Gregor Townsend: It is time for Scotland to raise their game ahead of World Cup

Gregor Townsend has called on Scotland to take their game "up to another level" in their final World Cup warm-up match against Georgia on Saturday as he dismissed any notion of wrapping his key men in cotton wool ahead of the looming global showpiece.

The head coach, whose side are Ireland's fourth Pool B opponents, has made six changes to the XV that started the narrow defeat away to France last time out.

Blair Kinghorn, George Turner, Richie Gray, Pierre Schoeman and the suspended Zander Fagerson are the only players not involved this weekend who are expected to start Scotland's pool opener against South Africa in Marseille on 10 September.

"We certainly want to give players another chance to build on the performances so far," Townsend said.

"As a team, we have to take our game up to another level as we move towards the World Cup, so playing as many of those combinations that we believe will play against South Africa in two weeks’ time is really important.

"Not only do you get to play the game, you get to train in the build-up to the game – the starting team trains together – so another week of that to build cohesion is crucial for us so that we play close to our best rugby in that game against South Africa."

Asked if there was any temptation to keep his key players on the sidelines this weekend in order to avoid pre-tournament injury or suspension, Townsend said: "No. Getting players to the World Cup is just one thing, getting players in their best form and the team playing its best rugby is what is important here.

"We're hoping to beat the world champions – the number three team in the world – in our first game, so we’re not going to do that if players haven’t had match experience and, as a team, we haven’t had another