Scotland start Jordan against South Africa

South Africa were too strong for Scotland at the 2023 World Cup

Autumn Nations Series: Scotland v South Africa

Date: Sunday, 10 November Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Kick-off: 16:10 GMT

Coverage: Commentary on BBC Radio Scotland & Sounds. Text updates on BBC Sport website & app

Tom Jordan will make his first Scotland start against world champions South Africa at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Star duo Finn Russell and Blair Kinghorn return, along with scrum-half Ben White, having all been unavailable for last weekend's 57-17 win over Fiji.

New Zealand-born Jordan, usually deployed at fly-half by Glasgow Warriors, impressed as a replacement full-back in that game and stays there.

Darcy Graham misses out after a concussion, with Kinghorn taking his place on the wing.

Ali Price and Adam Hastings drop out, with Jamie Dobie kept on as the back-up number nine option.

"You know that you're going to have to play your best rugby to be in the game," said Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend.

"It's got everybody's minds focused and the players are really relishing the opportunity."

Last autumn, the Springboks began their successful World Cup defence with a suffocating 18-3 win over Scotland.

Townsend said the experience should benefit his players and quickly pointed to "different contexts", explaining that there was "probably more emotion" given the importance of that tournament opener in France.

Of Jordan's inclusion, he added: "We thought he could operate there at Test level. We didn't think he'd get that opportunity so quickly.

"His position in the backfield has always been good when he's played at 10 for Glasgow.

"With Blair having played a lot on the wing, not just over his career, but this season, we feel that's the best combination."

Eben Etzebeth captains South Africa as Siya Kolisi begins on a bench that includes seven forwards.

Locks Franco Mostert and RG Snyman return after long-term injury absences, the former starting and the latter on the bench.

With number eight Kwagga Smith earning his 50th cap in Edinburgh, head coach Rassie Erasmus has made 11 changes from the side that defeated Argentina in September.

"When you think of the Springboks you think of physicality, but there's an extra dimension," Townsend added. "They are very innovative around set-pieces and they move the ball wide with pace.

"We expect an open game and a game that will test us over every minute."

Townsend has gone with six forwards among his replacements, saying they provide "the required physicality and also add pace".

Scotland have beaten South Africa only five times in 29 meetings, the last of those victories coming in 2010.

Springboks ready for 'massive arm wrestle'

Erasmus had thought Russell might be on the home bench and admitted that the choice of Jordan at full-back took him by surprise.

"We will have to do some homework on him," he said. "They are definitely keeping us guessing because what they did in the Six Nations games and what they did against Fiji were total opposites."

Erasmus stressed that the last meeting at the World Cup was closer than the scoreline might suggest.

"They are a class team," he said. "Scotland think they are going to win and we know, if we are a little bit off our game, we are in for a very tough and long day."

South Africa are currently second in the rankings, five places above Scotland.

Asked if the gap between the top sides and the rest is growing, Erasmus added: "I remember when we took over in 2018, we were number six in the world and within a year and a half, we won the World Cup. Things can change very quickly.

"We haven't experienced big scores against Scotland and always found it a grind, so we are preparing for a massive arm wrestle."

Scotland & South Africa teams

Scotland: Jordan, Kinghorn, Jones, Tuipulotu (capt) Van der Merwe, Russell, White; Schoeman, Ashman, Z Fagerson, Gilchrist, Cummings, M Fagerson, Darge, Dempsey.

Replacements: Richardson, Sutherland, Millar Mills, Williamson, Bayliss, Ritchie, Dobie, McDowall.

South Africa: Le Roux, Moodie, Am, Esterhuizen, Mapimpi, Pollard, Hendrikse; Nche, Mbonambi, T du Toit, Etzebeth, Mostert, Van Staden, Louw, Smith.

Replacements: Marx, Steenekamp, Koch, Snyman, Kolisi, PS du Toit, Wiese, Williams.