Following a rip-roaring victory against Fiji in Round 0, there have been seven changes across the match-day 23, with the notable return of half-back pair Ben White and Finn Russell. The starting 15 also sees Tom Jordan's first international start and Toulouse player Blair Kinghorn's Scotland return. Kinghorn starts on the wing and replaces four-try star Darcy Graham who suffered a concussion against Fiji.
A decade after scoring against Scotland for the Junior Springboks at the 2014 U20 Junior World Championship, loosehead Pierre Schoeman will pack down at prop for Scotland against South Africa, with Zander Fagerson at tighthead. Ewan Ashman also retains his place as the starting hooker.
Grant Gilchrist and Scott Cummings are named as the second row pairing. The younger brother of Zander, Matt Fagerson, is named as the starting blindside flanker, with Rory Darge at openside flanker and Jack Dempsey at no.8. There are four changes in the backs, with Toulon player Ben White replacing Ali Price as the starting scrum-half. There is a headline return for Bath playmaker Finn Russell in place of Adam Hastings, who was in imperious form against the Fijians.
Inside centre Sione Tuipulotu remains as captain, with Huw Jones at outside centre after picking up a brace of tries and carrying for 145 metres against Fiji, second only to the formidable force of Duhan van der Merwe (176m). Van der Merwe returns in an otherwise new-look back three, with a first Test start for 26-year-old fullback Tom Jordan, and Blair Kinghorn, who completes the trio.
There are three changes to the bench, Elliot Millar Mills, Josh Bayliss and Jamie Ritchie are among the substitutes, with Townsend opting for a 6-2 split. That is also the preferred option by Rassie Erasmus and his Springboks side, foreshadowing the immense forward battle expected to take place on Sunday.
Scotland come into this game on good form after winning five of their last five Test matches - their longest winning run since 2020 (W5). A win this weekend would see them equal their longest-running streak since 1989-90 (W6). This however will be put to the test with a Springbok side heading to Edinburgh who have won 21 out of their last 25 matches, including eight of their last 10 since the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with both defeats in 2024 coming by a single point.
Commenting on the task in hand for Scotland on Sunday, Townsend said: "It's the biggest challenge in world rugby right now, playing the double world champions who are in fantastic form. They won The Rugby Championship, being able to play different teams and show their depth is so strong by putting out quality performances"
"When you think of the SPringbos you think of physicality, where ever we come up against that we have to match it. It's going to come from the ball carries, the defence and the set piece but there is an extra dimension to this Springboks team full of explosive and dynamic players".
"It will test us every minute and one that we have to be on our very best game to be able to go up against."
Scotland team to face South Africa (caps in brackets):
15. Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors (1) 14. Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (53) 13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (51) 12. Sione Tuipulotu – (captain) Glasgow Warriors (28) 11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (42) 10. Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (80) 9. Ben White – Toulon (22)
8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (21) 7. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors (23) 6. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (48) 5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (40) 4. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (73) 3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (68) 2. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (20) 1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (35)
Replacements: 16. Dylan Richardson – Hollywoodbets Sharks (4) 17. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (33) 18. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (5) 19. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (5) 20. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (7) 21. Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby (52) 22. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (7) 23. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (6)
