Fraser Brown will win his 45th cap for Scotland but only his second starting in the back row as Gregor Townsend changed all but one of his starting XV for the third pool game of the Rugby World Cup against Russia in Shizouka on Wednesday.
With just a four-day turnaround between the Russians and meeting the Japanese in the pivotal pool match on Sunday, Townsend has retained only Darcy Graham from the team that started the 34-0 victory over Samoa in Kobe, making up the lack of numbers in the back row by fielding Brown there.
The experienced Glasgow hooker began his career as an open side flanker and has started one test there, in the 44-15 win against Argentina in Resistencia during the summer tour of 2018. He has appeared in the position in emergency roles including in the opening World Cup against Ireland two weeks ago.
Townsend will go with just two backs on the bench in Henry Pyrgos and Chris Harris, a move designed to limit playing time for forwards. Both Magnus Bradbury and Jamie Ritchie are among the replacements.
Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell, Sam Johnson and Jonny Gray are among those left out with a view to being fresh to take on the Japanese.
“First and foremost we’ve picked a team we believe is capable of defeating an increasingly impressive and combative Russia side, who are looking to finish their Pool campaign on a high,” said Townsend.
“A number of our players are getting their first start or Test in this tournament and have been itching to play their part in this World Cup, by helping the team deliver a winning performance on Wednesday.
“Any successful World Cup campaign is built on a squad effort and those players who didn’t get the opportunity to start against Samoa really helped provide that team with a quality week of preparation.
“Now it’s their chance to get stuck into our next important game as we enter the final week of our pool matches.”
Scotland team: Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh); Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Duncan Taylor (Saracens), Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Darcy Graham (Edinburgh); Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors); Gordon Reid (Ayrshire Bulls), George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors); Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors), Ben Toolis (Edinburgh); John Barclay (Edinburgh, capt), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Henry Pyrgos (Edinburgh), Chris Harris (Gloucester).
