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Steyn and Nel to get a shot against France

By @rugby365com
Thursday 10 Aug 2023

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made six changes to his starting line-up for this Saturday’s return leg against France in Saint Etienne.

Jamie Ritchie is back to lead Scotland and he is one of those changes.

Following Scotland clinching the victory last weekend at Murrayfield, try-scorer Pierre Schoeman returns as loosehead prop with WP Nel and George Turner in fresh at tighthead and hooker.

Richie Gray and Grant Gilchrist continue in the second row, whilst there is change on both flanks with captain Ritchie coming in at blindside flank and Rory Darge at openside. The back row is completed by Jack Dempsey, who retains his place at No.8.

Ali Price returns to the starting line-up at scrumhalf, and his halfback partner is last week’s captain, Finn Russell, who is listed as a vice-captain for Saturday along with Gilchrist.

Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones will start in the centre together for Scotland for the seventh time in 2023.

Kyle Steyn will start on the right wing, and Duhan van der Merwe and Blair Kinghorn maintain their positions at left wing and full back.

The bench allows for a six/two split this week as Townsend looks to maintain energy in the pack. Stuart McInally, Rory Sutherland, Javan Sebastian, Scott Cummings, Sam Skinner and Josh Bayliss are the replacement forwards, with George Horne and Ollie Smith selected as substitute backs.

Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ali Price, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge, 6 Jamie Ritchie (captain), 5 Grant Gilchrist, 4 Richie Gray, 3 WP Nel, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman

Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Sam Skinner, 21 Josh Bayliss, 22 George Horne, 23 Ollie Smith.

Date: Saturday, August 12

Venue: Stade Geoffrey-Guichard, Saint-Etienne

Kick-off: 21.05 (20.05 UK & Ireland time; 19.05 GMT)

Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)

Assistant referees: Karl Dickson (England), Adam Leal (England)

TMO: Tom Foley (RFU)

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