'More to come' as Van der Merwe hits Scotland landmark
- Published
Autumn Nations Series: Scotland v USA
Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 1 November Kick-off: 17:40 GMT
Coverage: Listen live on BBC Radio Scotland Extra, MW and online; live text on BBC Sport website
Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend says there is still "a lot more to come" from Duhan van der Merwe, who will earn his 50th cap in Saturday's opening Nations Series game against the United States.
Townsend was restricted to selecting from Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors players for the first of four Tests as the fixture lies outside the international window.
That means Warriors centre Stafford McDowall will captain the side having done so against New Zealand Maori in the summer and Portugal last November.
Edinburgh back row Liam McConnell will make his debut from the start, and hooker club-mate Harri Morris will also earn his first cap from the bench.
It will also be a milestone occasion for their capital team-mate Van der Merwe, who toured Australia with the British & Irish Lions last summer.
The South Africa-born wing made his debut against Georgia in October 2020 and has since amassed 32 tries in 49 appearances.
"He's created so many special moments," Townsend said of the 30-year-old. "His debut was just five years ago, so to get 50 caps within that time shows how important he's been.
"I think when he first came in, he was a great ball carrier and needed to develop his defence, which he has done. And last season he showed his ability to put others into space. So his game is growing.
"It's great that we've had him for the last five years and there's a lot more to come."
Tighthead D'Arcy Rae will make his first Scotland start and Glasgow's Jack Dempsey features for the first time since this year's Six Nations at number eight.
Edinburgh back row Magnus Bradbury is in line for a first Scotland outing since 2022 from the bench.
Rae is one of six players with 10 or fewer caps, the others being Warriors centre Ollie Smith and Edinburgh forwards Patrick Harrison, Marshall Sykes, Dylan Richardson and 21-year-old McConnell.
Scotland continue their autumn by welcoming New Zealand on 8 November, Argentina eight days later, and Tonga on 23 November.
Scotland team to face US
Kyle Rowe (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh), Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors), Stafford McDowall (Glasgow Warriors, capt), Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh); Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Jamie Dobie (Glasgow Warriors); Rory Sutherland (Glasgow Warriors), Patrick Harrison (Edinburgh), D'Arcy Rae (Edinburgh), Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Marshall Sykes (Edinburgh), Liam McConnell (Edinburgh), Dylan Richardson (Edinburgh), Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: Harri Morris (Edinburgh), Nathan McBeth (Glasgow Warriors), Murphy Walker (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Samuel (Glasgow Warriors), Max Williamson (Glasgow Warriors), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Ross Thompson (Edinburgh).