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New-look Scotland pack as skipper McInally returns

Resistencia - Scotland have changed seven of their eight forwards and switched the position of the other for a one-off Test against Argentina in Resistencia Saturday.

READ: Kitshoff: Newlands farewell would be 'heart-breaking'

The match will also see a first tour start for skipper and hooker Stuart McInally after an injury ruled him out of a big win in Canada and a shock loss to the United States.

Tim Swinson is the lone forward to survive a cull after the 30-29 defeat in Houston, but he is moved from tighthead prop to lock.

The new front row comprises loosehead Allan Dell, McInally and Simon Berghan with Swinson partnering Grant Gilchrist in the second row.

Loose forwards Fraser Brown and Magnus Bradbury and number eight David Denton form a new back row.

Coach Gregor Townsend resisted wholesale changes in the backline, however, making only one with winger Dougie Fife replacing Byron McGuigan.

While eight starting changes in unusually high for a Test team, coach Gregor Townsend said it was vital to give all his squad game time during the three-match Americas tour.

"With the majority of the squad involved in two Tests, we believe that we will be in a much better position in the future.

"We have exposed more players to Test-level rugby, and this will help Scotland for the season ahead and beyond.

"I have learned a lot on this tour about this group of players. Now we have to use that learning to put in a very good performance to beat Argentina on their home patch.

"The players have responded well in training this week with the focus on effort and accuracy.

"We are looking forward to a passionate atmosphere in a football stadium with the crowd very close to the pitch.

"Argentina will bring their passion and physicality where they have traditionally been strong - set pieces, ball carrying and in the contact area.

"They also have a host of excellent attacking players, and the last few seasons have seen a much more expansive brand of rugby from them since joining the Rugby Championship.

While Scotland were playing in North America, Argentina suffered two home losses to Wales.

Teams

Scotland

15 Stuart Hogg; 14 Dougie Fife, 13 Nick Grigg, 12 Pete Horne, 11 Blair Kinghorn; 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne; 8 David Denton, 7 Fraser Brown, 6 Magnus Bradbury; 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Tim Swinson; 3 Simon Berghan, 2 Stuart McInally (capt), 1 Allan Dell

Substitutes: 16 George Turner, 17 Jamie Bhatti, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Ben Toolis, 20 Jamie Ritchie, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 James Lang, 23 Chris Harris

Argentina

15 Emiliano Boffelli; 14 Bautista Delguy, 13 Matias Orlando, 12 Bautista Ezcurra, 11 Sebastian Cancelliere; 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martn Landajo; 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Tomas Lezana, 6 Pablo Matera; 5 Matias Alemanno, 4 Guido Petti; 3 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 2 Agustin Creevy (captain), 1 Javier Diaz

Substitutes: 16 Julian Montoya, 17 Santiago Garcia Botta, 18 Santiago Medrano, 19 Marcos Kremer, 20 Tomas Lavanini, 21 Gonzalo Bertranou, 22 Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias, 23 Juan Cruz Mallia

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