Predicted Scotland teams to face Portugal amid wholesale changes

With a six-day turnaround from facing the world champions, the majority of the players who have started the first two games of the Autumn Nations Series are likely to be given the weekend off. 

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• Gregor Townsend commits to wholesale changes for Portugal

• John Dalziel looks ahead to Portugal as Freddy Douglas primed to debut

It presents an opportunity for a raft of players to show Townsend their ability at international level against a Portugal side that impressed at the Rugby World Cup last year. 

Our writers have again put themselves in the shoes of the Scotland head coach and picked their teams to face Os Lobos. 

Gavin Harper

The good news to emerge out of the aftermath of Sunday's loss to the Springboks was that both Kyle Rowe and Darcy Graham were fit and back in training. 

While Graham will be raring to go again after his four tries against Fiji, he can sit this one out and prepare for the Wallabies, allowing Arron Reed a first Murrayfield cap, while Harry Paterson has had to be patient and is likely to take the number 15 jersey.

Matt Currie impressed on the summer tour, while Stafford McDowall brings (relative) experience to the midfield, though don't be surprised to see Currie and his Edinburgh team-mate Mosese Tuipulotu in there. Adam Hastings should get another go at 10 after his excellent display in the Fiji thrashing. 

That George Horne, one of Glasgow's stand-outs over the past 12 months, has been limited to this outing so far, speaks volumes about the depth at scrum-half. 

George Horne is yet to feature for Scotland this autumn (Image: SNS)

Up front, the likes of Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson should not be risked with the Wallabies in mind, so opportunities present themselves for players who are yet to feature, or played a limited part, so far this campaign.

Jamie Ritchie and Luke Crosbie have both captained Scotland in the past and would be contenders to lead this side. 

My Scotland XV: Harry Paterson, Kyle Rowe, Matt Currie, Stafford McDowall, Arron Reed, Adam Hastings, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, Paddy Harrison, D'Arcy Rae, Alex Craig, Ewan Johnson, Jamie Ritchie, Luke Crosbie, Josh Bayliss

Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar Mills, Alex Samuel, Ben Muncaster, Ali Price, Rory Hutchinson, Mosese Tuipulotu

Rob Robertson

Darcy Graham is back fit and should play on the wing before facing Australia next weekend, while Adam Hastings deserves another game at fly-half after guiding Scotland to the win over Fiji. 

Adam Hastings could return at fly-half (Image: SNS) The front-row that struggled against the Springboks' 'bomb squad' all get starts against the Portuguese, while Alex Craig and Ewan Johnson could both come into the second row. 

There's a mix of youth and experience on the bench, including Grant Gilchrist and Matt Fagerson. 

My Scotland XV:  Harry Paterson, Kyle Rowe, Matt Currie, Mosese Tuipulotu, Darcy Graham, Adam Hastings, George Horne; Rory Sutherland, Dylan Richardson, Elliot Millar Mills, Alex Craig, Ewan Johnson, Jamie Ritchie, Luke Crosbie, Josh Bayliss

Replacements: Paddy Harrison, Alec Hepburn, Will Hurd, Grant Gilchrist, Ben Muncaster, Matt Fagerson, Jamie Dobie, Stafford McDowall

Euan Booth Robertson

Some continuity in the back division with Kinghorn and Jordan included, but in different roles than against the Springboks. Otherwise, changes aplenty. 

Up front, Jamie Ritchie provides experience while there could be first caps for Glasgow lock Alex Samuel and Edinburgh number eight Ben Muncaster, while Mosese Tuipulotu - the brother of Sione - could make his bow off the bench.

My Scotland XV: Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, Stafford McDowall, Tom Jordan, Kyle Rowe, Adam Hastings, George Horne; Jamie Bhatti, Paddy Harrison, Will Hurd, Alex Craig, Alex Samuel, Luke Crosbie, Jamie Ritchie, Ben Muncaster

Replacements: Johnny Matthews, Rory Sutherland, D'Arcy Rae, Ewan Johnson, Josh Bayliss, Jamie Dobie, Mosese Tuipulotu, Arron Reed