Scotland make 14 changes for their rematch with France

Full-back Stuart Hogg is the only player to be reselected in the starting Scotland side as several experienced campaigners return for this Saturday’s Test rematch against France at BT Murrayfield Stadium.

The Scots are aiming to bounce back from their 32-3 defeat at the hands of Les Bleus in Nice last weekend and coach Gregor Townsend said: “Our first outing of the season was a disappointment and not reflective of the hard work our players have put in over the past two months.

"France are a very dangerous side if you give them space and quick ball to play, which is what we allowed to happen on too many occasions last week. Our focus all week has been to remedy this and also create much more from our attacking game.

“It was a stark reminder of how tough things can be at international level if our standards slip. We expect our players to show a much truer picture of themselves this Saturday. France have selected another strong side so it will be a great challenge for us to deliver a much-improved performance.”

Scotland’s starting back division is book-ended by familiar partnerships and British & Irish Lions, as Hogg is joined by Saracens and Glasgow Warriors wings Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour for their 19th Test start as a trio.

Continuing the thread of familiarity are Racing 92 stand-off Finn Russell and Clermont Auvergne scrum-half Greig Laidlaw, who captains the side.

The pair will equal the starting partnership appearances of fellow Scottish Lions Gary Armstrong and Craig Chalmers (32) and will then be three starts short of equalling the record-holding half-back partnership of Greig’s uncle Roy Laidlaw and stand-off John Rutherford.

At the opposite end of the international spectrum is Scarlets No8 Blade Thomson, who will make his long-awaited Test debut in a back-row featuring Edinburgh’s Hamish Watson and Glasgow Warriors’ Ryan Wilson for the first time this campaign

Fellow Warrior Scott Cummings is promoted from the bench position from which he debuted last weekend, alongside Exeter Chiefs lock Sam Skinner, and behind a new front-row trio of Gordon Reid (Ayrshire Bulls), Willem Nel (Edinburgh) and hooker George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), who starts his second Scotland Test.

The side is completed by a new starting midfield partnership of Glasgow Warriors’ Pete Horne and Gloucester’s Chris Harris, while Glasgow Warriors hooker Grant Stewart could make his debut if called upon from the bench.

Scotland team to play France at BT Murrayfield Stadium

Saturday 24 August, kick-off 1.10pm

15. Stuart Hogg VICE CAPTAIN (Exeter Chiefs) – 68 caps

14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors) – 50 caps

13. Chris Harris (Gloucester) – 8 caps

12. Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 41 caps

11. Sean Maitland (Saracens) – 40 caps

10. Finn Russell (Racing 92) – 44 caps

9. Greig Laidlaw CAPTAIN (Clermont Auvergne) – 71 caps

1. Gordon Reid (Ayrshire Bulls) – 35 caps

2. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors) – 6 caps

3. Willem Nel (Edinburgh) – 29 caps

4. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) – 1 cap

5. Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs) – 5 caps

6. Ryan Wilson VICE CAPTAIN (Glasgow Warriors) – 43 caps

7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh) – 25 caps

8. Blade Thomson (Scarlets) – uncapped

Substitutes:

16. Grant Stewart (Glasgow Warriors) – uncapped

17. Allan Dell (London Irish) – 22 caps

18. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh)– 20 caps

19. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh) – 34 caps

20. John Barclay (Edinburgh) – 72 caps

21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) – 5 caps

22. Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints) – 1 cap

23. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh) – 12 caps

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