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Scotland change 13 and name Finn Russell as skipper versus France
By Liam Heagney
Gregor Townsend has shaken up his Scotland team, making 13 changes for this Saturday’s Summer Nations Series clash with France following last weekend’s fixture with Italy.
The Scots were 25-13 winners in that Rugby World Cup build-up opener versus the Azzurri and the two players from that starting XV retained to face the French in game two at Scottish Gas Murrayfield are two-try winger Darcy Graham and back-rower Matt Fagerson, who switches from No8 to blindside on this occasion.
Finn Russell is named as skipper, the fly-half partnering Ben White at half-back, with Sione Tuipulotu chosen as vice-captain and renewing his midfield partnership with Huw Jones. In the pack, Fagerson lines up alongside Hamish Watson and Jack Dempsey in the back row.
Elsewhere, Richie Gray and Grant Gilchrist, another vice-captain, are paired in the second row, while the front row will consist of Ewan Ashman alongside Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson.
Rory Darge, who led Scotland to their Italy win, is one of five forwards named in the replacements. Dave Cherry, Jamie Bhatti, WP Nel and Scott Cummings are the other pack options, with backs George Horne, Cameron Redpath and Ollie Smith completing the matchday 23.
Scotland (vs France, Saturday – 3:15pm)
15. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 44 caps
14. Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 34 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors, vice-captain) - 16 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 28 caps
10. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby, captain) - 69 caps
9. Ben White (Toulon) 14 caps
1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 21 caps
2. Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) 7 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 58 caps
4. Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 73 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby, vice-captain) - 62 caps
6. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 34 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 57 caps
8. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps
Replacements:
16. Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 30 caps
18. WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 54 caps
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps
20. Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 20 caps
22. Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) 6 caps
23. Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps
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Latest Comments
Didn't Earl get skinned again?
I get it, but at least your coach was a winner, right? Ours was hopeless, Rennie took over his Super team and immediately won two Championships. I might not be the best judge as it was my team but they were perennial underachievers under Foster. In any case, it's the best you've got (unlike in NZ's case), so try and get on board. Have faith that SB will be flexible enough to improve his personal if needed.
This surely has to be the best playing English side to follow in a long long time (well fans might need some more obvious proof come 6N time), so what are you waiting for?
Go to commentsAt least he no longer writes articles related to the All Blacks. The suggestion with these ratings is that the ABs have a lot more left in the tank... Which is nonsense, this was a nail biter of a test of the highest standard and both sides we're going at it hammer and tongs. As is often the case in rugby, the team that managed to score the most tries won.
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