Scotland v England: Jonny Gray back in experienced team for Six Nations opener

Gregor Townsend has named an experienced Scotland team for Saturday's Six Nations opener at home to England, with Jonny Gray returning.

Lock Gray missed the autumn series though injury and he is joined in the second row by Grant Gilchrist.

Stuart Hogg captains the side at full-back with Finn Russell at fly-half and brothers Matt and Zander Fagerson in the pack.

Scrum-half Ben White is on the bench, the only uncapped player in the squad.

The past two Six Nations meetings of the countries have been won by the away side, with Scotland triumphing 11-6 at Twickenham last year after losing 13-6 at Murrayfield in 2020.

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Thirteen of the XV who started last year's closing Six Nations win over France are in the line-up, with the forwards of Hogg, Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Sam Johnson, Duhan van der Merwe, Russell and Ali Price exactly the same.

Hogg and Russell's fellow British and Irish Lion Hamish Watson is at openside.

"These are players who have done well for Scotland and earned the right to keep the jersey," said head coach Townsend.

"The starting XV we have named has a consistent feel to it which is great for cohesion but we will also benefit from returning players such as Jonny Gray and Rory Sutherland who have been important for us in recent seasons."

'We're not favourites with the bookies'

England head coach Eddie Jones has described Scotland as "red-hot favourites".

But Townsend countered: "Every coach does this song and dance going into a game trying to convince the media their underdogs.

"I know we're not favourites with the bookies. It's not really something we talk about or worry about.

"The reason we're being spoken about like that is because our players have driven the standards in training and have gone through experiences - not always pleasant - that have made them better and brought them closer together as a group.

"We have our own expectations, which is to deliver performances that we're capable of.

"Even with players missing they can still put out a quality team. We are under no illusions on the tough challenge we have ahead of us against an England side who defeated the world champions (South Africa) in their last outing."

Staffordshire-born White, 23, has Scottish grandparentage and previously won 11 caps for England under-20s in 2018.

He gets the nod ahead of Ben Vellacott as back-up to Price.

And Townsend commented: "Ben White has been in very good form for London Irish and has trained well in the last two weeks, so can approach his first involvement at Test level with real confidence."

Scotland team to face England: Hogg; Graham, Harris, Johnson, Van der Merwe; Russell, Price; Sutherland, Turner, Z Fagerson, J Gray, Gilchrist, Ritchie, Watson, M Fagerson.

Replacements: McInally, Schoeman, Nel, Skinner, M Bradbury, White, Kinghorn, Tuipulotu.

You can listen to the Scottish Rugby Podcast on BBC Sounds and the Rugby Breakfast Show on digital radio, 810 medium wave and the BBC Sport website and app from 10:00 GMT on Saturday.

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