Stafford McDowall selected for Ireland clash

• 14 Mar 2024

Stafford McDowall will make his Guinness Six Nations debut this Saturday (16 March) in Dublin when Scotland play Ireland in the closing stages of the 2024 Championship.

McDowall, who made his Scotland debut in a Rugby World Cup warm-up match against Italy last year, will form a centre partnership with Glasgow Warriors colleague Huw Jones.

In the backs, Club Captain Kyle Steyn is named for his third consecutive Scotland start on the right wing.

The Glasgow Warriors in the pack, are unchanged from last weekend’s game in Italy. George Turner starts at hooker, alongside  Zander Fagerson at tight-head prop. Scott Cummings forms a second row partnership with Grant Gilchrist.

Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey are named at seven and eight respectively, with the former providing co-captaincy duties once again.

The Glasgow Warriors contingency is round out on the bench with the inclusion of back row Matt Fagerson, scrum-half George Horne -who’s in contention to win his 30th cap- and Kyle Rowe, who could add a fourth international cap to his tally.

Scotland team to face Ireland at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin, in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations on Saturday 16 March, kick-off 4.45pm – live on ITV/STV (caps in brackets):

1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (30)

2. George Turner – Glasgow Warriors (44)

3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (66)

4. Grant Gilchrist  – Vice-Captain – Edinburgh Rugby (71)

5. Scott Cummings – Glasgow Warriors (37)

6. Andy Christie – Saracens (7)

7. Rory Darge – Co-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (18)

8. Jack Dempsey – Glasgow Warriors (19)

9. Ben White – Toulon (21)

10. Finn Russell – Co-Captain – Bath Rugby (79)

11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (38)

12. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (1)

13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (47)

14. Kyle Steyn – Glasgow Warriors (18)

15. Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (52)

Replacements

16. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (16)

17. Rory Sutherland – Oyonnax (29)

18. Elliot Millar-Mills – Northampton Saints (3)

19. Sam Skinner – Edinburgh Rugby (34)

20. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (43)

21. George Horne – Glasgow Warriors (29)

22. Cameron Redpath – Bath Rugby (13)

23. Kyle Rowe – Glasgow Warriors (3)