Scotland vs Portugal Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2024 Autumn Internationals
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Both Scotland and Portugal are coming off the back of defeats last weekend, as the two sides meet in the Autumn Nations Series at Murrayfield.
Start date/time: Saturday 16th November, 2024, UK – 3:10pm / US ET – 10:10am / US PT – 7:10am
How to watch on tv: UK – TNT Sports / US – Peacock
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / US – Peacock
Scotland Form: Positives & negatives from Boks defeat
Scotland fell to a 32-15 defeat to world champions South Africa last weekend in a match where they competed well defensively but could ultimately not withstand the onslaught from the admittedly under-par Springboks.
Gregor Townsend’s side were particularly sloppy in the scrum, and that is an area they will look not improve upon significantly in this match against an opponent who should afford them more opportunities to impose their will.
LAST FIVE: WWWWL
Portugal form: Making strides
Portugal are undoubtedly one of the most improved nations in rugby union in recent years, rising to 15th in the world and now competing in the August Nations Series for the first time.
They caught the eye with their enterprising style at last year’s World Cup, but they are coming off the back of a disappointing 21-17 defeat last weekend to USA, who are now just one place behind them in the world rankings.
LAST FIVE: LWWLL
Scotland Team News: 14 changes
SQUAD: 15 Tom Jordan, 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Rory Hutchinson, 12 Stafford McDowall (c), 11 Arron Reed, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 George Horne, 8 Josh Bayliss, 7 Ben Muncaster, 6 Luke Crosbie, 5 Alex Samuel, 4 Alex Craig, 3 Will Hurd, 2 Patrick Harrison, 1 Jamie Bhatti
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Johnny Matthews, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Elliot Millar Mills, 19 Ewan Johnson, 20 Freddy Douglas, 21 Jamie Dobie, 22 Matt Currie, 23 Kyle Rowe
Portugal Team News: Valence Romans not involved
SQUAD: 15 Simao Bento, 14 Raffaele Storti, 13 Jose Lima, 12 Tomas Appleton (c), 11 Jose Paiva dos Santos, 10 Hugo Aubry, 9 Hugo Camacho, 8 Joao Granate, 7 Nicolas Martins, 6 Jose Madeira, 5 Antonio Rebelo de Andrade, 4 Steevy Cerqueira, 3 Cody Thomas, 2 Luka Begic, 1 David Costa
REPLACEMENTS: 16 Antonio Machado Santos, 17 Santiago Lopes, 18 Diogo Ferreira, 19 Jose Rebelo de Andrade, 20 Diego Pinheiro Ruiz, 21 Antonio Campos, 22 Manuel Vareiro, 23 Gabriel Aviragnet
Scotland vs Portugal Prediction
In what is only the third ever meeting between the two nations, Scotland will look to bounce back from their defeat to South Africa, and Portugal could be the perfect opponent for them to do just that.
Not because the visitors are easy opponents by any stretch. Indeed, Portugal have made great strides over the past few years and they are clearly an emerging force in the game. They should offer Scotland a stern test here, but one which the hosts should come through.
Scotland vs Portugal Tip: Scotland to win with -8.5 handicap
