The verdict on Scotland's 2023/24 season debutants

The 31-19 win over Uruguay ensured Gregor Townsend’s side signed off from their summer tour with a perfect record and bounced back from a disappointing Six Nations.  

Over the course of the season, Townsend handed 17 players their Test debuts - including 11 on the summer tour - and we’ve looked at how each of them has performed.  

Stafford McDowall  

Debut: vs Italy (Rugby World Cup warm-up)  

Stafford McDowall in action on his Scotland debut (Image: SNS)

Earned his first cap in the aforementioned match against Italy before being left out of the final Rugby World Cup squad. Had an excellent season with Glasgow and earned a place in the Scotland team for the Six Nations finale in Dublin, where he impressed, before playing two games on tour. Offers direct carrying and a good ball player, while his left boot an added weapon.  

Verdict: Should be part of the squad for the long-term, chiefly as back-up to Sione Tuipulotu for now 

Cameron Henderson 

Debut: vs Italy (Rugby World Cup warm-up) 

Cameron Henderson in action on his Scotland debut (Image: SNS)

The Leicester Tigers lock got the final 17 minutes of the win over Italy before being cut from the World Cup squad. He would have likely had a chance to earn further honours this summer but suffered a season-ending knee injury on club duty in December.  

Verdict: At 24, there’s still plenty of time for Henderson to make his mark internationally, but he must hit the ground running with Leicester next season.  

Johnny Matthews 

Debut: vs Romania (Rugby World Cup 2023) 

Johnny Matthews runs in a try on his Scotland debut (Image: PA)

The Glasgow Warriors try-scoring machine wasn’t even in the wider World Cup training squad, but following Dave Cherry’s departure and injury to Stuart McInally, was added to the squad. Matthews made his debut from the bench in the thrashing of Romania and capped a fine cameo with a try. Continued his excellent form with Glasgow and finished the URC season as the league’s top try scorer.  

Verdict: His omission from the summer tour squad was puzzling, but Matthews must come back into the fold for the Autumn.  

Alec Hepburn 

Debut: vs Wales (Guinness Six Nations) 

Alec Hepburn played three games during the Six Nations but missed the summer tour through injury (Image: SNS)

The former England prop appeared off the bench in Scotland’s Six Nations opener, helping to stem the tide of Welsh attacks as the hosts aimed to overhaul a 26-0 half-time deficit. Hepburn made a further three appearances during the championship, while only injury robbed him a place on the summer tour squad.  

Verdict: Hepburn has been around the block and is an experienced option for Townsend to call upon. A solid squad player.  

Elliot Millar Mills 

Debut: vs Wales (Guinness Six Nations) 

Elliot Millar Mills made a good impression with Scotland (Image: SNS)

Last summer, his career was at a crossroads before joining Northampton Saints. Now he’s a Premiership winner and a Scotland international. The retirements of Simon Berghan and WP Nel have opened the door for Millar Mills, who hasn’t let Scotland down.  

Verdict: A solid operator, but could do with making more starts at club level (managed only four last season) if he is to establish himself as the first-choice back-up to Zander Fagerson. 

Harry Paterson 

Debut: vs France (Guinness Six Nations) 

Harry Paterson looks to fend off France centre Gael Fickou on his Scotland debut (Image: SNS)

The Edinburgh man had played only eight senior professional matches when he was called into the Scotland team at the 11th hour with Kyle Steyn’s wife in labour. It didn’t show. Paterson took to Test rugby like a duck to water, setting up Ben White’s first-half try. His good form continued on the summer tour and he’s definitely one for the future.  

Verdict: He must first find a way to break into an Edinburgh side that has Duhan van der Merwe, Darcy Graham and Emiliano Boffelli in its back three, but Paterson has shown he has what it takes at the top level. Deserves to be understudy to Blair Kinghorn moving forward.  

Max Williamson 

Debut: vs Canada (summer tour) 

Max Williamson made his Scotland debut against Canada (Image: Getty Images for Scottish Rugby)

At the start of November 2023, Williamson hadn’t even played a minute for Glasgow. So impressive were his performances that by the end of the season, an international call-up felt inevitable.  

Verdict: He’s got all the physical traits to be a top-class lock, but there’s a pile of seasoned campaigners in front of him. Needs a good start to the season if he’s to oust the likes of Richie Gray and Grant Gilchrist.  

Gregor Brown  

Debut: vs Canada (summer tour) 

Gregor Brown made a thunderous charge against Chile (Image: Scottish Rugby/Getty Images)

The 23-year-old had a stop-start season with Glasgow due to injury but was terrific when asked to play in the second row on their URC tour of South Africa. Those performances, and an excellent cameo in the URC final, caught the eye of Townsend and he showed his ability with ball in hand at Test level.  

Verdict: There’s plenty of competition in the back-row, so Brown might need to be patient before opportunities knock again. One for the future though, no doubt.  

Gus Warr 

Debut: vs Canada (summer tour) 

Gus Warr makes a break on his Scotland debut against Canada (Image: Getty Images)

Add the Sale Sharks man to the list of tenacious number nines who have played for Scotland. Marked his debut with two tries before a slightly sub-par showing against Chile. 

Verdict: Deserves another go. Should get a chance in the autumn to compete with Ben White and George Horne.  

Arron Reed 

Debut: vs Canada (summer tour) 

Arron Reed on his way to a first try for Scotland (Image: Getty Images)

There’s something in the mould of Darcy Graham about Reed, who like Sale colleague Warr marked his Scotland debut with a pair of tries. He’s shown he has great footwork, and razor sharp, but his all-court game hasn’t been tested at the top level given the one-sided nature of the summer tour.  

Verdict: Another solid squad player, but unlikely to break into Townsend’s top team given the quality of the wingers available.  

Matt Currie 

Debut: vs Canada (summer tour) 

Matt Currie scored his first Test try against Chile (Image: Scottish Rugby/Getty Images)

Two years on from his appearance for Scotland ‘A’ against Chile and at the end of an outstanding campaign with Edinburgh, the centre deserved his chance at Test level and took it with three excellent showings. Capped a fine tour with his first Scotland try in the win over Chile.  

Verdict: Like Reed, he’s unlikely to break into the top team for now with Jones, Tuipulotu, McDowall and Redpath four outstanding options, but definitely one for the future.  

Nathan McBeth 

Debut: vs Canada (summer tour) 

Nathan McBeth capped a fine season for Glasgow with his Scotland debut (Image: SNS)

An injury to Jamie Bhatti at club level opened the door for the South African-born prop, who duly took his chance. Solid, if unspectacular, outings followed on his Scotland debut.  

Verdict: McBeth probably needed to be more stunning than steady to propel himself up the pecking order. A lot will depend on how much game-time he gets at Glasgow with Rory Sutherland and Bhatti stiff competition for the number one shirt.  

Will Hurd 

Debut: vs Canada (summer tour) 

Will Hurd with his family after making his Scotland debut (Image: Getty Images)

Impressive performances saw the prop named in the Six Nations squad, only for a foot injury to scupper his chance at that time. He returned to action with Leicester in March and established himself as the back-up to England’s Dan Cole, earning a place on the Scotland tour. Was busy on his first start against Chile.  

Verdict: Scotland aren’t blessed with tightheads and if Hurd can earn the starting spot at Leicester, he could leapfrog Millar Mills and Sebastian to be Zander’s deputy.  

Robbie Smith  

Debut: vs Canada (summer tour) 

Robbie Smith will return to Northampton Saints as a Scotland international (Image: PA)

The Northampton Saints hooker started only one game during the season – and wasn’t involved for the Premiership play-offs - but did enough in his 12 outings from the bench to catch Townsend’s eye. Played both games of the North American leg, again as a sub, but was among the first tranche of players who headed home.  

Verdict: Another who needs more games at club level before he thinks about further international honours.  

Ewan Johnson 

Debut: vs Canada (summer tour) 

Ewan Johnson, here in action for Oyonnax, was one of the finds of the summer (Image: Getty)

A surprise call-up to the squad, the lock had an excellent season with Oyonnax in the French top flight, despite the club's struggles and eventual relegation. Was busy on his first start against Chile. 

Verdict: At 6ft 8 and over 18 stones, Johnson possesses the physicality to be a Test rugby player. If he can get off to a good start in the Top 14 season, he should get another shot in the autumn.  

Ross McCann 

Debut: vs Canada (summer tour) 

Ross McCann made his Scotland bow in Ottawa (Image: SNS)

The winger started Edinburgh’s first two games of the season before turning his attentions to the GB sevens programme. Only days after missing out on qualification for the Olympics, he was a surprise addition to Townsend’s summer tour squad and made his debut in the win over Canada. Didn’t get many chances to show his attacking abilities and was among the first batch of players who returned home.  

Verdict: Townsend clearly sees potential in the former Melrose man, but he’s way down the pecking order with everyone available. A strange decision.  

Patrick Harrison 

Debut: vs Chile (summer tour) 

Patrick Harrison with the trophy after his international debut against Chile (Image: Getty Images)

The hooker had played just 38 minutes of senior rugby for Edinburgh but was chosen for the summer tour ahead of Glasgow’s Gregor Hiddleston and Angus Fraser. He was lively on debut in Santiago, making one thunderous second-half charge.  His first Scotland try followed in Montevideo as the tourists pulled clear late on.

Verdict: The departure of Adam McBurney means Harrison is now, on paper at least, Edinburgh’s third choice hooker. At 22, he has time on his side but can be pleased with his efforts on his first two caps. Needs more games at the top level.