Scots change six for Boks

– Scotland strengthened their side yesterday as coach Gregor Townsend made six changes to his starting line-up to take on South Africa in their Test at Murrayfield on Saturday.

There is a first outing in the November internationals for loosehead prop Gordon Reid, while hooker Stuart McInally, locks Jonny Gray and Ben Toolis and flanker Hamish Watson return to the pack.

Gray and McInally had been used off the bench in last Saturday’s 54-17 win over Fiji at Murrayfield, but Toolis and Watson were rested after a 21-10 loss to Wales in Cardiff on November 3.

Huw Jones, who played club rugby in Cape Town for four years, is the only change in the backline in place of Alex Dunbar.

Sam Skinner, who was named man of the match for his debut performance against Fiji, moves from lock to blind side flanker in a positional switch as Scotland anticipate a forward battle.

“We expect South Africa to be confrontational and powerful in their ball-carrying, their defence and also at set-piece time,” said Townsend.

“Their traditional strength has always been their physicality and this remains a key point of difference for them. It will be a great challenge for our forward pack in particular.

“They have always had a smart kicking game with an excellent chase but also an ambition to move the ball quickly on the counter-attack.” –