Scotland ring changes against France as star returns, front row overhauled and 20y/o named on bench

Dempsey, the Glasgow Warriors forward, injured his bicep in the win over England in round two and was initially expected to miss the remainder of the tournament but has recovered quicker than anticipated and has been selected at No 8 to face the French.

It is one of five personnel changes made by Townsend following the victory over Wales in Cardiff in round three. Most startling of all, the head coach has picked a completely different front row to face France, who can clinch the championship on Saturday.

Pierre Schoeman, George Turner and D’arcy Rae are the starters, with Rory Sutherland, Ewan Ashman and Zander Fagerson named on the bench. Fagerson’s place among the replacements is the biggest surprise but the Glasgow tighthead is sure to have a big role to play. Townsend has not been afraid to change his pack early, and hauled off Nathan McBeth and Max Williamson during the first half against Wales. Neither of them is included in the 23 for the French game, nor is Dave Cherry, the starting hooker in the 26-23 win.

Schoeman and Turner both started on the bench in Cardiff but are promoted this weekend, while Rae comes in from the cold for the first Six Nations start of his career. There is no place in the squad for Elliot Millar Mills, who has come on in all three of Scotland's Six Nations matches this season.

Gregor Brown reverts to the second row for this match - in place of Williamson - after starting in the back row against Wales. Matt Fagerson moves from eight to six, filling the gap left by Brown’s move and opening the door for Dempsey’s return.

There is only one change in the backs but it is a significant one, with Darcy Graham preferred to Duhan van der Merwe on the wing. Graham has come off the bench in Scotland’s three previous games and scored a fine try against Wales to draw level with van der Merwe as Scotland men’s all-time leading try-scorer on 35.

Graham is named on the right wing, with Kyle Steyn switching to the left.

The front row reshuffle impacts the bench where Ashman returns for his first involvement since the opening game against Italy in which he suffered a neck injury. Sutherland is named in a squad for the first time in this Six Nations and there is also a place for Freddy Douglas, the young Edinburgh back-row forward who won his first - and only - cap against Portugal in 2024.

Douglas, 20, has proven himself adept as an expert jackler and offers Scotland something different. Josh Bayliss, who had a big impact in Scotand’s comeback win over Wales, is again named as a sub. It’s a six-two split on the bench, with George Horne and Tom Jordan providing backs cover.

Scotland are second in the standings, four points behind leaders France who can clinch the title with a bonus-point win in Edinburgh.

Matthieu Jalibert has been passed fit to start for France at fly-half. The Bordeaux Begles playmaker had been a late withdrawal from the side that beat Italy in round three, suffering a calf injury.

Thomas Ramos moved from 15 to replace him but now reverts to full-back to face the Scots. Theo Attissogbe is named on the right wing, and Yoram Moefana and Nicolas Depoortere are at centre after recovering from injury. In the second row, Mickael Guillard and Charles Ollivon are preferred to Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament.

Ben White’s Toulon team-mate Baptiste Serin is named as France’s reserve scrum-half and is set to win his 50th cap.

Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn; 14 Darcy Graham, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu (capt), 11 Kyle Steyn; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben White; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 George Turner, 3 D’arcy Rae, 4 Gregor Brown, 5 Scott Cummings, 6 Matt Fagerson, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey.

Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Zander Fagerson, 19 Grant Gilchrist, 20 Freddy Douglas, 21 Josh Bayliss, 22, George Horne, 23 Tom Jordan.

France: 15 Thomas Ramos; 14 Theo Attissogbe, 13 Nicolas Depoortere, 12 Yoram Moefana, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey; 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Antoine Dupont (capt); 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2 Julien Marchand, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 4 Charles Ollivon, 5 Mickael Guillard, 6 Francois Cros, 7 Oscar Jegou, 8 Anthony Jelonch.

Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Demba Bamba, 19 Thibaud Flament, 20 Emmanuel Meafou, 21 Lenni Nouchi; 22 Baptiste Serin, 23 Pierre-Louis Barassi.