The inaugural edition of international rugby’s latest competition gets underway this weekend with the Nations Championship kicking off.
Six matches will be played this Saturday with Argentina vs Scotland in Cordoba the final fixture of what looks set to be a thrilling first round. Gregor Townsend has some big selection calls to make in his team with a handful of recent regular starters unavailable for selection.
The likes of Grant Gilchrist, Huw Jones and Blair Kinghorn are not in the squad for various reasons but that could open the door for others to really cement themselves in their respective positions. Here is our predicted Scotland XV to take on Los Pumas:
5. Max Williamson
Grant Gilchrist's absence from the squad raises a question of who partners Cummings in the engine room. It opens the door for 23-year old Williamson to really stake a claim to a regular starting place while Glasgow teammate Gregor Brown's ability to cover lock and flanker is a valuable asset to have in the replacements | SNS Group / SRU
6. Matt Fagerson
Scotland have some interesting back-row options to explore including Gregor Brown and Josh Bayliss who could expect a start at six after strong individual seasons while Edinburgh skipper Magnus Bradbury is also an option but Fagerson rarely puts a foot wrong in a Scotland jersey and is always a reliable, hard worker on the blind-side | SNS Group / SRU
7. Rory Darge
Argentina have a formidable back row so Scotland will need their jackalling machine at his best to compete in what is sure to be a fascinating contest at the breakdown | SNS Group / SRU
8. Jack Dempsey
His upcoming move to Japan so far hasn't impacted his Scotland selection which is a relief as the former Wallaby is a key player for Gregor Townsend. Thankfully, Magnus Bradbury's excellent form for Edinburgh this season has given the Scots a second strong option at 8 if required | SNS Group