Double Aussie threat in Scottish team to face Wallabies

Jack Dempsey will pull on the Scotland jersey against the Wallabies. Photo: Getty Images
Jack Dempsey will pull on the Scotland jersey against the Wallabies. Photo: Getty Images

Australians Sione Tuipulotu and back-row ace Jack Dempsey will attempt to heap more misery on their fellow countrymen after being selected to spearhead Scotland in the Nations Championship clash at Murrayfield.

Centre Tuipulotu, the Melburnian who's become an inspirational skipper of the Scots after formerly playing for Australia's under-20s, and Sydney's former Wallaby Dempsey, at No.8, will be key figures in the bid to hand Les Kiss's men their fourth-straight Test defeat in Sunday's (Monday AEDT) clash.

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Try-scorer Tuipulotu played a big part in Scotland's win over the Wallabies at Murrayfield two years ago, while Dempsey, who last played for Australia in 2019 before switching eligibility, is eager to put in a barnstorming performance to nail down a World Cup place as he recently left Glasgow to play club rugby in Japan. 

Two of Scotland's biggest weapons, Blair Kinghorn and record try-scorer Darcy Graham, will also return to the fray as coach Gregor Townsend made a couple of changes to his starting XV after their defeat by New Zealand in Edinburgh last weekend.

Toulouse back Kinghorn, dropped to the bench for the New Zealand loss, will start at fullback in place of Kyle Rowe, who is ditched from the match-day squad, while Edinburgh wing Graham starts in place of Jamie Dobie, who drops to the bench.

The Scottish pack remains unchanged but Newcastle back-rower Ollie Leatherbarrow is in line for his debut after being named among the substitutes for the first time since his recent call-up.

Scotland team (15-1): Blair Kinghorn, Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Darcy Graham, Finn Russell, Ben White; Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman, Zander Fagerson, Gregor Brown, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge, Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: Gregor Hiddleston, Pierre Schoeman, Will Hurd, Max Williamson, Josh Bayliss, Ollie Leatherbarrow, Tom Jordan, Jamie Dobie.

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