Autumn Nations Series: Scotland make six changes for Australia

Scotland opened the Autumn Nation Series with a big win over Tonga, their first Test since the Six Nations

Scotland welcome back captain Stuart Hogg and fly-half Finn Russell for Sunday's Autumn Nations Series meeting with Australia as Gregor Townsend makes six changes from the win over Tonga.

Centre Chris Harris and winger Duhan van der Merwe also come in after last Saturday's 60-14 win, along with second rows Sam Skinner and Grant Gilchrist.

Australia-born Sam Johnson retains his place alongside Harris in midfield, but winger Kyle Steyn drops to the bench after scoring four tries in the thrashing of Tonga.

Uncapped pair Ewan Ashman and Josh Bayliss join him among the replacements, with the former getting his chance after Stuart McInally took ill.

The starting XV shows just two changes from the concluding Six Nations win in France, with Matt Fagerson keeping the number eight jersey from Saturday and loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman earning his second cap after injury ruled out Rory Sutherland.

He is the only one of Scotland's eight-strong contingent on the British & Irish Lions tour not playing.

"While there were several positives to take from the win against Tonga we face a very different opponent in Australia," said head coach Townsend. "We will need to bring focus, accuracy and aggression.

"We have been able to select an experienced team and this is a great opportunity to test ourselves against an in-form side, who are also one of the leading teams in world rugby."

'Maybe defence coaches will be nervous'

Australia were crushed 53-24 on their last visit to Murrayfield in November 2017

Scotland are looking for a third successive win against Australia following two victories in 2017.

However, Australia, now led by former Glasgow Warriors coach Dave Rennie, have won their last five contests and have had a busy second half of the year, playing a three-Test summer series against France and seven matches in the Rugby Championship before edging out Japan last month.

The comfortable victory over Tonga was Scotland's first outing since beating France in March and Townsend was restricted to home-based players only last week.

"We've been getting battle-hardened at club level, some players more than others," said Townsend. "We have got to try and build that cohesion straight away. There's been good energy in training and communication has been high, which is positive.

"We had a good Six Nations and since then a few of them have gone on to have more experiences (with the Lions), which should make them more confident Test players. We won't be perfect on Sunday and it will be a squad effort, the bench will have a big part to play, as will the crowd.

"We play similar styles, quicker rugby. It should lead to a very good game for supporters. Maybe defence coaches will be nervous with both teams looking to play attacking rugby."

Scotland: Hogg, Graham, Harris, Johnson, Van der Merwe, Russell, Price, Schoeman, Turner, Z Fagerson, Skinner, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, M Fagerson.

Replacements: Ashman, Bhatti, Kebble, Hodgson, Bayliss, Horne, Hastings, Steyn.