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Scotland vs Argentina: Magnus Bradbury to make debut as Scots make four changes

Vern Cotter's side narrowly lost to Australia last week

Andy Newport
Thursday 17 November 2016 17:59 GMT
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Bradbury replaces Ryan Wilson at on the blindside
Bradbury replaces Ryan Wilson at on the blindside (Getty)

Edinburgh flanker Magnus Bradbury will make his Scotland debut in Saturday's autumn Test against Argentina at Murrayfield.

His inclusion, in place of Ryan Wilson, is one of four changes to the side which lost narrowly against Australia last weekend.

Glasgow's Fraser Brown replaces Ross Ford at hooker, lock Grant Gilchrist comes in for Richie Gray, while Tommy Seymour - who sat out the Wallabies defeat through personal issues - returns at wing, with Tim Visser dropping out of Vern Cotter's starting XV.

There is no place for Edinburgh's South Africa-born back-rower Cornell du Preez in the matchday 23, despite being called up by the Scots for the first time earlier this week.

The inclusion of his 21-year-old club-mate Bradbury on the blindside sees John Barclay move to number eight, with Hamish Watson returning to the openside and Wilson selected on the bench.

Gray, meanwhile, misses out after suffering suspected concussion last weekend.

Two further personnel changes appear on the bench, with prop Alex Allan and lock Tim Swinson coming in for Gordon Reid and the promoted Gilchrist.

Cotter said: "Every week we want to improve. We did a lot of good things against Australia. We scored three tries to their two, we were aggressive in attack and our defence held strong for the most part.

Hogg couldn't stop yet another agonising defeat (Getty)

"While it's disappointing we didn't walk off with the win, I'm proud of the courage the players showed and the way they adapted to changes on the paddock due to injuries.

"Saturday's game is going to be a different challenge for us, both physically and mentally, against a very dangerous Argentina side.

"They have the capacity to vary their game so we have to be prepared for whatever approach they take, though we can expect them to look to dominate the set-piece as a starting point, be very explosive around the rucks and look to get their offloading game up and running.

"We will have to be disciplined and make sure we capitalise on every opportunity we create."

Scotland team to face Argentina:

Scotland: Hogg, Maitland, Jones, Dunbar, Seymour, Russell, Laidlaw (capt), Dell, Brown, Fagerson, Gilchrist, J Gray, Bradbury, Watson, Barclay.

Replacements: Ford, Allan, Low, Swinson, Wilson, Price, Horne, Visser.

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