson off the bench but no doubt eager to reclaim the jersey that was his for most of last season.
Down in England, Fergus Burke and Tom Jordan have been key playmakers for Saracens and Bristol respectively while, of course, Finn Russell has pulled the strings at Bath after his Lions’ adventures.
Fergus Burke will hope to add to the caps he won on the summer tour (Image: Adam Davy)
The BK10 experiment has even been resurrected with Toulouse giving Blair Kinghorn the full 80 minutes at stand off against Pau in the Top 14.
It’s a far cry from the days where Scotland’s depth in this position barely even qualified as shallow.
That’s not to say that any of the number of other candidates are going to oust Russell any time soon, but with the genius himself only likely to feature against New Zealand and Argentina there are some more than decent options to take the reins versus USA and Tonga.
That will be important as the dark blues try nurse their talisman through to a fourth World Cup, particularly as he will turn 35 shortly before the tournament kicks off.
Inside centre
Test starts during this RWC cycle
Sione Tuipulotu 8
Stafford McDowall 6
Tom Jordan 5
Cameron Redpath 1
The strength in depth at inside centre is such that a player of the quality of Cam Redpath cannot make the squad for the Nations Series.
In part that’s due to Sione Tuipulotu dominating this jersey since making his big breakthrough during the 2022 Autumn Tests.
The national side’s skipper has made 25 starts in the 12 shirt – one more will bring him level with the most frequently selected inside centre of the Townsend era.
Not Alex Dunbar, Pete Horne or even Duncan Taylor but rather one of Scotland – and Glasgow’s – most underrated players of the last decade, Sam Johnson.
Sione Tuipulotu has become a vital part of the Scotland team and will be captain this autumn (Image: James Gourley / Shutterstock)
There are echoes of Johnson’s quiet solidity in the play of Stafford McDowall. The current Warriors’ player provides more flexibility though, playing at 12 for his club when Tuipulotu is missing and at 13 when Huw Jones is absent.
Even with good alternatives available, ensuring Tuipulotu is in the lineup for Scotland’s biggest games and that he gets the ball in his hands 20 plus times in those matches remains key to the dark blues’ chances of success over the next few years.
Outside centre
Test starts during this RWC cycle
Huw Jones 15
Rory Hutchinson 2
Kyle Steyn 1
Matt Currie 1
Cameron Redpath 1
Matt Currie’s appearance in the 13 jersey against Canada on the 2024 summer tour is the only time in Scotland’s last 36 Tests that an Edinburgh player has started in the centres.
With both of the side from the capital’s first choice midfielders on the injured list right now, that’s not likely to change anytime soon but hopes remain high that both Currie and Mosese Tuipulotu can reach the high potential ceiling of their abilities.
For now – and many including most likely the coaching staff will hope right through until the World Cup – Huwipulotu will be the first choice 12 and 13 when available.
That’s not the case for Huw Jones this autumn due to injury, so other options will need to be explored. Stafford McDowall looks almost certain to get the nod against the USA with no Exiles available to play.
Stafford McDowall is likely to deputise for the injured Huw Jones (Image: Bruce White/Shutterstock)
Whether that lets the Glasgow centre play himself into the starting lineup for the game versus the All Blacks or if Rory Hutchinson’s outstanding early season form for Northampton earns him the nod remains to be seen.
Time may be particularly pressing for Hutchinson who turns 30 in January and who has just nine caps (five starts, four subs) to his name – so far.
Wing
Test starts during this RWC cycle
Duhan van der Merwe 15
Darcy Graham 8
Kyle Steyn 7
Arron Reed 4
Kyle Rowe 3
Jamie Dobie 2
Blair Kinghorn 1
The five primary wing options in Scotland’s current squad have collectively scored 32 tries in the 20 Tests that the dark blues have played so far during this World Cup cycle.
It’s a position that has prospered through a combination of the talent available and the dark blues playing to their strengths by beating teams out wide rather than battering them up front.
Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham have been at the heart of this feast of attacking rugby with both men rarely missing out when available for selection.
Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe have been the first-choice wing pairing when fit (Image: Stuart Wallace / Shutterstock)
Age profile shouldn’t be too much of an issue but the coaches may cast a few worried glances towards the lack of experience among those providing depth outwith the current squad.
The back three is the only area where there are players who might be considered to be fourth or fifth in line for a position who have yet to make their debut in a top level club fixture or who are still part of the academy setup.
There is plenty of potential among the supporting cast but getting sufficient game time to develop rapidly enough to be World Cup squad contenders may be beyond them.
Fullback
Test starts during this RWC cycle
Blair Kinghorn 9
Kyle Rowe 6
Harry Paterson 3
Tom Jordan 2
With Wes Goosen and Josh McKay – neither of whom are currently Scottish qualified – dominating starts in the 15 jersey for Edinburgh and Glasgow respectively, there has been fairly limited game time at fullback for Scotland’s home-based options in this position
Non-Scottish-qualified fullbacks, primarily Goosen, have made 90% of the available starts for Edinburgh since Blair Kinghorn left to join Toulouse.
Over at Glasgow, McKay has accounted for 74% of starts across the same timescale.
The Scottish-qualified players who have managed game time in the 15 jersey for the pro teams are Kyle Rowe (10 starts), Harry Paterson (four) and Ollie Smith (three).
Kyle Rowe has been the back-up at fullback when Blair Kinghorn has been unavailable (Image: Stuart Wallace/Shutterstock)
Rowe is available and filled this position for Scotland’s two tests over the summer.
The fact that Smith was handed the fullback slot for Glasgow in the one game in which McKay was rested this season might be a hint that Scotland want him to fill this role against the USA or Tonga.
As things stand there isn’t much pressure on Kinghorn’s status as undisputed first choice but there is adequate depth if he isn’t available.