LionsWatch: Cotter changes four to take on Pumas

Scotland Head Coach Vern Cotter has made four changes in total for his side’s clash with Argentina on Saturday.

The Scots were edged out by Australia last weekend at Murrayfield, despite outscoring the Wallabies by three tries to two and Cotter has not opted for wholesale changes.

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2013 British & Irish Lions Stuart Hogg and Sean Maitland remain in the back three and are joined by the recalled Tommy Seymour who missed last weekend's clash due to personal reasons. 

Huw Jones, so impressive in scoring two tries against Australia last weekend, renews his centre pairing with Alex Dunbar while Greig Laidlaw and Finn Russell continue their half-back pairing.

In the pack Magnus Bradbury comes in for his debut on the blindside flank with John Barclay shifting to No 8 while also in the pack Grant Gilchrist comes in for the injured Richie Gray and hooker Fraser Brown starts in place of Ross Ford.

Brown packs down in the front row either side of Allan Dell and Zander Fagerson while Gilchrist joins Jonny Gray in the boiler room.

Two further personnel changes appear on the bench, with prop Alex Allan and lock Tim Swinson coming in for Gordon Reid and the promoted Gilchrist.

“Every week we want to improve. We did a lot of good things against Australia: we scored three tries to their two, we were aggressive in attack and our defence held strong for the most part,” said Cotter.
 

YOUR Scotland back-row! Magnus Bradbury will make his debut on the blindside alongside returning back-rows Watson (7) and Barclay (8). pic.twitter.com/jXbSoEnB4p

— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) November 17, 2016

“While it’s disappointing we didn’t walk off with the win, I’m proud of the courage the players showed and the way they adapted to changes in the paddock due to injuries.

“Saturday’s game is going to be a different challenge for us, both physically and mentally, against a very dangerous Argentina side.”

Scotland last faced Argentina in a dramatic 2014 autumn victory and the Pumas have named an unchanged starting XV from the one that ran Wales so close last time out.

“They have the capacity to vary their game so we have to be prepared for whatever approach they take, though we can expect them to look to dominate the set piece as a starting point, be very explosive around the rucks and look to get their offloading game up and running,” added Cotter.

“We will have to be disciplined and make sure we capitalise on every opportunity we create.”
 
15. Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors)
14. Sean Maitland (Saracens)
13. Huw Jones (Stormers)
12. Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors)
11. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors)
10. Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors)
9. Greig Laidlaw (Gloucester)
 
1. Allan Dell (Edinburgh Rugby)
2. Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors)
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors)
4. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby)
5. Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors)
6. Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby)
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby)
8. John Barclay (Scarlets)
 
Replacements:
16. Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby)
17. Alex Allan (Glasgow Warriors)
18. Moray Low (Exeter Chiefs)
19. Tim Swinson (Glasgow Warriors)
20. Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors)
21. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors)
22. Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors)
23. Tim Visser (Harlequins)
 
Argentina: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Matías Moroni, 13 Matías Orlando, 12 Juan Martín Hernández, 11 Ramiro Moyano, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Javier Ortega Desio, 6 Pablo Matera, 5 Matías Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Ramiro Herrera, 2 Agustín Creevy (capt.), 1 Lucas Noguera Paz
Replacements: 16 Julián Montoya, 17 Santiago García Botta, 18 Enrique Pieretto, 19 Leonardo Senatore, 20 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 21 Tomás Cubelli, 22 Jeronimo de la Fuente, 23 Juan Pablo Estelles