Scots need more from bench and chances taken – Colin Gregor

Facing Portugal should give Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend a welcome chance to give fringe players an opportunity to impress, according to Colin Gregor.

The former Scotland Sevens scrum-half thinks the bigger “impact” made by South Africa’s bench compared to their hosts played a major part in the world champions’ 32-15 win at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Scotland, at sixth in the world, will be strong favourites at home to 15th-ranked Portugal in Saturday’s next Autumn Test in Edinburgh.

“It’s an opportunity for the wider squad probably to get some game time,” Gregor told BBC Scotland. “It’s a chance to hopefully sort of broaden the depth in the squad – maybe some first caps for the likes of Ben Muncaster and Alex Samuels.”

Sione Tuipulotu’s brother, fellow centre Mosese, is still waiting for his Scotland cap after joining Edinburgh.

“We could have another Tuipulotu representing Scotland,” Gregor suggested. “Which, if Sione is anything to go by, that could be pretty mouthwatering.”

Gregor thinks there were parts of Scotland’s performance on Sunday they “could be proud of”.

The way they “fronted up physically” to “the big Springboks was definitely commendable” and also the way they dealt with an early red card for Scott Cummings.

Centre Huw Jones “was outstanding”, while full-back Tom Jordan and forward Zander Fagerson also impressed, but they were unable to take their opportunities to score a try against a world champion defence and, once they “started to run out of ideas”, they conceded crucial penalties.

Scotland now realise how tough it will be in their final Autumn Test after Australia beat England on Sunday.

“Before this weekend, you would have thought that Scotland were odds-on favourites to win that one,” Gregor added. “But Australia won at Twickenham, scoring plenty of points and seemed to unearth a new superstar recruit from rugby league [Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii].”