Chiefs pair to start for Scotland
By Mark Stevens
21/8/19
Exeter Chiefs duo Sam Skinner and Stuart Hogg have both been named in Scotland's starting XV for Saturday's summer test against France at BT Murrayfield Stadium (kick-off 1.10pm).
Skinner is poised to win his sixth cap for his country and is one of 14 changes head coach Gregor Townsend has made to his side from that which lost 32-3 to Les Bleus in Nice last weekend.
The sole man to keep his place from the outset is Hogg, who starts at full-back in an all British Lions back three which also includes wingers Sean Maitland and Tommy Seymour.
Townsend is hoping the inclusion of those names, plus a number of other experienced stars, will help his side return to winning ways in Edinburgh.
“Our first outing of the season was a disappointment and not reflective of the hard work our players have put in over the past two months,” said Townsend. "France are a very dangerous side if you give them space and quick ball to play, which is what we allowed to happen on too many occasions last week. Our focus all week has been to remedy this and also create much more from our attacking game.
“It was a stark reminder of how tough things can be at international level if our standards slip. We expect our players to show a much truer picture of themselves this Saturday. France have selected another strong side so it will be a great challenge for us to deliver a much-improved performance.”
Continuing the thread of familiarity are Racing 92 stand-off Finn Russell and Clermont Auvergne scrum-half Greig Laidlaw, who captains the side. The pair will equal the starting partnership appearances of fellow Scottish Lions Gary Armstrong and Craig Chalmers (32) and will then be three starts short of equalling the record-holding half-back partnership of Greig’s uncle Roy Laidlaw and stand-off John Rutherford.
At the opposite end of the international experience spectrum is Scarlets No.8 Blade Thomson, who will make his long-awaited Test debut in a back-row featuring Edinburgh’s Hamish Watson and Glasgow Warriors’ Ryan Wilson for the first time this campaign.
Fellow Warrior Scott Cummings is promoted from the bench position from which he debuted last weekend, alongside Skinner, while behind a new front-row trio of Gordon Reid (Ayrshire Bulls), Willem Nel (Edinburgh) and hooker George Turner (Glasgow Warriors), who starts his second Scotland Test.
The side is completed by a new starting midfield partnership of Glasgow Warriors’ 41-times capped Pete Horne and Gloucester’s Chris Harris, while Glasgow Warriors hooker Grant Stewart could make his debut if called upon from the bench.
Scotland team to play France at BT Murrayfield Stadium
Saturday 24 August, kick-off 1.10pm
15. Stuart Hogg (Exeter Chiefs, 68 caps)
14. Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors, 50 caps)
13. Chris Harris (Gloucester, 8 caps)
12. Pete Horne (Glasgow Warriors, 41 caps)
11. Sean Maitland (Saracens, 40 caps)
10. Finn Russell (Racing 92, 44 caps)
9. Greig Laidlaw (Clermont Auvergne, capt, 71 caps)
1. Gordon Reid (Ayrshire Bulls, 35 caps)
2. George Turner (Glasgow Warriors, 6 caps)
3. Willem Nel (Edinburgh, 29 caps)
4. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors, 1 cap)
5. Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs, 5 caps)
6. Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors, 43 caps)
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh, 25 caps)
8. Blade Thomson (Scarlets, uncapped)
Replacements:
16. Grant Stewart (Glasgow Warriors, uncapped)
17. Allan Dell (London Irish, 22 caps)
18. Simon Berghan (Edinburgh, 20 caps)
19. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh, 34 caps)
20. John Barclay (Edinburgh, 72 caps)
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors, 5 caps)
22. Rory Hutchinson (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
23. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh, 12 caps)