Ashe handed baptism of fire

Twenty-year-old Glasgow eighthman Adam Ashe will make his debut for Scotland against the Springboks on Saturday.

Having featured for the Scottish U20s during the recently concluded Junior World Championship, he'll get his chance in the cauldron of Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

His inclusion is one of three changes to the forward pack that performed so admirably against Argentina in Córdoba last weekend.

Chris Fusaro will start on the flank in place of Blair Cowan in a new-look loose trio, while Tim Swinson will form a new second-row partnership with captain Grant Gilchrist.

In the only change among the backs, Henry Pyrgos will start in place of Grayson Hart, having impressed off the bench against the Pumas.

Scotland – 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Nick De Luca, 12 Peter Horne, 11 Tommy Seymour, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Henry Pyrgos, 8 Adam Ashe, 7 Chris Fusaro, 6 Robert Harley, 5 Grant Gilchrist (c), 4 Tim Swinson, 3 Geoff Cross, 2 Ross Ford,1 Alasdair Dickinson.
Subs: 16 Kevin Bryce, 17 Moray Low, 18 Euan Murray, 19 Jonny Gray, 20 Tyrone Holmes, 21 Grayson Hart, 22 Dougie Fife, 23 Peter Murchie.

Photo: Frank Perry/Getty Images