Russell to captain Scotland as Townsend names team to face France

Finn Russell will captain Scotland in Saturday’s World Cup warm-up against France as Gregor Townsend reshuffles his pack for the match at Murrayfield.

The head coach has made 13 changes to his side after an experimental line-up defeated Italy last weekend, with senior internationals returning to the team.

Squad captain Jamie Ritchie isn’t in the matchday 23, so Russell will lead the team out in his absence with Grant Gilchrist and Sione Tuipulotu named as vice-captains.

Darcy Graham and Matt Fagerson also start, with Townsend fielding an experienced side against a France team that finished second in this year’s Six Nations.

Saturday’s match is one of just three games remaining as Townsend and his players prepare for next month’s World Cup, with a return match against the French side scheduled for August 12, and a home fixture against Georgia on August 26.

The national team have been handed a tough group at the World Cup, with their campaign beginning with a match against South Africa on September 10, followed by tests against Tonga and Romania before facing the world’s top ranked side Ireland in early October.

Scotland team to face France

15. Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh Rugby) 44 caps
14. Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby) 34 caps
13. Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors) 36 caps
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Glasgow Warriors) – Vice-captain – 16 caps
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh Rugby) 28 caps

10. Finn Russell (Bath Rugby) – Captain – 69 caps
9.   Ben White (Toulon) 14 caps

1. Pierre Schoeman (Edinburgh Rugby) 21 caps
2. Ewan Ashman (Edinburgh Rugby) 7 caps
3. Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 58 caps
4. Richie Gray (Glasgow Warriors) 73 caps
5. Grant Gilchrist (Edinburgh Rugby) – Vice-captain – 62 caps
6. Matt Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors) 34 caps
7. Hamish Watson (Edinburgh Rugby) 57 caps
8. Jack Dempsey (Glasgow Warriors) 9 caps

Replacements

16. Dave Cherry (Edinburgh Rugby) 8 caps
17. Jamie Bhatti (Glasgow Warriors) 30 caps
18. WP Nel (Edinburgh Rugby) 54 caps
19. Scott Cummings (Glasgow Warriors) 26 caps
20. Rory Darge (Glasgow Warriors) 8 caps
21. George Horne (Glasgow Warriors) 20 caps
22. Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby) 6 caps
23. Ollie Smith (Glasgow Warriors) 4 caps

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