Vern Cotter has named the Scotland side that will take on France this weekend in Paris. Greig Laidlaw captains from scrum-half while it’s an all-Glasgow centre partnership of Alex Dunbar and Mark Bennett.
The brothers Gray continue their excellent engine room combination, while Johnnie Beattie is in from the wilderness for a start at number eight, alongside Rob Harley and Blair Cowan in the back row.
Euan Murray takes the tighthead shirt from Geoff Cross, who drops to the bench, as one of three changes to the side that beat Tonga in the autumn. Sam Hidalgo-Clyne is rewarded for his scintillating form in an Edinburgh shirt with a place amongst the replacements.
“Seeing the passion and desire among our players in the build up to the tournament has been special,” said Cotter. “The players really enjoy the atmosphere of these big occasions, and the pressure of having to perform for their country, in front of huge crowds.
“France will be tough. They played well in the autumn series but remain frustrated with past results in the RBS 6 Nations. They will be very difficult to contain so we’ll have to stay tight as a unit, work hard for each other and try to apply some pressure.
“It’ll be a very tough start to the championship, but we’re looking forward to that challenge.”
Scotland team to play France:
15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors); 27 caps, 8 tries, 1 penalty, 43 points
14 Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors); 13 caps, 6 tries, 30 points
13 Mark Bennett (Glasgow Warriors); 2 caps
12 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors); 11 caps, 4 tries, 20 points
11 Tim Visser (Edinburgh Rugby); 15 caps, 7 tries, 35 points
10 Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors); 5 caps
9 Greig Laidlaw (c) (Gloucester); 34 caps, 3 tries, 37 conversions, 70 penalties, 299 points
1 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh Rugby); 39 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
2 Ross Ford (Edinburgh Rugby); 80 caps; 2 tries, 10 points
3 Euan Murray (Glasgow Warriors); 62 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
4 Richie Gray (Castres); 42 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
5 Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors); 8 caps, 1 try, 5 points
6 Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors), 10 caps, 1 try, 5 points
7 Blair Cowan (London Irish); 6 caps, 1 try, 5 points
8 Johnnie Beattie (Castres); 34 caps, 3 tries, 15 points
Replacements:
16 Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors); 3 caps
17 Gordon Reid (Glasgow Warriors); 6 caps
18 Geoff Cross (London Irish); 35 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
19 Jim Hamilton (Saracens); 57 caps, 1 try, 5 points
20 Alasdair Strokosch (USA Perpignan); 42 caps, 2 tries, 10 points
21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh Rugby); uncapped
22 Peter Horne (Glasgow Warriors); 5 caps
23 Dougie Fife (Edinburgh Rugby); 3 caps
6 replies on “Six Nations 2015: Scotland names team to play France”
Full strength side which a lot of players in great form for their clubs. Think they’ll cause France problems if they play the same sort of high tempo game which Glasgow have done so well with this year.
Slightly worried about the bench though, if it’s tight with 20 to go I wouldn’t be too confident swapping any of them for the starting XV.
I think at long last Scotland appear to be strong all over the park.l am especially excited about the back line,who if given some good go forward ball can cause a bit of damage. They will however have to play well to beat France in Paris,especially if the French team “turn up”!
All over the park?
Not sure about their front row. either srummaging or, for Ford, in the line out.
But the rest. Very promising
Agreed the scrum is a bit weak but Ford’s lineouts in the Autumn Internationals were pretty much spot on so lets hope he continues where he left off there!
That picture will never ever get old.
Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, Euan Murray. Are they that weak? Wasn’t Murray a Lion? Jonny Gray, Rob Harley, Blair Cowan are less familiar to me, apart from Cowan being another ‘kilted’ Kiwi that is.
Ditto for Tommy Seymour (?), Mark Bennett (young whizz kid?), Alex Dunbar & Finn Russell (another whizz kid?).
Pity for Scotland in a way in that they’ve got their toughies away. However, might pay off in the WC as they’ll either sink or swim in @ the deep & I don’t see Vern Cotter planning on being embarrassed.
Would have been a good match up if England had had to travel nth to face them, but that’s another story.
Long day for Scotland maybe, but it may also be a closer 1 than a few think.
Go you Kiltic warriors, go!