Scotland and Australia seek Nations Championship redemption at Murrayfield

Summarised from 5 outlets · Updated 14 Nov, 14:49 · Archive

Scotland and Australia, both seeking to recover from opening defeats, meet in the Nations Championship at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Scotland and Australia meet in the Nations Championship at Murrayfield on Sunday, both teams attempting to recover from opening-weekend defeats. Scotland lost 43-21 to New Zealand at home, with hooker Ewan Ashman scoring a hat-trick but the All Blacks running in seven tries overall. Australia conceded a record number of points in their 45-22 defeat to England at Twickenham.

Gregor Townsend has made two changes to Scotland's back three for the match. Blair Kinghorn and Darcy Graham come into the starting XV, with Jamie Dobie and Kyle Rowe dropping out. Townsend has kept faith with much of the side that faced New Zealand. There is a potential debutant among the replacements in the form of Newcastle Red Bulls flanker Ollie Leatherbarrow.

Australia have made three changes to their starting XV. Coach Les Kiss has recalled fly half Carter Gordon, who is returning after fracturing his fibula against Argentina two months ago. Les Kiss said Gordon would 'bring his flavour, he will bring his voice' to the role, noting his ability to carry the ball forward, change direction and read the kicking game. Declan Meredith, who 'looked lost' in the England defeat according to the Guardian, has been dropped from the match-day 23.

Rob Valetini has been promoted from the bench to start at number 6, ending his use as an impact substitute. Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii moves from the left wing to inside centre following an injury to Isaac Henry, with Harry Potter brought in on the wing. Kiss has said there must be 'wholesale improvement in all other areas' if the team is to avoid a fourth straight Test defeat.

Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu acknowledged his team's second-half collapse against New Zealand. 'It is always hard to watch the footage back after a defeat like that where we missed some big opportunities and let ourselves down in certain areas,' he said. 'As a group, we have confronted that and I've been very proud of the boys in terms of how they have rallied this week.' Tuipulotu noted that Australia would come to Murrayfield as a wounded team after their England defeat, and said his Australian-born heritage ensured he had 'that little bit of fire bubbling away' in such fixtures, though the priority was his team's response to last week.

How it is being reported

• Scotland keen to bounce back against 'wounded' AustraliaBoth Scotland and Australia are capable of scintillating highs and crushing lows, but who will come out on top at Murrayfield on Sunday?BBC Sport · 14 Nov, 14:24
• Wallabies recall playmaker Carter Gordon as Kiss throws support behind SuaaliiMeredith dropped from match-day 23 after defeat to England Valetini named in XV with Australia out to avoid fourth straight loss The Wallabies have restored Carter Gordon and Rob Valetini to their starting crew, convinced the pair will be the difference makers as they seek to right their creaking ship in dangerous Scottish waters. Announcing the team to face Scotland on Sunday (Monday AEDT), coach Les Kiss made it clear he sees Gordon as the playmaker who can finally nail down the No 10 role that has become the Wallabies’ maddening hot-potato position , with seven different starting…Guardian Sport · 13 Nov, 22:56
• Scotland vs Australia: Date, kick-off time, TV channel, live stream, team news, lineups, h2h results, oddsWounded Wallabies head to Murrayfield in the Nations ChampionshipEvening Standard · 13 Nov, 22:03
• Wallabies ring changes ahead of Scotland TestCarter Gordon has been brought back as starting five-eighth as Australia seeks to avoid a fourth-straight Test defeat in Scotland.ABC News Australia · 13 Nov, 20:55
• Scotland freshen up back three for Australia clash as Wallabies boosted by Carter Gordon returnThe two sides will bid to bounce back from opening defeats in their November fixturesIndependent Sport · 13 Nov, 14:06

In this story: Scotland · Australia · Murrayfield · Carter Gordon · Gregor Townsend · Les Kiss · Sione Tuipulotu · Rob Valetini

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