Six Nations: Scotland name team to play France

Gregor Townsend's team to take on the French at BT Murrayfield shows three changes.

Fraser Brown will win his 50th cap on Sunday.

Gregor Townsend has made three changes, all in the pack, for Scotland's Guinness Six Nations clash with France in Edinburgh on Sunday.

Following the 17-0 win over Italy in Rome last month, Fraser Brown replaces Stuart McInally at hooker and will win his 50th cap. McInally drops on to the bench, and Brown takes over the vice-captaincy from the Edinburgh man.

Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist comes into the second row in place of Ben Toolis who drops out of the squad.

The third change sees Nick Haining take over at No.8 from Magnus Bradbury, with the latter named among the substitutes.

The back division is unchanged, with Stuart Hogg captaining the side from full-back once more.

Exeter Chiefs lock Sam Skinner returns from injury to join the squad on the bench for the first time this campaign and there is also a place among the substitutes for experienced stand-off Duncan Weir.

Glasgow Warriors’ Kyle Steyn is also on the bench and is line for his international debut.

France are the form side in this season's Championship and Townsend said: “This week we face a France team that looks galvanised since the World Cup, with a potential Grand Slam in their sights following impressive wins over England, Italy and Wales.

“We have a lot of respect for their coaching team and the quality of player they possess throughout their squad, many of them just in their early stages of their international careers. We’re going to have to deliver our best rugby of the championship in order to beat a team in such good form."

Scotland suffered narrow defeats in their opening two Six Nations fixtures against Ireland away and England at home before the win over Italy.

They round their campaign against Wales in Cardiff next Saturday.

Scotland team to play France (BT Murrayfield, Sunday, 3pm)

15. Stuart Hogg, captain (Exeter Chiefs) - 75 caps

14. Sean Maitland (Saracens) - 47 caps

13. Chris Harris (Gloucester) - 17 caps

12. Sam Johnson (Glasgow Warriors) - 12 caps

11. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh) - 20 caps

10. Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors) - 19 caps

9. Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors) - 31 caps

1. Rory Sutherland (Edinburgh) - 6 caps

2. Fraser Brown VICE CAPTAIN (Glasgow Warriors) - 49 caps

3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) - 28 caps

4. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) - 11 caps

5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh) - 41 caps

6. Jamie Ritchie (Edinburgh) - 17 caps

7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh) - 31 caps

8. Nick Haining (Edinburgh) - 2 caps

Substitutes:

16. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh) - 36 caps

17. Allan Dell (London Irish) - 31 caps

18. Willem Nel (Edinburgh) - 37 caps

19. Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs) - 6 caps

20. Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh) - 13 caps

21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) - 12 caps

22. Duncan Weir (Worcester Warriors) - 27 caps

23. Kyle Steyn (Glasgow Warriors) - uncapped

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