| Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 20 November Time: 13:00 GMT |
| Protection: Observe dwell textual content updates on the BBC Sport web site and app |
Bathtub back-row Josh Bayliss makes his first begin as considered one of seven Scotland adjustments for his or her remaining Autumn Nations Collection match towards Japan on Saturday.
Bayliss made his debut off the bench within the win over Australia two weeks in the past.
After final week’s 30-15 loss to South Africa, openside flanker Hamish Watson returns to the XV and Glasgow Warriors lock Scott Cummings is again from harm for his first look of the collection.
Winger Darcy Graham, centre Sam Johnson and hooker George Turner are restored.
Glasgow prop Jamie Bhatti additionally earns his first worldwide begin since August 2019.
There are two uncapped gamers among the many replacements; Scarlets’ prop Javan Sebastian and Sharks back-row ahead Dylan Richardson.
Following his two tries towards South Africa final weekend, captain Stuart Hogg earns his 88th cap to maneuver into fourth place on the lads’s all-time listing.
One other landing would make the full-back the nation’s main attempt scorer.
“We have one eye on our subsequent match, which is the Six Nations, which comes spherical actually rapidly,” mentioned Townsend. “We’re enjoying England at house – a really massive problem for us.
“It’s one other recreation to have a look at gamers that possibly have not had alternatives. Josh Bayliss brings an actual level of distinction, which is his pace. That’ll be essential this week.
“Dylan’s been right here the entire marketing campaign. He is impressed us along with his professionalism, his means to be taught rapidly and his pace. He is an openside flanker that would play blindside flanker as properly. He is an openside flanker that may carry ball.
“Javan Sebastian we really feel has huge potential. He is an excellent scrummager already. He strikes properly, dynamic for a prop.
Scotland’s final assembly with Japan was a 28-21 defeat on the 2019 World Cup.
Scrum-half Ali Value, back-row Jamie Ritchie and tighthead prop Zander Fagerson are the one gamers to begin all 4 matches on this marketing campaign, having been within the facet that ran 10 tries in towards Tonga.
“We have improved in numerous areas,” mentioned Townsend. “We have been more durable to beat – up till the weekend.
“We all know what a harmful crew Japan could be, particularly once they spend extra time collectively. We will see their finest efficiency of the marketing campaign, that is for positive. It is as much as us to ship our greatest efficiency on the opposite facet.”
Scotland: Hogg, Graham, Harris, Johnson, Van der Merwe, Russell, Value; Bhatti, Turner, Z Fagerson, Cummings, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, Bayliss.
Replacements: McInally, Schoeman, Sebastian, Skinner, Richardson, M Fagerson, Horne, Kinghorn.