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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Tom Sunderland

Glasgow star Rory Darge to make full Scotland debut against Six Nations leaders France

Scotland have called upon a mixture of youth and experience ahead of Saturday's Six Nations slug-fest against pace-setters France.

Gregor Townsend has made four changes to his starting XV as the Edinburgh hosts attempt to slow France's march towards the title by becoming the first team to beat them this year.

Chief among those changes is the introduction of Glasgow Warriors flanker Rory Darge, who will line up in a senior Scotland XV for the first time against world-class opposition.

He'll start at blindside in place of Sam Skinner, who shifts to lock as a replacement for injured Exeter Chiefs team-mate Jonny Gray.

Townsend was complimentary of Darge's abilities at the breakdown along with other attributes ahead of his maiden Test start.

Rory Darge will make his first senior Scotland start against Six Nations leaders France (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

"For us, Rory brings a lot either side of the ball," said the head coach after naming his squad on Thursday. "I think he's, defensively, one of our best tacklers. He is a very good jackaler [of the ball], very disciplined around the contact area with his decisions and his technique.

"And if you look at his performances and his stats, I think he breaks more tackles than most other back-rowers playing just now.

"So he's someone we feel can really compliment what we have in the back row but add either side of the ball."

WP Nel drops to the bench in place of tighthead replacement Zander Fagerson, whose namesake Matt is also injured and will be replaced by Magnus Bradbury at No. 8.

Skipper Stuart Hogg hopes to deliver Scotland to a second straight win over France on Saturday (Getty Images)

Stuart Hogg will captain the team in their second home fixture of the campaign, targeting a swift return to winning ways after the boys in blue lost 20-17 in Wales last time out.

Scotland's back line remains unchanged despite that defeat at the Principality Stadium, with British and Irish Lions Ali Price and Finn Russell leading the team at scrum-half and fly-half, respectively.

Glasgow's Sione Tuipulotu keeps his place at inside centre after impressing in the loss to Wayne Pivac's men, while Chris Harris and Duhan van der Merwe complete the Lions contingent among the backs.

Openside flanker Hamish Watson was also on last summer's tour of South Africa, although it's rising star Darge, 22, who's been grabbing headlines so far this season.

Do you think Scotland will upset favourites France in Edinburgh? Let us know in the comments section.

Mark Bennett is among the most notable names on the bench, and the Edinburgh centre will be hopeful of making a first international appearance since 2018.

France have made just the one change to their line-up after beating Ireland a fortnight ago, with Gabin Villiere sidelined by a facial injury as Yoram Moefana moves onto the wing.

Jonathan Danty comes back in at centre having missed the Ireland fixture due to injury as Fabien Galthie otherwise opts for consistency among his selection.

Villiere will be a particularly big miss for the visitors considering he's the current top scorer in the competition, having crossed over for a hat-trick of tries in the first-round romp over Italy.

Gabin Villiere will be a missed figure for France in their visit to Murrayfield (Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Townsend's men inflicted a surprise 27-23 defeat on Les Bleus in last year's rearranged fixture, stubbing out France's title ambitions as they lost out to Wales at the final hurdle.

It's almost 70 years since Scotland last clinched three consecutive wins against France in this competition back when it was the Five Nations (1956-58), with a rare opportunity to rewind the clock on Saturday.

Defeat to Wales last time out may have spoiled much of the fine work that led to Scotland's opening-day Calcutta Cup win, but an upset against France would transform their tournament once more.

Scotland team vs. France

(Backs) Stuart Hogg (capt); Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ali Price; (Forwards) Pierre Schoeman, Stuart McInally, Zander Fagerson; Sam Skinner, Grant Gilchrist; Rory Darge, Hamish Watson, Magnus Bradbury

Reps: George Turner, Oli Kebble, WP Nel, Jamie Hodgson, Nick Haining, Ben White, Blair Kinghorn, Mark Bennett

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