McDowall has previously captained Glasgow Warriors and co-captained Scotland against Canada, but this will be the first time he will Captain his country.
In the forwards, it’s a complete change: Patrick Harrison and Will Hurd earn starting roles in the front row alongside Jamie Bhatti, as both Harrison and Hurd build on their two caps from the summer tour.
In the second row, Alex Samuel is set to make his senior debut for Scotland. Samuel, who debuted for Glasgow Warriors in 2022, will partner Scarlets’ Alex Craig.
The back row features Josh Bayliss, who delivered an impressive performance in last weekend’s clash against South Africa. Joining him are vice-captain Luke Crosbie and debutant Ben Muncaster, who previously featured for Scotland A against Chile during the 2022 summer tour.
Rory Hutchinson who will start outside captain McDowall has been a standout performer for Northampton Saints in recent years, returns to the Scotland line-up for the first time since the 2022 summer tour of Argentina.
On the wings, Darcy Graham makes his return after recovering from a concussion sustained during his four-try performance against Fiji earlier this month. Sales Sharks Aaron Reed is named on the wing and earns his place after an impressive debut on the summer tour, where he scored twice against Canada. The impressive Tom Jordan retains his place at full-back.
The half-back duo consists of Glasgow Warriors’ Adam Hastings and George Horne, with scrum-half Horne also named vice-captain.
The bench includes exciting prospects, with Johnny Matthews earning a call-up following his try-scoring debut against Romania at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Ewan Johnson, the Oyonnax lock who debuted in the summer, is named as second-row cover.
Nineteen-year-old Freddy Douglas is poised to make history as Scotland’s youngest men’s debutant since Donald White in 1963. The powerful back-rower, a standout in the U20 Six Nations and U20 Trophy, joined the Scottish Rugby Academy in 2023 and has already made an impact with Edinburgh A and Scotland U20.
Returning from injury, Kyle Rowe joins Jamie Dobie and Matt Currie on the bench, with Currie set to make his first Scotland appearance at Murrayfield.
Scotland to face Portugal at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday 16 November, kick-off 3.10pm, live on TNT Sports
15. Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors (2)
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (40)
13. Rory Hutchinson – Northampton Saints (7)
12. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (7) CAPTAIN
11. Arron Reed – Sale Sharks (2)
10. Adam Hastings – Glasgow Warriors (31)
9. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (32) VICE-CAPTAIN
1. Jamie Bhatti – Glasgow Warriors (34)
2. Patrick Harrison – Edinburgh Rugby (2)
3. Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (2)
4. Alex Craig – Scarlets (4)
5. Alex Samuel – Glasgow Warriors (uncapped)
6. Luke Crosbie – Edinburgh Rugby (11) VICE-CAPTAIN
7. Ben Muncaster – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)
8. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (8)
Replacements
16. Johnny Matthews – Glasgow Warriors (1)
17. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (35)
18. Elliot Millar Mills – Northampton Saints (6)
19. Ewan Johnson – Oyonnax (3)
20. Freddy Douglas – Edinburgh Rugby (uncapped)
21. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (8)
22. Matt Currie – Edinburgh Rugby (3)
23. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (8)
