Scotland make three changes for Six Nations clash against France

Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend has made three changes to the starting line-up for the upcoming Six Nations game against France to be played at Murrayfield on Sunday.

Brown will make his 50th appearance for the Dark Blues as he starts as hooker with Stuart McInally dropping to bench. Ben Toolis drops out of the matchday squad as Grant Gilchrist forms second row partnership Scott Cummings.

The final change sees Nick Haining slotted at number eight in the place of Magnus Bradbury, who is at the bench along with Duncan Weir and Sam Skinner.

"This week we face a France team that looks galvanised since the World Cup, with a potential Grand Slam in their sights following impressive wins over England, Italy and Wales," said Townsend.

"We have a lot of respect for their coaching team and the quality of player they possess throughout their squad, many of them just in their early stages of their international careers.

"We're going to have to deliver our best rugby of the championship in order to beat a team in such good form.

"France's victories have been built on an aggressive and well-organised defence, so the precision, decision-making and effort in our attacking game will have to be very good in order to get in behind them this weekend."

Scotland starting line-up: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Sean Maitland, 13 Chris Harris, 12 Sam Johnson, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Adam Hastings, 9 Ali Price, 1 Rory Sutherland, 2 Fraser Brown, 3 Zander Fagerson, 4 Scott Cummings, 5 Grant Gilchrist, 6 Jamie Ritchie, 7 Hamish Watson, 8 Nick Haining

Reserves: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Allan Dell, 18 Willem Nel, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Magnus Bradbury, 21 George Horne, 22 Duncan Weir, 23 Kyle Steyn