Ewan Ashman will start for Scotland against Samoa on Friday ahead of flying to Australia to link up with the Lions. Image: Image: SNS/Scottish Rugby 
SCOTLAND head coach Gregor Townsend has made five changes to the starting XV he sent out against Fiji last weekend ahead of Friday’s final Skyscanner Pacific Tour outing against Samoa in Auckland on Friday [kick-off 8.35am UK time].
In the backline, Tom Jordan is injured and Darcy Graham is away with the Lions, with Stafford McDowall and Arron Reed coming in at inside-centre and on the wing, respectively. Meanwhile, Rory Hutchinson is selected at outside-centre ahead of Cam Redpath.
In the pack, fit again Gregor Brown replaces Marshall Sykes in the second row, while Andy Onyeama-Christie returns in place of the injured Jamie Ritchie at blindside flanker.
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Loose-head prop Rory Sutherland and hooker Ewan Ashman will both start ahead of flying off to Australia to link up with the Lions as soon as possible after the match.
In a 6-2 split on the bench, tight-head prop Fin Richardson is in line for his first cap, while Nathan McBeth comes in as loose-head cover, Marshall Sykes and Cameron Henderson cover the second-row which means there is no room for Max Williamson among the replacements, and Ben Muncaster returns from a dead-leg to cover the back-row in place of Josh Bayliss.
Scotland (v Samoa @ Eden Park, Auckland, on Friday, 7.35pm kick-off local time or 8.35am kick-off UK time, live on Premier Sports): K Rowe; K Steyn, R Hutchinson, S McDowall, A Reed; F Burke, J Dobie; R Sutherland, E Ashman, E Miller Mills, G Brown, G Gilchrist, A Onyeama-Christie, R Darge, M Fagerson. Subs: G Turner, N McBeth, F Richardson, C Henderson, M Sykes, B Muncaster, G Horne, A Hastings.
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