Six Nations: Gregor Townsend makes five changes to Scotland team for France clash at Murrayfield
Scotland take on France in a top-of-the-table clash at Murrayfield in the Six Nations this Saturday; Scotland could overtake France with a bonus-point victory while the French could seal the title with a win at Murrayfield; Gregor Townsend has made five changes to the Scotland team
Thursday 5 March 2026 15:42, UK
Head coach Gregor Townsend has made five changes to the Scotland team to face France in the Six Nations.
France and Scotland are currently first and second respectively in the table, and they play each other on Saturday at Murrayfield.
Townsend has selected a fresh front row for the crunch clash.
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Loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman and hooker George Turner, both substitutes in Scotland's victory over Wales, will start while tighthead prop D'arcy Rae also comes in for his first appearance in this year's championship.
Jack Dempsey has recovered from a bicep injury sustained against England. He returns to the No 8 position and so Matt Fagerson switches to blindside flanker. Gregor Brown will play in the second row, partnering Scott Cummings.
Vice-captain Rory Darge starts as openside flanker for the third match in a row after an impressive Player of the Match display in Cardiff two weeks ago.
Darcy Graham, who tied Scotland men's all-time try-scoring record at 35 with a dazzling finish last time out, is picked at right wing, with Kyle Steyn, also a try scorer against Wales, moving to the left and Blair Kinghorn at full-back.
Captain Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones once more reprise their familiar centre partnership.
Finn Russell as ever will pull the strings at fly half, linking up with Ben White at scrum-half.
Burgeoning Edinburgh back-row Freddy Douglas, 20, is included in a Six Nations squad for the first time as a substitute, with Townsend opting for a 6-2 bench split. Hooker Ewan Ashman, who started the opener in Italy, is also among the replacements after missing the last two matches.
Scotland could go top of the table with a bonus-point victory while the French could seal the title with a win in Edinburgh.
France have named the same starting XV that overwhelmed Ireland in this tournament's opening fixture as fly-half Matthieu Jalibert returns. Centres Yoram Moefana and Nicolas Depoortere are also back after injuries.
"Fabien Brau-Boirie is out of action, victim of a dislocated finger from which he has not sufficiently recovered," head coach Fabien Galthie said.
"We decided to pick the same pair of centres that started the championship against Ireland and were very good before getting injured.
"We will be welcomed by a country and a team that think they can win the tournament," Galthie added. "But our players have been working hard for six weeks, performing well."
Scotland team to face France
Starting XV: 15 Blair Kinghorn,14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (captain), 11, Kyle Steyn, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White, 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 George Turner, 3 D'arcy Rae, 4 Gregor Brown, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman,17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 Freddy Douglas, 21 Josh Bayliss, 22 George Horne, 23 Tom Jordan.
France team to face Scotland
Starting XV: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (captain), 8 Anthony Jelonch, 7 Oscar Jegou, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Mickael Guillard, 4 Charles Ollivon, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros.
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Lenni Nouchi, 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Pierre-Louis Barassi.
