Rory Darge will make his first start for Scotland in Saturday’s Six Nations showdown with France at BT Murrayfield.
The inclusion of the 22-year-old Glasgow flanker, who made his international debut as a replacement against Wales in Cardiff earlier this month, represents one of three changes – all in the forward line – to the XV that started the defeat at the Principality Stadium last time out.
Magnus Bradbury, who will start his first game for Scotland since 2020, and Zander Fagerson are the other two players added to Gregor Townsend’s starting line-up.
WP Nel, Jonny Gray and Matt Fagerson are the three players to drop out.
On the bench, Edinburgh centre Mark Bennett is included in the matchday squad for the first time since 2018.
The Scots, who have won one of their two matches so far, are aiming to maintain an impressive record against the French. Townsend’s team won in Paris last year, while Les Bleus have not won in Edinburgh since 2014.
— Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) February 24, 2022
Scotland team to play France
Forwards: 1 Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby), 2 Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby), 3 Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors), 4 Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs), 5 Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby), 6 Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors), 7 Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby), 8 Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh Rugby)
Backs: 9 Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors), 10 Finn Russell (Racing 92), 11 Duhan van der Merwe (Worcester Warriors), 12 Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors), 13 Chris Harris (Gloucester Rugby), 14 Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), 15 Stuart Hogg (CAPTAIN, Exeter Chiefs)
Replacements: 16 George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), 17 Oli Kebble (Glasgow Warriors), 18 WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby), 19 Jamie Hodgson (Edinburgh Rugby), 20 Nick Haining (Edinburgh Rugby), 21 Ben White (London Irish), 22 Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby), 23 Mark Bennett (Edinburgh Rugby)