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Ross Ford to win 100th Scotland cap against Australia

Scotland hooker Ross Ford
Image: Ross Ford will win his 100th cap against Australia

Scotland hooker Ross Ford will win his 100th cap against Australia at Murrayfield on Saturday.

The Edinburgh forward will become just the third Scot to reach three figures, joining previous centurions Chris Paterson and Sean Lamont.

Ford will be joined in a new-look front row by debutant Allan Dell and Zander Fagerson, who makes his first international start.

Zander Fagerson is tackled by Graham Kitchener of Leicester
Image: Zander Fagerson will pack down in the front row

Edinburgh flanker Hamish Watson and Stormers centre Huw Jones will also start a Test match for the first time as Scotland open their autumn campaign, while stand-off Finn Russell returns to Vern Cotter's starting line-up after missing the summer tour of Japan with a head injury.

Ford made his international debut when he replaced Gordon Bulloch against the Wallabies in Edinburgh in 2004, and has been a mainstay of the Scotland front row since his return to the jersey two years later, starting 83 of his Test appearances to date.

Scotland's Hamish Watson is tackled by Italian players during the Rugby World Cup Test match Italy Vs Scotland on August 22, 2015 at the "Olympic Stadium"
Image: Hamish Watson comes into the line-up against the Wallabies

Ford's extensive experience could prove invaluable this weekend as he prepares to pack down between club-mate Dell - who starts in the loosehead berth - and once-capped, 20-year-old tighthead Fagerson.

Cotter said: "Congratulations first to Ross Ford on reaching this special milestone. It's fantastic for him and his family that he'll achieve it in front of the home fans at Murrayfield, who I'm sure will give him a great reception.

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"To play 100 Test matches for your country is an incredible achievement, with his lasting dedication keeping him among the best hookers in the world for a decade."

Saturday's contest offers Scotland the chance to gain revenge for last year's controversial World Cup quarter-final defeat, when Australia converted a debatable last-minute penalty to win 35-34.

Alex Dunbar crossing for Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun
Image: Alex Dunbar is back after missing the Japan tour

Cotter added: "It's been eight months since we last played at home so the players are desperate to get out there and put in another winning performance in front of our home support."

John Barclay and Ryan Wilson complete the loose forwards with the ever-present partnership of brothers Jonny and Richie Gray in the second row.

In the backs, Greig Laidlaw and Russell will reform their pivotal partnership while Alex Dunbar - another to miss the tour through injury - joins Jones in a new-look centre partnership.

Tim Visser breaks away to score a try against Saracens
Image: Tim Visser breaks away to score a try against Saracens

The starting line-up is completed with the selection of Stuart Hogg, Tim Visser and Sean Maitland in the back three, with Tommy Seymour unavailable for personal reasons.

Another notable inclusion appears among the replacements with Glasgow Warriors scrum-half Ali Price set to make his debut if called upon from the bench.

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (c); 1 Allan Dell, 2 Ross Ford, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Richie Gray, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 John Barclay, 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Ryan Wilson.

Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Moray Low, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 John Hardie, 21 Ali Price, 22 Pete Horne, 23 Rory Hughes.

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