Scotland v Fiji: Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell & Greig Laidlaw return; Sam Skinner handed debut
Last updated on .From the section Scottish Rugby

Scotland v Fiji |
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Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Saturday, 10 November Kick-off: 14:30 GMT |
Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC Radio Scotland the BBC Sport website and app. Live text on BBC Sport website |
Stuart Hogg has been passed fit to return for Scotland against Fiji just eight weeks after ankle surgery.
The Glasgow full-back was expected to be sidelined for 10-12 weeks and miss the entire autumn Test series.
But he starts on Saturday, with Sean Maitland, Finn Russell and Greig Laidlaw, who will captain the side, also back after missing the Wales game.
Centre Huw Jones is dropped, Pete Horne starting, while Exeter lock Sam Skinner is handed his debut.
The 23-year-old, who played nine games for England's Under-20s, qualifies for Scotland through his Scottish father.
He starts alongside Grant Gilchrist, with Jonny Gray on the bench, while Matt Fagerson is at number eight with Ryan Wilson moving to blind-side flanker and Jamie Ritchie to open-side.
Fraser Brown also comes into the side at hooker, with Stuart McInally - captain against Wales - missing out as head coach Gregor Townsend makes nine changes in all from the side beaten 21-10 in Cardiff.
A further positional switch has Alex Dunbar moving from outside to inside centre to accommodate Horne.
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Hogg 'looks good to go'
Hogg, who suffered an ankle injury playing for Glasgow against Munster on 7 September, had surgery after returning from Warriors' trip to South Africa the following week.
"Stuart has trained for two weeks now," explained head coach Gregor Townsend. "He trained with his club and recorded some excellent speed times. He has trained fully with us all week so he looks good to go.
"We had experience last year when he came back from two injuries and played in Champions Cup games, played very well, and then two weeks later he played Test level.
"We could have kept him back a week or a few weeks, but he's still going to be going into a Test match. Having watched him in training, we've seen he is ready to go."
Hogg takes over at full-back from Blair Kinghorn, with Russell replacing Adam Hastings - who is on the bench - at fly-half and Laidlaw starting ahead of Ali Price at scrum-half.
It will be Laidlaw's first Scotland outing since kicking the match-winning penalty against Italy at the end of this year's Six Nations and the first time he has led the side under Townsend.
Sale number eight Josh Strauss - recalled after a 17-month absence - and Newcastle centre Chris Harris also join the replacements, with Jones - after two missed tackles led to Wales tries last week - omitted from the match-day squad.
"Huw is like a number of players we are managing through this period, so he is not involved," Townsend said.
"He was close to being involved on the bench, but we just felt that with Chris Harris able to cover the wing, that was the decision around his involvement."
Fiji 'pose huge threats off turnover ball'
Townsend, who earlier this week described Fiji as "the equivalent of Brazil in football", reiterated that the visitors will "pose huge threats off turnover ball, utilising some of the best individual players, one-on-one, in the world."
"Our pack will have to work exceptionally hard against a very physical Fijian side and our backs will have to be alert to opportunities as a consequence of that work," he added.
"We have to be physical and accurate, play to our strengths and put them under pressure in areas they don't want to go into, to make sure the game is open for us but not for them."
Fiji beat Scotland 27-22 in their last meeting, in Suva, in June 2017.
Scotland team: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors), Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Finn Russell (Racing 92), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont - capt); Allan Dell (Edinburgh), Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Willem Nel (Edinburgh), Sam Skinner (Exeter), Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh), Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors), Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh), Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements: Stuart McInally (Edinburgh), Alex Allan (Glasgow Warriors), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Josh Strauss (Sale), George Horne (Glasgow Warriors), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons).
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Disagree with those slagging off Horne. He’s our only good ball playing 12 and when he came in v Wales it took some pressure off Hastings and helped get ball to wider channels. We need that option.
Ps - Dunbar isn’t slow.
Doubt that's the case. Just sensible rotation before the South Africa and Argentina games to make sure our best players are in top condition.
Leigh Halfpenny (Wal) 87%
Bernard Foley (Aus) 85%
Greig Laidlaw (Sco) 84%
Johnny Sexton (Ire) 77%
Owen Farrell (Eng) 74%
Handre Pollard (SA) 72%
Beauden Barrett (NZ) 66%
Laidlaw is a seriously underrated player his delivery isn't the fastest but he manages the game very well and is our best scrum half.
Anyway, the back-row is a lightweight for my liking. Great to see the exiles and Hogg back. Scotland need some of Russell's magic. Looking forward to seeing what Skinner can do. Big test for him against the man that is Naka.
All in all. Looking forward to the game.
For the players dropped, they can't play every game, you need to rotate them to avoid injury and fatigue. I expect them back against SA and Argentina.
@109. Agree. Which is why my comment @102 cites, Clermont's run in the Top14, and Scotland's wins over England and France earlier this year. Laidlaw is a very good scrum-half and goal kicker. So folk should get off his back. He is also a good captain, and passionate it about Scottish rugby. I would pick him for the RWC.
https://www.rugbypass.com/news/analysis-why-scotlands-defensive-system-made-huw-jones-look-worse-than-he-actually-is
For the 2nd try it was a perfect move by Wales to isolate the defender (happened to be HJ) with 3 running at him.
Usually avoid trolls, but playing Fiji gives them some funds to try and grow the game there. Scotland are one of the few tier 1 nations who at least bother to tour there too. Unlike everyone else who just steals their players.
Fiji have more world class player than anyone unfortunately they are not all playing for Fiji.
Luckily for Scotland
Not the best, but good for the game.