Graham back in Scotland XV to face Australia

Ewan Ashman keeps his place at hooker and Pierre Schoeman is again among the replacements.

Graham is one of two changes to the side, along with former Edinburgh full-back Blair Kinghorn. Scotland’s all-time leading try scorer starts on the left wing and will win his 58th cap.

Ashman starts at hooker again after his historic hat-trick against New Zealand last weekend. Townsend has kept the same starting pack, so Ashman packs down between loosehead Rory Sutherland and tighthead Zander Fagerson. He is in line for his 39th cap.

Schoeman continues on the bench as one of three front-row replacements, with Gregor Hiddleston and Will Hurd. If he comes on, it will be his 53rd Test appearance.

Match preview

Scotland return to Scottish Gas Murrayfield looking to bounce back from last weekend’s 43-21 defeat by New Zealand. They have won two and lost two in the Nations Championship so far. They beat Argentina 47-38 away and Fiji 33-17 at Murrayfield, and lost 42-28 in South Africa.

Recent history against the Wallabies is on Scotland’s side. They have won four of the last five meetings, most recently a 27-13 win at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in November 2024 in which Graham, Ashman and Schoeman all started.

Australia still lead the overall head-to-head with 22 wins to Scotland’s 13 from 35 Tests. The sides first met at Murrayfield in 1927, when Scotland won 10-8.

Scotland’s final home match of the series is against Japan at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Saturday 21 November (kick-off 2.10pm).

Scotland team to play Australia in the Nations Championship at Scottish Gas Murrayfield
Sunday 15 November, kick-off 3.10pm, live on ITV Sport; caps in brackets:

15. Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (66)

14. Kyle Steyn – Vice-captain – Glasgow Warriors (36)
13. Huw Jones – Toulon (64)
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Captain – Glasgow Warriors (42)
11. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (57)

10. Finn Russell – Bath Rugby (96)
9. Ben White – Toulon (39)

1. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (52)
2. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (38)
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (85)
4. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (20)
5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (53)
6. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (67)
7. Rory Darge – Vice-captain – Glasgow Warriors (42)
8. Jack Dempsey – Toshiba Brave Lupus (36)

Replacements

16. Gregor Hiddleston – Glasgow Warriors (4)
17. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (52)
18. Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (12)
19. Max Williamson – Glasgow Warriors (16)
20. Josh Bayliss – Bath Rugby (19)
21. Ollie Leatherbarrow – Newcastle Red Bulls (uncapped)
22. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (23)
23. Tom Jordan – Bristol Bears (21)