Scotland last visited North America on tour in 2018, when plenty of the current regulars got their first taste of international rugby.

It was an early Sunday morning back home when the Scots visited Edmonton and won 48-10, with George Turner scoring a hat-trick of tries.

Former captain Jamie Ritchie made his debut, alongside centre James Lang, now-retired lock Lewis Carmichael and soon-to-be Glasgow fly-half Adam Hastings.

Will it be as simple for Scotland this time round? We'll have to wait and see.

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• Should all five of the uncapped players on the bench come on to make their debuts, it will be the most debuts earned in a single game (10) under Gregor Townsend, surpassing the eight debuts against Tonga in November 2021.
• Scotland have won four of their previous five men’s Test matches against Canada (L1), including each of their last three by an average margin of 27 points.
• Scotland made the most carries (152), gained the most metres (650) and beat the most defenders (42.3) per game of any side in the 2023 Rugby World Cup and were one of just two sides to gain 400+ metres per game in this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations (407, also Ireland).
• Scotland had the highest tackle success rate of any team in both the 2023 Rugby World Cup (89.6%) and the 2024 Guinness Men’s Six Nations (89.3%).

Once as high as 11th in the world rankings, Canadian men's rugby has suffered in recent years and been on the end of a few rough results to Tier 1 nations.

10 years ago, Scotland won by just two points and were lucky to emerge victorious. Tonight surely won't be as difficult.

Head coach Kingsley Jones is immensely unpopular with the fanbase, despite signing a new contract in October 2022.

Their last two matches against Tier 1 sides ended 68-12 and 70-14 to Wales and England respectively.

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This should not be taken too lightly by Scotland - just ask the touring side of 2002.

Back then, Canada fly-half Jared Barker slotted a 76th-minute penalty to give his side a 26-23 victory in Vancouver.

It was the Canadians' first-ever win in Tests between the two countries, and the last time the Canucks ever beat a Six Nations side.

The Scots side included the likes of Chris Paterson, Mike Blair - making his debut - Gordon Bulloch, Nathan Hines and Simon Taylor. No slouches, then.

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Gregor Townsend believes several members of his inexperienced Scotland squad can become "genuine contenders" to start for a full-strength national side.

"With any player winning their first cap we want to see what got them selected in the first place - their game and their strengths," Townsend said.

"When we selected this squad, one of the principles we had was, ‘do we believe these players can play for us not just now, but in November and the Six Nations?’ That’s the goal.

"There will be a lot of examples over the next few weeks of guys taking their opportunity and being genuine contenders for our Test team that plays South Africa in November."

Image source, SNS

Image source, SNS

Despite all the new names on the tour, the most eyebrow-raising selection perhaps was perhaps Jamie Dobie being named on the wing.

The Glasgow scrum-half has played there for the Warriors a couple of times this season, with Townsend explaining: "It’s partly to manage the squad over the first two games," Townsend said after announcing his team on Wednesday.

"Also, we’re increasingly impressed with Jamie the more he plays on the wing.

"His defence, his speed, his high ball ability. We do believe scrum-half is his best position, but playing wing can help him play more games and also help his running game and support lines when he goes to 9.

"He’ll get a chance to play 9 on Saturday and later in the tour."

Fans of Scottish rugby will be unsurprised to see Matt Currie and Max Williamson making their national team debuts.

Edinburgh centre Currie was named as one of the URC breakout stars of the season, while Williamson played 21 times for Glasgow after making his pro debut earlier this year.

Gregor Brown, cousin of Scotland regular Blair Kinghorn, can play in both the second and back-row, and is another of the Warriors' URC-winning youngsters.

Scrum-half Gus Warr and winger Arron Reed are both Sale Sharks players who have England Under-20s caps to their name.

Image source, SNS

Canada: Coats, Coe, Richardson, LeSage, Benn; Nelson, Higgins; Murray, Quattrin, Young, Keys, Baillie, Flesch, Rumball, Vikilani.

Replacements: Mackail, Sears-Duru, Keith, Stockwood, Parry, Gallagher, Tal McMullin, Tak McMullin.

Scotland: Paterson, Dobie, Currie, McDowall, Reed; Thompson, Warr; Sutherland, Richardson, Millar Mills, Williamson, Young, Brown, Crosbie, Bayliss.

Replacements: Smith, McBeth, Hurd, Johnson, M Fagerson, Healy, Steyn, McCann.

Image source, Getty Images

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the Douglas Horn Cup - otherwise known as Canada v Scotland - in Ottawa.

Whether you're having a quiet Saturday night in, staying up late to watch, or peeking at your phone while queueing for the bar, you're welcome to join us.

With key men rested, there might be some names you don't recognise, so we'll bring you all the team news and then take a closer look at the new faces.