Scotland v South Africa & Ireland v Fiji teams
32-year-old Murray, who missed the New Zealand game due to his religious observance, returns to the front row with Geoff Cross moving to the bench while Edinburgh‘s Denton, who replaced the injured Ross Rennie against New Zealand, retains his berth in the back-row with captain Kelly Brown confirmed at openside.
These are the only two changes made to the starting line-up but four changes occurred on the bench.
Dougie Hall is preferred to Scott Lawson with Cross takes the place of his Edinburgh colleague Allan Jacobsen, who is unavailable for personal reasons.
John Barclay returns to the match-day squad and there’s a first involvement in a Scotland 23 for the uncapped Peter Murchie who is nominated instead of Max Evans.
Scotland head coach Andy Robinson said: “We know we’re in for a bruising battle against South Africa this weekend and we will be primed for that physical confrontation.
“But we also have to be smart in how we approach this game and do our utmost to ensure we get on the front foot and get the result that will move us into the top eight in the IRB world rankings ahead of next month’s 2015 Rugby World Cup draw.
“I was pleased with Euan’s contribution both at scrummage and in open play during the summer tour, while David Denton’s aggressive carrying is something that really gets the crowd going.
“Dougie Hall has had a good season for Glasgow and I know that John Barclay has been one of our most consistent and reliable back-row forwards since he made his debut five years ago.
“Peter Murchie is another who has had a fine start to the season with Glasgow and his desire to dominate in aerial combat has been a factor in selection.”
Meanwhile, Heyneke Meyer has opted to make two changes to the Springboks side which ran out in Dublin last Saturday with Toulouse Gurthro Steenkamp and Stormer Juan de Jongh handed starts
Steenkamp comes into the side for CJ van der Linde at loosehead while De Jongh starts ahead of Jaco Taute at outside centre.
Saracens hooker Schalk Brits has been named on the bench once again.
Meyer said: “It’s great to have Gurthrö back. He is experienced, knows the conditions well and is looking forward to returning to the green and gold as he’s not played for South Africa for more than a year.
“Juan is in a similar position. Even though he’s played in a number of Tests for us this year, he’s not started for the Boks since last year’s away leg of the Tri-Nations against New Zealand in Wellington. My plan has always been to give him a start on this tour, as he’s been playing very well lately, and I’m excited to see what he brings to the team on Saturday.”
“Our focus has been on improving from our performance against Ireland last week. We saw the match between Scotland and New Zealand and that the Scots scored three tries against the All Blacks – which is more than any other team has managed against them this year.
“It was their first Test back since their season started and they will not be an easy opponent on Saturday, but we’ve also brushed off some cobwebs in Dublin and have had a good week on the training field. We lost on our last visit to Edinburgh and realise Saturday will be a massive battle, but it’s one we are looking forward to.”
Scotland: Hogg; Lamont, De Luca, Scott, Visser; Laidlaw, Blai; Grant, Ford, Murray; Gray, Hamilton; Strokosch, Brown (capt.), Denton.
Replacements: Hall, Traynor, Cross, Kellock, Barclay, Pyrgos, Jackson, Murchie.
South Africa: Kirchner; Pietersen, De Jongh, De Villiers (capt.), Hougaard; Lambie, Pienaar; Steenkamp, Strauss, Du Plessis; Etzebeth, Kruger; Louw, Alberts, Vermeulen.
Replacements: Brits, H. Van der Merwe, Van der Linde, F. Van der Merwe, Coetzee, Steyn, Taute, Mvovo.
Ireland v Fiji
Ireland will have an Ulster feeling on Saturday after six players from the Pro12 leaders have been selected to face Fiji.
Uncapped young sensations Paddy Jackson and Iain Handerson will make their debuts but it will not be their Test debuts as the game is a non-cap fixture.
Jackson starts at fly-half replacing Jonathan Sexton while Henderson is rewarded for his impressive start of the season staring alongside captain Jamie Heaslip and John Muldoon in the back row.
Craig Gilroy, Luke Marshall, Mike Ross and Dan Tuohy are the other Ulsterplayers in the starting XV at wing, centre, tighthead and lock respectively.
There are two more Ulstermen on the bench with flanker Chris Henry and scrum-half Paul Marshall.
Head coach Declan Kidney said: “We know it will be a difficult test and this is a vote of confidence for the players we’ve picked.
“We know they’ll do a job and they’ve been training really well over the last two and a half weeks. We feel they deserve their go.”
Fiji coach Inoke Male has made five changes to the side that started last week’s 54-12 thrashing by England at Twickenham.
Worcester‘s Josh Matavesi is named in the centres, while Jonetani Ralulu will start in the No.10 shirt.
In the pack, Jerry Yanuyanutawa, Iliesa Ratuva and Nemani Nagusa are all given the chance to impress as a total of five British-based players are included.
Ireland: Hurley; McFadden, Cave, L. Marshall, Gilroy; Jackson, Murray; Kilcoyne, Cronin, Ross; O’Callaghan, Tuohy; Henderson, Muldoon, Heaslip (capt.).
Replacements: Strauss, Healy, Bent, Ryan, Henry, P. Marshall, Sexton,
Fiji: Talebula; Koniferedi, Govena, Matavesi, Votu; Ralulu, Matawalu; Yanuyanutawa, Veikoso, Manu (capt.); Nakarawa, Naikatini; Ratuva, Ravulo, Nagusa.
Replacements: Talemaitoga, Saulo, Somoca, Ratuniyarawa, Domolailai, Bola, Radidi, Matanavou.
