Australian-born Nick Haining, who was playing English Championship rugby for Jersey just a couple of years ago, is the surprise new cap in Scotland’s team of the Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.
The 29-year-old has only been at Edinburgh for five months and has just eight appearances for the capital club, but is in at No 8, a problem position for Scotland in the last couple of years.
Haining qualifies for Scotland through his Dundee-born grandparents, and came to Edinburgh after leaving Bristol Bears in the summer.
Townsend also takes a huge gamble at another prominent problem spot for Scotland, loosehead prop, with Rory Sutherland coming in after just a single start and three replacement appearances for Edinburgh this season.
The former Hawick HS pupil has three caps but missed most of last season with serious injury.
WP Nel, Grant Gilchrist and Matt Scott are notable admissions from the 23 selected. Zander Fagerson starts at tight-head, Scott Cummings will occupy the second row and Huw Jones wins a recall after missing the Rugby World Cup, lining up outside Sam Johnson in the centre.
Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson complete the back row with Haining, Fraser Brown will start at hooker, Ali Price is preferred to George Horne and as expected Adam Hastings and Blair Kinghorn replace the absent Finn Russell and Darcy Graham.
Scotland have not won in Dublin since 2010, which was the last game at Ireland’s temporary base in the GAA’s Croke Park. The Scots have never won a test in the remodelled Aviva Stadium.
Scotland team: Stuart Hogg (capt); Sean Maitland, Huw Jones, Sam Johnson, Blair Kinghorn; Adam Hastings, Ali Price; Rory Sutherland, Fraser Brown, Zander Fagerson; Scott Cummings, Jonny Gray; Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Nick Haining.
Replacements: Stuart McInally, Allan Dell, Simon Berghan, Ben Toolis, Cornell du Preez, George Horne, Rory Hutchinson, Chris Harris.
