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Jack Dempsey blow as Scotland name team to play France
By Jon Newcombe
Scotland head to Paris for this weekend’s Guinness Six Nations finale against France without influential No8 Jack Dempsey after the powerful ball carrier was ruled out because of a hamstring injury.
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The Australian-born back-rower was superb in Scotland’s 35-29 win over Wales last Saturday, carrying the ball 19 times for 147 metres and weighing in with 13 tackles in the 80 minutes he was on the pitch.
Matt Fagerson has replaced Dempsey at the back of the pack, while the other change is also up front with Gregor Brown starting in the second row in place of Jonny Gray.
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Brown, who won the United Rugby Championship with Glasgow Warriors last year, will make his ninth appearance for Scotland after making his debut in the summer against Canada.
The backline is unchanged from Saturday’s victory over Wales. Player of the Match Blair Kinghorn retains his berth at full-back having started all matches in the championship so far, as he looks set to take on some of his Toulouse teammates this weekend.
Tom Jordan, who scored his first Scotland tries with a double at the weekend, starts in the centre alongside Huw Jones.
Darcy Graham, also a try scorer against Wales, retains his place on one wing with Duhan van der Merwe on the other.
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Co-captain Finn Russell and Ben White line up as the familiar half-back pairing.
The forwards are made up of players from Scottish clubs with four Edinburgh players in the shape of loosehead prop Pierre Schoeman, hooker Dave Cherry, second row Grant Gilchrist – who will win an 80th Scotland cap – and Jamie Ritchie at blindside flanker.
Second row Brown is joined by Glasgow Warriors clubmates Zander Fagerson at tighthead, as well as co-captain and openside flanker Rory Darge, with Fagerson completing the line-up.
It is set to be a special night for Marshall Sykes and Ben Muncaster, who are primed to make their Six Nations debuts after being named among the replacements.
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A 6-2 split will be in operation on the bench with Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, Will Hurd, and Stafford McDowall retaining their places following the Wales game, in addition to Gray. Jamie Dobie and Stafford McDowell provide the backs cover.
Scotland team vs France:
15. Blair Kinghorn – Toulouse (59)
14. Darcy Graham – Edinburgh Rugby (45)
13. Huw Jones – Glasgow Warriors (57)
12. Tom Jordan – Glasgow Warriors (7)
11. Duhan van der Merwe – Edinburgh Rugby (48)
10. Finn Russell – Co-Captain – Bath Rugby (86)
9. Ben White – Toulon (28)
1. Pierre Schoeman – Edinburgh Rugby (41)
2. Dave Cherry – Edinburgh Rugby (15)
3. Zander Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (74)
4. Gregor Brown – Glasgow Warriors (8)
5. Grant Gilchrist – Edinburgh Rugby (79)
6. Jamie Ritchie – Edinburgh Rugby (58)
7. Rory Darge – Co-Captain – Glasgow Warriors (29)
8. Matt Fagerson – Glasgow Warriors (54)
Replacements:
16. Ewan Ashman – Edinburgh Rugby (26)
17. Rory Sutherland – Glasgow Warriors (40)
18. Will Hurd – Leicester Tigers (8)
19. Jonny Gray – Bordeaux Bègles (81)
20. Marshall Sykes – Edinburgh Rugby (1 cap)
21. Ben Muncaster – Edinburgh Rugby (1)
22. Jamie Dobie – Glasgow Warriors (11)
23. Stafford McDowall – Glasgow Warriors (12)
