score and latest updates from the Six Nations

02:21 PM

The teams

Hamish Watson replaces his Edinburgh team-mate Luke Crosbie in the only change to Scotland’s starting XV for today’s Guinness Six Nations showdown with France in Paris.

Gregor Townsend has kept faith with the majority of the team that began the emphatic victory over Wales at BT Murrayfield a fortnight ago, but Crosbie has dropped out of the 23-man squad altogether.

Watson, a member of the 2021 British and Irish Lions squad, has been a regular starter for the national team but sat out the opening two matches against Wales and England as he had been short of game time since the autumn due to concussion issues.

Changes were always expected to be kept a minimum, although it had been speculated that Blair Kinghorn, who came off the bench against the Welsh to make a positive, try-scoring impact, might get the nod over Stuart Hogg who was forced off early with a head injury.

Hogg has been passed fit to play, however, and the Exeter full-back retains the No 15 jersey, with Kinghorn again listed among the substitutes.

Glasgow scrum-half Ali Price and Edinburgh lock Sam Skinner, who have not been in the match-day 23 for either Six Nations match, have both been named among the replacements.

Price, a regular starter throughout Townsend’s reign, was a notable omission for the first two matches of the campaign after a dip in form, but he has been restored to the squad at the expense of his fellow Glasgow scrum-half George Horne, who drops out.

Gloucester centre Chris Harris, another regular of recent seasons, has not made the 23 after being a substitute in the first two matches.

Team details

France: Ramos; Penaud, Fickou, Moefana, Dumortier; Ntamack, Dupont (capt); Baille, Marchand, Atonio, Flament, Willemse, Jelonch, Ollivon, Alldritt.

Replacements: Barlot, Ward, Falatea, Taofifenua, Cross, Macalou, Couilloud, Jalibert.

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Scotland: Hogg; Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe; Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Z. Fagerson, R. Gray, Gilchrist, Ritchie (capt), Watson, M. Fagerson

Story continues

Replacements: Brown, Bhatti, WP Nel, J. Gray, Skinner, Dempsey, Price, Kinghorn.

02:11 PM

‘We know what to expect from Russell’

Raphael Ibanez insists France are prepared for the threat of Scotland talisman Finn Russell as they bid to get their Guinness Six Nations challenge back on track following defeat to Ireland last time out.

The French team manager feels the fact many of Les Bleus’ players are familiar with the 30-year-old, who plays his club rugby in Paris with Racing 92, can help keep him in check at Stade de France today.

“Our players know him well because they have played against him, and some have played with him so they know exactly what to expect,” said Ibanez. “He is a very talented player.”

France suffered their first defeat since July 2021 when they lost to Ireland a fortnight ago, and Ibanez is hoping that home advantage can help them halt the Scots’ perfect start.

“Scotland have done so well in the first two games so we’re well aware of the danger and the talent in their team and the confidence they’ve got,” he said.

“But we’re playing in Paris and it’s been three and a half months since we last played here, so we’re delighted to play against such a good team in front of our fans.”

Captain Antoine Dupont has called on his French colleagues to prove the Ireland defeat was merely a blip and not a sign that his side have lost their way after a flawless run through 2022.

“All series are made to end one day,” he said. “Ireland are the number one team in the world at the moment.

“We lost and we should have done better, but there is nothing catastrophic. We are not going to reset everything and revolutionise what we have done so far. We just have to do it better.

“We are in a state of mind that we have not known for almost two years now, but we’ve been in this situation before and we’ve been able to bounce back.”