Grant Gilchrist named captain as Scotland team revealed for Romania clash

Scotland take on Romania in Lille in their third World Cup game on Saturday.

Grant Gilchrist named captain as Scotland team revealed for Romania clash SNS Group

Grant Gilchrist will captain Scotland in their Rugby World Cup against Romania.

Gregor Townsend has named his team for their third game in the tournament held in France.

The Scots will have to beat Romania to keep their chances of qualification alive and set up a last game decider against Ireland at the Stade De France in Paris.

This comes after an opening day defeat to South Africa and a victory over Tonga in their second game.

In an entirely fresh pack, Gilchrist will link up in the second row with Sam Skinner, who was a replacement in that Tonga victory.

The back row sees the first appearances of the tournament for openside flanker Hamish Watson, who has been named as vice-captain, and blindside Luke Crosbie, with Matt Fagerson restored to the starting eleven at number 8.

A freshened front row will bring about a Rugby World Cup debut for tighthead prop Javan Sebastian, who is joined by loosehead Jamie Bhatti and Ewan Ashman at hooker.

In the back division, Chris Harris, also a vice-captain, is partnered at centre by Cameron Redpath.

Ben Healy is named at stand-off for a first tournament showing, with the experienced Ali Price selected at scrum-half.

Kyle Steyn retains his place in the back three, switching wings to accommodate the return of Darcy Graham, with Ollie Smith operating at full-back.

Among the replacements, hooker Johnny Matthews is in line to make his Scotland debut having been called into the squad earlier in the week to replace the unfortunate Stuart McInally.

The remaining substitutes were all involved against Tonga, with Matthews’ front row colleagues Rory Sutherland and WP Nel, as well as Scott Cummings and Rory Darge, completing Scotland’s forward options from the bench.

George Horne and Blair Kinghorn, both try scorers last time out, are joined by Huw Jones in rounding off the matchday 23.

Scotland team to play Romania

  1. Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 7 caps
  2. Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 37 caps
  3. Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby) – Vice-captain – 45 caps
  4. Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) 8 caps
  5. Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) 14 caps
  6. Ben Healy (Edinburgh Rugby) 3 caps
  7. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) 64 caps
  8. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 33 caps
  9. Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) 10 caps
  10. Javan Sebastian (Edinburgh Rugby) 6 caps
  11. Sam Skinner (Edinburgh Rugby) 29 caps
  12. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – Captain – 66 caps
  13. Luke Crosbie (Edinburgh Rugby) 5 caps
  14. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) – Vice-captain – 58 caps
  15. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 38 caps

Replacements

  1. Johnny Matthews (Glasgow Warriors) uncapped
  2. Rory Sutherland (unattached) 27 caps
  3. WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 59 caps
  4. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 31 caps
  5. Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) 13 caps
  6. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 24 caps
  7. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 48 caps
  8. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 41 caps
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