Rory Lawson
Former Scotland captain on TNT Sports

You talk about playing through the defensive line... Dobie sees there's space in behind and it goes over the top.

A wonderful score.

Colin Gregor
Former Glasgow Warriors back on BBC Radio Scotland

That's an outstanding try. Great communication between Jamie Dobie and Darcy Graham.

Graham's space awareness is superb.

Well now. The USA win a penalty and take it quick. It's played out to Dominic Besag, but the pass floats well forward and Scotland get a let-off.

Not all one-way traffic, anymore.

Scotland have a bit of defending to do here, after Scott Cummings was pinged for trapping the ball in a ruck.

Any team worth their salt would fancy scoring from here, a throw about 5m out.

Scotland have wrapped the ball up in a cocoon though, and they win the penalty.

John Barclay
Former Scotland captain on TNT Sports

I dare say there might be a couple of tries out there for Darcy Graham this evening...

Rory Lawson
Former Scotland captain on TNT Sports

That basketball pass is gorgeous stuff from Liam McConnell.

Showing great wherewithal.

Image source, SNS

Well, from that scrum, Scotland monster the US pack and win the penalty.

Unsurprisingly, they want to pack back down. This could be a try incoming...

That should have been try number one for Scotland!

They work it to the left and Kyle Rowe scurries away. He goes inside to Duhan van der Merwe, who fumbles the ball badly and spills.

It should have been the perfect start on his milestone night, instead he fluffs it.

Right, we're almost under way at Murrayfield.

Scotland are in their 'purple heather' away kit. Not my words, the words of Andy Burke. The USA are in dark blue.

One of Scotland's most-decorated Olympic athletes, Jack Carlin delivers the match ball, weeks after retiring from cycling.

And we're off.

Gregor Townsend highlighted the aggression in Liam McConnell's game as a key reason for handing the 21-year-old his first Scotland cap - and it's something he has known about for quite some time.

McConnell has, in recent times, been part of the Scotland Under-20 squad that regularly has training runs against the full national team.

Far from being over-awed by the stellar names, McConnell got stuck into them, even picking a fight with the hulking figure of prop Pierre Schoeman.

"He's a pretty big man, so I don't know how that would go," the young Edinburgh back-row sheepishly said of his club-mate.

"We've selected him on what he's been doing with Edinburgh but also his potential," Townsend said.

"We've seen an all-round game from him already this season. His skills in attack, with his little short passes, off loads, his ball-carrying ability, his confidence to show his skills under pressure."

Image source, SNS

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend says there is still "a lot more to come" from Duhan van der Merwe, who earns his 50th cap this evening.

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."

As he runs out onto the pitch, the man to lead Scotland out, there is a tear in his eye.

Image source, SNS

The US recorded a good win over Samoa recently in the Pacific Nations Cup, and head coach Scott Lawrence only makes a few changes from that side.

Loosehead prop Jack Iscaro plays for Stade Francais, so cannot play in this one. Fellow front-rower Kapeli Pifeleti falls into the same category.

Former Scotland winger Rufus McLean has also been left out. The Boston-born winger was named in the squad for the autumn, but the decision was made to omit him from selection for this game given his previous conviction for domestic abuse.

"USA Rugby is aware of Rufus’ history, and appreciates the impact the November 1st match may have on the situation and those involved," a statement said.

"After internal discussion, consideration with Scottish Rugby and with respect to all parties, Rufus will not participate or be present at the match."

Image source, SNS

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland at Murrayfield

The dawn of a new season for Scotland, and this one should have plenty of tries under the lights at Murrayfield.

Really, all eyes are on next week when the All Blacks come to town but there are intriguing stories tonight too.

Liam McConnell making his debut, Ollie Smith deputising for the injured Huw Jones at 13.

I saw Mr Jones outside trying to pick up his accreditation to get in, not even a Scotland hero gets in without it...

Plus in-form Jamie Dobie gets the keys to Scotland's backline.

Let's talk about that Scotland team then. Where are the eyebrow raisers?

Ollie Smith at outside centre, maybe. He's never started their for his country. Paddy Harrison starts at hooker, yet to start a game for Edinburgh this season. Marshall Sykes is preferred to any of the Glasgow youngsters in the second row.

Perhaps most notably, 21-year-old Liam McConnell makes his Scotland debut at blindside flanker. He's started all four for Edinburgh this year.

On the bench, there could be a debut for hooker Harri Morris, who is yet to play a minute for Edinburgh this year.

Image source, SNS

Scotland: Rowe, Graham, Smith, McDowall (c), Van der Merwe; Hastings, Dobie; Sutherland, Harrison, Rae, Cummings, Sykes, McConnell, Richardson, Dempsey.

Replacements: Morris, McBeth, Walker, Samuel, Williamson, Bradbury, Horne, Thompson.

USA: Storti, Wilson, Besag, Boni, Fricker; Hilsenbeck, De Haas; Lindenmuth, Geiger, Davis, Redelinghuys, Damm (c), Helu, Daniel, Ryan.

Replacements: McNulty, Telea-Ilalio, Niuafe, Nawali, Alikhan, McVeigh, Lopeti, Carty.

Good afternoon and welcome to Murrayfield as Scotland get their Autumn Nations Series under way.

First up, before the All Blacks next weekend, is the USA - a side Scotland put away comfortably in the summer of 2024.

We're outside the international window, which means Gregor Townsend doesn't have all his riches available to him.

There's no Finn Russell, no Blair Kinghorn, no Jamie Ritchie, and no Zander Fagerson or Rory Darge who are struggling with injuries.

Let's have a look at who fills in, in their place...

Image source, SNS