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Scotland make three changes to their pack to face the French
By Liam Heagney
Gregor Townsend has made three changes to his Scotland team – all in the pack – to face France this Saturday at Murrayfield following the round two Guinness Six Nations defeat away to Wales on February 12. Rory Darge will make his first start for the Scots when he takes over at blindside, with Sam Skinner switching to lock following the loss to injury of Jonny Gray.
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There are also changes at tighthead and No8. Zander Fagerson comes into the front row in place of the benched WP Nel while his brother Matt Fagerson is replaced in the Scotland back row by Magnus Bradbury, who is starting his first game for Scotland since 2020.
In the replacements, Oli Kebble is included after joining the squad this week. Jamie Hodgson and Nick Haining will also be aiming to make their first Scotland appearances in this year’s Six Nations off the bench. Mark Bennett also makes his return to a Scotland squad for the first time since 2018.
SCOTLAND (vs France, Saturday)
15. Stuart Hogg – Exeter Chiefs – (Captain) – 90 caps
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby – 24 caps
13. Chris Harris – Gloucester Rugby – 33 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu – Glasgow Warriors – 3 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Worcester Warriors – 15 caps
10. Finn Russell – Racing 92 – (vice-captain) – 60 caps
9. Ali Price – Glasgow Warriors – 48 caps
1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby – 6 caps
2. Stuart McInally – Edinburgh Rugby – 45 caps
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors – 44 caps
4. Sam Skinner – Exeter Chiefs – 17 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby – (Vice-Captain) – 50 caps
6. Rory Darge – Glasgow Warriors – 1 cap
7. Hamish Watson – Edinburgh Rugby – 47 caps
8. Magnus Bradbury – Edinburgh Rugby – 16 caps
Replacements
16. George Turner – Glasgow Warriors – 22 caps
17. Oli Kebble – Glasgow Warriors – 11 caps
18. WP Nel – Edinburgh Rugby – 45 caps
19. Jamie Hodgson – Edinburgh Rugby – 3 caps
20. Nick Haining – Edinburgh Rugby – 10 caps
21. Ben White – London Irish – 2 cap
22. Blair Kinghorn – Edinburgh Rugby – 29 caps
23. Mark Bennett – Edinburgh Rugby – 22 caps
