Invite Scotland to DC, they said. Finn Russell won’t be there, it’ll be fine, they said. Duhan, Huwipulotu? Rested, for sure.
Gregor Townsend meanwhile, has suggested that the Beltway’s finest hold his beer as he names about as strong a team as is available to him to face the USA Eagles. Okay, Finn is indeed still at home but the centre pairing of Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu are in full effect along with a back row featuring Matt Fagerson, Rory Darge and Jamie Ritchie.
If you looked at the backline and said “who would you pick for Scotland if Kinghorn, Finn and Darcy weren’t available?” That would be it.
The USA will be up against it, on paper at least – the hot weather may play a part.
There are a raft of changes from the team that was victorious against Canada in Ottawa last weekend. That side was sparked by the lively Gus Warr Harry Paterson and Arron Reed who put together a not always, but sometimes stunning, high-paced attacking game that was too much for the hosts. Scotland ran in 11 tries and it finished 12-73.
Scotland record against United States
Harry Paterson stepped in against France in the 2024 6 Nations so is something of a known quantity but there were one or two names from the Canada game that will be worthy of further looks either on tour or in the autumn.
This week though, it’s all change as the big guns who were lurking in the squad have been brought to the fore.
Some names like Murphy Walker and Alex Craig are less familiar as starters, but all have been in or near Scotland selection in recent squads – although it will be Craig’s first cap in three years but he’s rewarded for fine form for the Scarlets last season.
With George Turner off to Japan, Ewan Ashman is more than likely the man in the driving seat at hooker if he can cement his form and convince the doubters, but Dylan Richardson’s dynamite performance against Canada will not have escaped the notice of the coaches. Ashman will need a big game against the USA.
On the bench, another of his potential challengers, Northampton’s Robbie Smith lines up alongside some of last week’s successful performers including Jamie Dobie and Luke Crosbie.
Adam Hastings gets a first chance since the test against Fiji in 2022 to lead a Scotland backline with the position of Finn Russell’s deputy and long-term replacement still very much up for grabs.
All eyes will be looking to see how he goes after a long absence from the Scotland shirt.
USA: Luke Carty, Conner Mooneyham, Tavite Lopeti, Tommaso Boni, Nate Augspurger, AJ MacGinty, JP Smith; Jack Iscaro, Dylan Fawsitt, David Ainu’u, Viliami Helo, Greg Peterson (c), Sam Golla, Paddy Ryan, Jamason Fa’anana-Schultz.
Replacement: Kapeli Pifeleti, Jake Turnbull, Paul Mullen, Sia Uhila, Ben Bonasso, Ethan McVeigh, Bryce Campbell, Mitch Wilson.
Scotland: Kyle Rowe, Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Adam Hastings, George Horne; Pierre Schoeman, Ewan Ashman, Murphy Walker, Alex Craig, Scott Cummings, Jamie Ritchie, Rory Darge, Matt Fagerson.
Replacements: Robbie Smith, Rory Sutherland, Elliot Millar Mills, Max Williamson, Luke Crosbie, Jamie Dobie, Ross Thompson, Matt Currie
