Scotland ‘A’ selections provide clues for Townsend’s team to face Wallabies

Head coach Pete Horne has named his Scotland ‘A’ side to take on Chile at Hive Stadium on Saturday, which includes 12 internationals.

Fresh from becoming Scotland’s youngest male Test player since 1963 with an appearance off the bench against Portugal last weekend, Freddy Douglas is selected in the back row alongside Ben Muncaster, who also made his Test debut last Saturday.

Stafford McDowall captained his country and scored in the Portugal victory, and he will lead the second string this weekend.

That means he is almost certainly ruled out of playing for the full national side against Australia on Sunday, and some others who may well have felt they were in contention to face the Wallabies will instead have to make do with running out for the ‘A’ team.

Mosese Tuipulotu, younger brother of Scotland captain Sione, will make his first appearance at any level in Scotland colours, having signed for Edinburgh over the summer.

Jamie Bhatti, who scored his first Scotland try against Portugal, starts at the Hive in the front row alongside Gregor Hiddleston and D’Arcy Rae.

Marshall Sykes and Ewan Johnson of Oyannax are the locks, with vice-captain Tom Dodd completing the back row.

Jamie Dobie, who many felt would be the replacement scrum-half at Scottish Gas Murrayfield on Sunday, starts at 9 and is vice-captain, which suggests Gregor Townsend will go with Ali Price or George Horne as back-up to Ben White against the Aussies.

Ross Thompson is in at 10, while Arron Reed starts at full-back after scoring two tries against Portugal on his home international debut.

Ross McCann and Matt Currie make up the back three.