Gets the nod: Grant Gilchrist
22-year-old Edinburgh lock Grant Gilchrist will win his first cap for Scotland in Saturday's final Six Nations match against France in Paris.
Gilchrist, an unused replacement on the bench when Scotland lost to Tonga in Aberdeen in November, replaces the injured Richie Gray.
The only other change to the starting line-up sees the experienced Alasdair Strokosch preferred to Rob Harley at blindside flanker.
Strokosch had started the championship in the number six jersey but injury in the opening match against England at Twickenham sidelined him from Scotland's next three outings.
"We have made some progress in this championship and it would be ideal to cement that by a winning performance in Paris. But the needle is stuck in the same groove as far as my view on Saturday's Test," said Scotland interim head coach Scott Johnson.
"We've got to get our basics right. We've got to win the contact area, be disciplined in our approach, and get some front-foot ball for our backs. We also want to end the championship on a high.
"I've been impressed with Gilco. I've spoken of form and future and he fits the bill in the latter category but he's also keen as mustard and we want to look at him in the company of a very good French side.
"We looked at every position in detail after last weekend and we reckoned that Strokosch's experience gave him the nod in the back-row.
"We're not reading much at all into where France are in the table. France are wounded right now and we expect them to come out all guns blazing on Saturday.
"But the target for us is to concentrate on our game and aim to be as high up the table as possible come full-time in Paris."
Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Sean Lamont, 12 Matt Scott, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Duncan Weir, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Alasdair Strokosch, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Ryan Grant.
Replacements: 16 Dougie Hall, 17 Moray Low, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Alastair Kellock, 20 Ryan Wilson, 21 Henry Pyrgos, 22 Ruaridh Jackson, 23 Max Evans.
Date: Saturday, 16 March
Venue: Stade de France, Paris
Kick-off: 22:00 local (20:00 GMT)
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant referees: George Clancy (Ireland), Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)
Television match official: Carlo Damasco (Italy)
Comments
scot_rsa says...
Fantastic for Gilchrist, well deserved. And great to be building depth and competition for places before the SA trip. Right decision to keep Weir at 10, he looked a lot more assured than previous incumbents and we're yet to see his best. Should be a game where we see more of the back three, let's hope.
Posted 21:37 13th March 2013
carpelone says...
It was a fair (if not good) championship for Scotland, and looks promising for the future.
Positive: the ability to score points from scratch and new young prospect in the squad.
Negative: team discipline
Scotland had to give back in the game with Wales what they got away with in the game with Ireland (and partially with Italy).
Posted 14:59 13th March 2013
melkdave says...
Have to say he looks a very promising prospect,and i wouldnt be surprised if he is the long term partner for .Grey .Hope he has a blinder against France.
Posted 13:39 13th March 2013
5Lock4ward says...
Why Nathan Hines didn't put his hand up for this match is beyond me. All the talk of him making the Lions squad could've actually amounted to something. Al Kellock has to feel a bit shorted as well. Let's see what the young man Gilchrist can do.
Posted 13:39 13th March 2013