Six Nations: Vern Cotter calls Mark Bennett and Euan Murray in for France clash
Thursday 5 February 2015 21:26, UK
Scotland coach Vern Cotter has made only two changes to his side for the opening Six Nations clash with France on Saturday.
Centre Mark Bennett returns to the XV after missing Scotland's final autumn Test against Tonga with a hamstring injury and Euan Murray starts at tight-head in place of Geoff Cross, who moves to the bench.
Bennett is one of three players who will be making their tournament debut, along with stand-off Finn Russell and flanker Blair Cowan.
The rest of the side is made up of the players who beat Tonga 37-12 in November, skippered by Greig Laidlaw who is one point shy of scoring his 300th point for Scotland.
Tough start
Cotter said: "It's the core of the team which played in the autumn series. I think they performed well and they now get an opportunity going into this very tough Six Nations campaign.
"Seeing the passion and desire among our players in the build up to the tournament has been special.
"The players really enjoy the atmosphere of these big occasions, and the pressure of having to perform for their country, in front of huge crowds. They're looking forward to getting out there.
"France will be tough. They played well in the autumn series but remain frustrated with past results in the RBS 6 Nations.
"They will be very difficult to contain so we'll have to stay tight as a unit, work hard for each other and try to apply some pressure.
"It'll be a very tough start to the championship, but we're looking forward to that challenge.”
Cotter does make further changes on the bench with lock Jim Hamilton, a veteran of 57 Tests, coming in for Kieran Low, and backs Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Dougie Fife and Peter Horne - Horne's addition takes the Glasgow contingent in the 23-man squad to 11 - are included.
Backs Sean Lamont (calf), Henry Pyrgos (knee) and Matt Scott (shoulder) were not considered for the match having been unable to recover from injuries sustained in training.
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tim Visser; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (capt); 1 Alasdair Dickinson, 2 Ross Ford, 3 Euan Murray; 4 Richie Gray, 5 Jonny Gray, 6 Rob Harley, 7 Blair Cowan, 8 Johnnie Beattie.
Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Alasdair Strokosch, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Dougie Fife.
