The team shows a total of four changes to the one which triumphed over Wales in the team’s previous outing at the end of last month.

Van der Merwe made his debut off the bench then, but a solid display in that Test has now earned him a promotion to the starting team.

Weir last made the starting XV in a clash with Ireland back in March 2016, but injuries to Finn Russell and Adam Hastings, coupled with his own excellent form for the Worcester Warriors, have had him rushed into Scotland’s lineup.

There is one other change among the backs, with Sam Johnson returning at inside centre.

In the pack, Stuart McInally replaces Fraser Brown at hooker. Brown picked up a training ground injury and will miss the match, with George Turner coming on to the bench.

Scotland – 15 Stuart Hogg (c), 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Ali Price, 8 Blade Thomson, 7 Hamish Watson, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Scott Cummings, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 Stuart McInally, 1 Rory Sutherland.
Subs: 16 George Turner, 17 Oli Kebble, 18 WP Nel, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Nick Haining, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 James Lang, 23 Blair Kinghorn.

Photo: Ian MacNicol/Getty Images