Rugby-Scotland change 13 for Romania as Sebastian earns first start

Prop Javan Sebastian will make his first start for Scotland as one of 13 changes to the side to face Romania in their Rugby World Cup Pool B clash in Lille on Saturday, where a victory will keep Gregor Townsend’s team in with a chance of making the quarter-finals. Sebastian is part of an entirely new forward pack and will have fellow prop Jamie Bhatti and hooker Ewan Ashman in the front row, ahead of locks Sam Skinner and Grant Gilchrist, who takes over the captaincy from Jamie Ritchie.

Prop Javan Sebastian will make his first start for Scotland as one of 13 changes to the side to face Romania in their Rugby World Cup Pool B clash in Lille on Saturday, where a victory will keep Gregor Townsend’s team in with a chance of making the quarter-finals.

Sebastian is part of an entirely new forward pack and will have fellow prop Jamie Bhatti and hooker Ewan Ashman in the front row, ahead of locks Sam Skinner and Grant Gilchrist, who takes over the captaincy from Jamie Ritchie. Flanker Hamish Watson makes his first appearance of the tournament in the back row with Luke Crosbie and number eight Matt Fagerson.

"Hamish has so much respect in the group, him and Grant Gilchrist will work together with that forward pack and make sure we are on song, but also getting quick ball at the ruck," Townsend said. Scrumhalf Ali Price and Ben Healy are the halfback pairing, while Cameron Redpath and Chris Harris, who played in the 45-17 win over Tonga last Sunday, are the midfield duo.

Redpath follows in the footsteps of his father Bryan in starting at a World Cup, the latter a former scrumhalf and long-time Scotland team mate of Townsend. "Cam did well off the bench against South Africa and the way he has trained this week deserves his chance. Starting in a World Cup is a special achievement," Townsend said.

Fullback Ollie Smith and wings Darcy Graham and Kyle Steyn make up the back three. The latter was also a starter against the Pacific Islanders. "There are players who deserve the opportunity to play at this World Cup. They have been training really well, so this is the right time to give them this opportunity," Townsend said.

"With a six day turnaround (after the victory over Tonga), we also want to keep players as fresh as possible." Hooker Johnny Matthews is on the bench after he replaced the injured

Stuart McInally in the squad and will likely earn his first minutes at the tournament.

"It has been a bit of a whirlwind for him, I think the temperature change has been the biggest thing," Townsend said. "But he is a great character and knows a lot of the players already. It is a good game for him to come off the bench and show his strengths."

Should Scotland win as expected, they will go into a Paris showdown with Ireland in their final pool game on Oct. 7 with a fighting chance of reaching the knockout stages. Scotland team: 1-Jamie Bhatti, 2-Ewan Ashman, 3-Javan Sebastian, 4-Sam Skinner, 5-Grant Gilchrist (c), 6-Luke Crosbie, 7-Hamish Watson, 8-Matt Fagerson, 9-Ali Price, 10-Ben Healy, 11-Kyle Steyn, 12-Cameron Redpath, 13-Chris Harris, 14-Darcy Graham, 15-Ollie Smith

Replacements: 16-Johnny Matthews, 17-Rory Sutherland, 18-WP Nel, 19-Scott Cummings, 20-Rory Darge, 21-George Horne, 22-Blair Kinghorn, 23-Huw Jones

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