Six Nations: Duncan Weir poised for first Scotland cap under Gregor Townsend
- Published
Six Nations: Scotland v France |
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Venue: Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Date: Sunday, 8 March Kick-off: 15:00 GMT |
Coverage: Live on BBC TV, BBC Radio 5 live, Radio Scotland & BBC Sport website & app |
Worcester Warriors fly-half Duncan Weir could win his first cap under Gregor Townsend as Scotland coach after being named on the bench to face France.
The 28-year-old made the last of his 27 appearances in 2017, before his former Glasgow Warriors team boss took charge.
Nick Haining replaces Edinburgh team-mate Magnus Bradbury at number eight as the 29-year-old makes his second start.
Fraser Brown will earn his 50th cap as the Glasgow Warriors hooker is chosen ahead of Stuart McInally.
In the third change to the XV that beat Italy, Grant Gilchrist takes over from Ben Toolis in the second row for his his first start in this season's tournament.
South Africa-born Glasgow centre Kyle Steyn is likely to make his Scotland debut after being named among the replacements, along with Sam Skinner, who has not featured since picking up a hamstring injury just days before the World Cup last year.
France head to Edinburgh sitting top of the table and on course for a Grand Slam after three wins, with Scotland fifth after that sole 17-0 victory in Rome.
The nations traded warm-up wins ahead of the World Cup, while Scotland were victorious in the Six Nations meetings at Murrayfield in 2016 and 2018.
Weir is given his chance amid the continued absence of Finn Russell.
The Racing 92 first-choice has missed Scotland's three matches in the tournament after being disciplined for a breach of squad protocol in January.
Weir played under Townsend at Glasgow but left for Edinburgh a year before the coach himself moved to the national side and has not featured since four appearances as a replacement in 2017.
Australia-born Haining earned his first cap when he started in Scotland's opening Six Nations defeat away to Ireland and was a replacement against England.
Townsend says his team are up against the best French side he's seen in "quite a number of years" at Murrayfield on Sunday.
"We know how good the French team are and how well we'll have to play to beat them," the Scotland head coach said.
"But we've prepared really well this week and we're up for that challenge. The pleasing thing is that this weekend we're back at home, we're on the back of a victory.
"The goal is to win both (remaining) games. The work the players have put in during this campaign you want them to get that reward, it's what we working for, to deliver wins for our country. That's all our focus."
Scotland XV to face France
Hogg (captain); Maitland, Harris, Johnson, Kinghorn; Hastings, Price; Sutherland, Brown, Z Fagerson; Cummings; Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, Haining.
Replacements: McInally, Dell, Nel, Skinner, Bradbury, G Horne, Weir, Steyn,