Brown brings 'skill and speed of a back-rower' to second row - Townsend

Gregor Brown "has shown he can perform at the highest level" says head coach Gregor Townsend, after handing the Glasgow Warriors second-rower his first Six Nations start.

Brown is one of two changes from the side who started against Wales, with Matt Fagerson coming in at eight for the trip to Paris to take on Championship-chasing France.

Townsend cited the 23-year-old's athleticism and technical ability as factors behind his decision to start him instead of the experienced Jonny Gray.

"He has done really well off the bench," Townsend said. "I thought his energy at the weekend and his carrying were excellent. He came very close to scoring a try.

"He is very good in the lineout, really athletic, technically really strong. Same at scrum time as well, technically very good. He's shown for us but also for Glasgow that he can perform at the highest level in the second row position.

"It allows us to have someone who has got the skill and speed of a back-rower but the technical ability of a second-rower to bring that out from the start this week."

The win against Wales at Murrayfield last weekend was tainted somewhat by yet another drop-off in the second half, with the Scots allowing their visitors to finish within six points having been 35-8 up eight minutes into the second half.

However, Townsend stressed "momentum swings" are to be expected in Test rugby and is not concerned.

"Teams do come back when they're well behind," Townsend argued. "We know we've got to make sure that in the 80 minutes we're still showing as much effort as we are at the start of games, but I feel we're doing that.

"Last week we did that.We dominated the last ten minutes of the game."