The two men were associated last month during the victorious preparation match of the XV du Chardon against France (25-21) in Edinburgh. White, who will discover the Top 14 at the end of the World Cup in the colors of the RCT, had then slightly injured an ankle, but he returned for the fourth and final Scottish summer gallop against Georgia (victory 33 -6).
Leaving for Bath after five seasons at Racing, Russell, playing master of his team, will take part in his third World Cup, like the two experienced players associated in the second row, Richie Gray and Grant Gilchrist. Facing the outgoing South African world champions, Scottish coach Gregor Townsend aligned his typical team with the return on the right wing of Darcy Graham, injured in a thigh during preparation.
Prop Pierre Schoeman and winger Duhan van der Merwe will start against their home country, while prop WP Nel, also born in South Africa, will start on the bench. Scotland, fifth nation in the world rankings, will then face Tonga, Romania and Ireland in a particularly tough Group B.
Line-ups for Scotland vs South Africa:
Kinghorn – Graham, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe – (o) Russell, (m) White – Darge, Dempsey, Ritchie (cap.) – Gilchrist, Gray – Z. Fagerson, Turner, Schoeman
Remplaçants: Cherry, Bhatti, Nel, Cummings, M. Fagerson, Price, Redpath, Smith
