Watson back for Scotland in strong side to face French

EDINBURGH : Hamish Watson returns for a first run out in this year’s Six Nations as Scotland coach Gregor Townsend on Friday named a strong line-up for Sunday’s clash against last season’s champions France in Paris.

Watson is the only change to the team that beat Wales 35-7 at Murrayfield a fortnight ago to see Scotland to a second win in as many matches – the first time since 1996 that they had won the opening two matches of a Six Nations tournament. He replaces Luke Crosbie.

Flanker Watson was concussed in November’s test against New Zealand. Although he made a comeback at club level before the Six Nations kick off, he was left out of the Scotland side in favour of Crosbie to allow more time for recovery.

Townsend made two changes on the bench where there will be six forwards and two backs for what is expected to be a physical encounter at the Stade de France.

Sam Skinner and Ali Price have been added to the list of replacements but Chris Harris, who played at centre for the British & Irish Lions in South Africa in 2021, has been left out of the match day 23.

Former skipper Stuart Hogg is set for his 99th Scottish cap and is one of eight starters who remain from the team that won 27-23 on their last trip to Paris two years ago

Team:

15-Stuart Hogg, 14-Kyle Steyn, 13-Huw Jones, 12-Sione Tuipulotu, 11-Duhan van der Merwe, 10-Finn Russell, 9-Ben White, 8-Matt Fagerson, 7-Hamish Watson, 6-Jamie Ritchie (capt.), 5-Grant Gilchrist, 4-Richie Gray, 3-Zander Fagerson, 2-George Turner, 1-Pierre Schoeman

Replacements: 16-Fraser Brown, 17-Jamie Bhatti, 18-WP Nel, 19-Jonny Gray, 20-Sam Skinner 21-Jack Dempsey, 22-Ali Price, 23-Blair Kinghorn, 23-Chris Harris.

(Writing by Mark Gleeson in Cape Town; Editing by Kim Coghill)