Scotland v Australia: 100th cap for Ford | Dell handed debut

Back row Hamish Watson is the other Capital player included in head coach Vern Cotter’s XV to take on the Wallabies at BT Murrayfield on Saturday, while lock Grant Gilchrist and back row John Hardie are named as replacements.

Debutant Dell – whose international chance has come to fruition due to regular front-rowers WP Nel and Alasdair Dickinson being injured – is joined at prop alongside Glasgow tight-head Zander Fagerson, who is making his first start for Scotland, while former Edinburgh stalwarts Tim Visser and Greig Laidlaw have been picked at scrum-half and wing respectively.

Cotter paid tribute to the soon-to-be centurion Ford, saying: said: “Congratulations first to Ross Ford on reaching this special milestone. It’s fantastic for him and his family that he’ll achieve it in front of the home fans at BT Murrayfield, who I’m sure will give him a great reception.

“To play 100 Test matches for your country is an incredible achievement, with his lasting dedication keeping him among the best hookers in the world for a decade.

“He is a consummate professional and, at 32, he has plenty left to give in a Scotland jersey.”

Scotland XV to face Australia (Saturday, November 12, 2.30pm, BT Murrayfield): S Hogg; S Maitland, H Jones, A Dunbar, T Visser; F Russell, G Laidlaw; A Dell, R Ford, Z Fagerson, R Gray, J Gray, J Barclay, H Watson, R Wilson. Subs: F Brown, G Reid, M Low, G Gilchrist, J Hardie, A Price, P Horne, R Hughes.