Wallabies team vs Scotland: Carter Gordon returns at fly-half as Kiss makes three changes

Carter Gordon is back at fly-half as the Wallabies team to face Scotland at Murrayfield on Sunday shows three changes to the starting XV.

Les Kiss has recalled Rob Valetini to the back row and Harry Potter to the wing, and moved Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii into midfield. Declan Meredith, who started at 10 in the 45-22 defeat by England at Twickenham, drops out of the match-day 23 altogether.

Australia have lost their last three Tests and conceded 138 points in those defeats, according to Australian Associated Press. A fourth straight loss in Edinburgh would pile more pressure on Kiss before the end of the Nations Championship.

Wallabies team news: Carter Gordon returns at No 10

Gordon broke his leg against Argentina in September and returns just two months later, with Ben Donaldson keeping his place on the bench as cover. The Wallabies have used seven different starting fly-halves since the last World Cup, and Kiss wants Gordon to end that search.

“Certainly Carter was the incumbent, so he was in a position of strength before he got injured,” Kiss said, as reported by AAP. “Carter will bring his flavour, he will bring his voice, the way he loves to play the game.”

Valetini starts and Suaalii moves to centre

Valetini started on the bench against England. He now returns at blindside flanker, next to captain Harry Wilson and Fraser McReight. “He’s going to make a difference, that’s for sure, the momentum he can build,” Kiss said, adding that Valetini “really lit it up” in training.

Suaalii moves from the left wing to outside centre, partnering Len Ikitau following Isaac Henry’s tour-ending injury. ABC says it will be the 18th time the pair have started together in a Test, and it is the sixth successive change to the Wallabies’ midfield pairing.

Potter takes Suaalii’s place on the left wing, at the ground where he made his Test debut. Jeremy Williams also moves back to lock alongside Josh Canham.

Suaalii was heavily criticised this week, most loudly by former England wing Chris Ashton. Kiss backed him firmly. “I back him to the hilt, as I do the whole team,” he said.

Wallabies team vs Scotland

Australia: Angus Bell, Billy Pollard, Allan Alaalatoa, Josh Canham, Jeremy Williams, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (capt); Ryan Lonergan, Carter Gordon, Harry Potter, Len Ikitau, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright.

Replacements: Brandon Paenga-Amosa, Isaac Kailea, Taniela Tupou, Lachlan Shaw, Tom Hooper, Tate McDermott, Ben Donaldson, Filipo Daugunu.

Hooper and Paenga-Amosa are back among the replacements after injury. Lachlan Shaw is set to play his first Test in Europe as lock cover.

Scotland changes and kick-off time

Scotland have made two changes after their 43-21 defeat by New Zealand last weekend, with Blair Kinghorn and Darcy Graham coming into the back three, ABC reports. Australian-born Sione Tuipulotu captains Scotland from centre, and Jack Dempsey, who won 14 caps for the Wallabies, starts at No 8.

Kick-off at Scottish Gas Murrayfield is 3.10pm on Sunday 15 November. Our Scotland vs Australia TV channel guide has the full ITV and STV details. Scotland won 27-13 on Australia’s last visit to Edinburgh in November 2024.

Kiss called Scotland at home “a massive Test”. “It’s vital we transfer our hard work onto the field for the 80 minutes on Sunday,” he said, in comments carried by ABC News.

For the England side of that Twickenham win, read Maro Itoje on Steve Borthwick after the Australia rout, and follow the rest of the autumn on our international rugby news page.