Scotland star brutally axed as Gregor Townsend shuffles back-row for France

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend before the Guinness Six Nations match at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff. Picture date: Saturday February 3, 2024.

Flanker Rory Darge has returned from injury and is named in Scotland’s XV to take on France, but Jamie Ritchie is a shock omission.

The Glasgow Warriors flanker has not played since late December but has recovered to take his place in the XV.

He is named as co-captain alongside fly-half Finn Russell, who took on sole leadership responsibility for the Six Nations clash with Wales.

Ritchie’s decline

However, there is no place in the 23 for Ritchie, despite him leading the side at the Rugby World Cup just a few months ago.

Ritchie took over from Stuart Hogg ahead of the 2022 end-of-year series but was stripped of the captaincy for the 2024 Six Nations after Townsend questioned his fitness and form.

The 27-year-old started against Wales last weekend but has evidently paid the price for their capitulation in the second period.

Discipline was an issue for Scotland and, as a result, they almost let a 27-0 lead slip, eventually sneaking a 27-26 triumph at the Principality Stadium.

Following Darge’s return, Townsend has decided to oust Ritchie and shift Matt Fagerson to blindside flanker against France.

That enables him to bring in the ball-carrying threat of Jack Dempsey at number eight, with Andy Christie getting into the 23 on the bench.

Christie has been in superb form for Saracens in the Premiership and offers a good all-round skill set for when he comes onto the field.

Elsewhere in the pack, Grant Gilchrist replaces the injured Richie Gray and partners Scott Cummings at lock, while Zander Fagerson, George Turner and Pierre Schoeman continue in an unchanged front-row.

Behind the scrum, Scotland have not made any alterations as Kyle Rowe, Kyle Steyn and Duhan van der Merwe are once again the back three.

‘Huwipulotu’ – Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu – are the trusty centre partnership with Russell and Ben White at half-back.

On the bench, Christie is the only new name as Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills and Sam Skinner make up the forward replacements, while George Horne, Ben Healy and Cameron Redpath cover the backline.

Scotland’s team to take on France

Scotland: 15 Kyle Rowe, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (cc), 9 Ben White, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge (cc), 6 Matt Fagerson, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman

Replacements: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Andy Christie, 21 George Horne, 22 Ben Healy, 23 Cameron Redpath

Date: Saturday, February 10

Venue: Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Kick-off: 14:15 GMT

Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)

Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia), Jordan Way (Australia)

TMO: Brian MacNeice (Ireland)