# Graham one of 14 Scotland changes for Fiji

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/graham-one-of-14-scotland-changes-for-fiji/
- Published: 2026-07-16T12:22:40+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-27T01:14:41+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Sport (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/cm2gnlykg1po?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Sport, UK, World

## Key points

- Scotland make 14 changes for Fiji clash at Murrayfield on Saturday.
- Only Gregor Brown retained from South Africa defeat, now at number eight.
- Several players, including Seb Stephen, set for Scotland debuts.

## Summary

Scotland have made 14 changes to their starting side for Saturday's Nations Championship match against Fiji at Murrayfield, with only Gregor Brown retained from last weekend's narrow loss to South Africa, having switched from lock to number eight. Head coach Gregor Townsend said the wholesale rotation reflects a deliberate plan to give the whole squad game time on the tour and build depth for the future, with several players handed their first Scotland starts.

Stafford McDowall captains the revamped team, partnered by Ollie Smith in the centres, while George Horne and Fergus Burke start at half-back and Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham and Tom Jordan form the back three. Gregor Hiddleston and Freddy Douglas earn maiden starts, and 20-year-old Seb Stephen is poised for his first cap off the bench. Scotland beat Argentina before losing to South Africa on their summer tour, and face a Fiji side that lost heavily to Wales and then England in recent weeks.

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