
Dave Cherry and Jonny Gray to make first Scotland appearances since 2023
The IndependentSign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Experienced forwards Dave Cherry and Jonny Gray will make their first Scotland appearances since 2023 after being selected to start Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener at home to Italy. Bordeaux lock Gray, 30, has not featured for the national team since the last time the Azzurri visited Murrayfield on Six Nations duty in 2023 after being derailed by a serious knee injury. Glasgow’s Stafford McDowall replaces injured captain Sione Tuipulotu at inside centre, while former Scotland skipper Jamie Ritchie has been selected to start in the back-row ahead of Jack Dempsey, who is named on the bench after recently recovering from injury. Ben White has held on to his place at scrum-half despite starting only one of Toulon’s matches since the autumn series, while record try-scorer Duhan van der Merwe has shaken off an ankle problem and will start in the back three alongside Darcy Graham and Blair Kinghorn.
History of this topic

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