Cherry starts final warm-up Test against Georgia

Jamie Ritchie will once again lead the national side at Scottish Gas Murrayfield as Gregor Townsend names six changes to the team selected for the narrow 30-27 defeat to Rugby World Cup hosts France in St Etienne two weeks ago.

Blindside flanker Ritchie will feature in an unchanged back row, with Rory Darge on the openside and Jack Dempsey at number 8.

Vice-captain Grant Gilchrist is joined in the second row by Sam Skinner, behind a new-look front row containing Jamie Bhatti and WP Nel at loosehead and tighthead prop respectively, and Cherry at hooker.

In the back division, Ben White returns at scrum-half alongside Finn Russell – also a vice-captain – at stand-off.

Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones once more resume their partnership at centre, and Darcy Graham returns to action to complete a back three alongside fellow wing Duhan van der Merwe and Ollie Smith, who starts at full back.

Among the replacement forwards, Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland and Javan Sebastian offer front row ballast, with Scott Cummings and Matt Fagerson also listed.

George Horne, Ben Healy and Chris Harris also get the nod as back replacements to complete Townsend’s final squad ahead of next month’s tournament in France.

Scotland will compete in Pool B of Rugby World Cup 2023, where they will face South Africa, Tonga, Romania and Ireland.

Scotland team to play Georgia in The Famous Grouse Nations Series at Scottish Gas Murrayfield
Saturday 26 August 2023, kick-off 5.30pm – live on Prime Video.

15. Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 5 caps

14. Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 35 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 38 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) 18 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 30 caps

10. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby) – Vice-Captain – 71 caps
9. Ben White (Toulon) 15 caps

1. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
2. Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) 9 caps
3. WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 55 caps
4. Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby) 27 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – Vice-captain – 64 caps
6. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh Rugby) – Captain – 42 caps
7. Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) 10 caps
8. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 11 caps

Replacements

16. Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
17. Rory Sutherland (unattached) 25 caps
18. Javan Sebastian (Edinburgh Rugby) 5 caps
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 28 caps
20. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 35 caps
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 22 caps
22. Ben Healy (Edinburgh Rugby) 2 caps
23. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) 43 caps